---
title: "S30142 DMRB / MCHW Geotechnical Standards Technical updates"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-d46695c4-af41-40e7-9ec8-b86ec4a78e2d"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-d46695c4-af41-40e7-9ec8-b86ec4a78e2d"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-d46695c4-af41-40e7-9ec8-b86ec4a78e2d.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-d46695c4-af41-40e7-9ec8-b86ec4a78e2d.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "National Highways"
published: "2026-10-06"
---

# S30142 DMRB / MCHW Geotechnical Standards Technical updates

Buyer: National Highways  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-d46695c4-af41-40e7-9ec8-b86ec4a78e2d

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## Summary

National Highways Limited commissioned consultancy to update its geotechnical standards for road infrastructure: the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges and the Manual of Contract Documents for Highway Works, including Instructions for Specifiers and the Specification for Highway Works. The work covers reviewing, commenting on, drafting and technically authoring documents, plus governance outputs and industry guidance. The updates are intended to improve usability and structure, reflect modern contracts and construction methods, support decarbonisation and digital readiness, and align the two manuals. The consultant also advises on relevant legislation, works with National Highways specialists and industry stakeholders, and supports author engagement and communications with the supply chain. Delivery is described across the United Kingdom and other international locations.

The procurement is complete and the contract was awarded to Ove Arup on 6 October 2026. The awarded value is £149,108.07. The contract period runs from 7 October 2026 to 31 March 2029. National Highways used a selective procedure, calling off from a framework agreement. The earlier submission deadline was 31 August 2026. The requirement was presented as a single service contract, with no separate lots identified. The stated estimated procurement value was £200,000. Small and medium-sized enterprises were identified as suitable. The work was consultancy for development of technical standards; the award records an active award status.

For firms competing when National Highways next needs this specific standards-update work, relevant strengths include geotechnical and highway engineering expertise, technical authorship and rigorous review of standards, and experience producing controlled governance outputs. Credible suppliers would need to work to the Manual for Development of Documents, align highway design and works specifications, and understand how requirements apply to modern contracts and construction techniques. The scope also points to capability in decarbonisation and digital readiness, stakeholder liaison across technical disciplines and with designers, specifiers and constructors, and preparing industry-facing guidance. Familiarity with the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations and Construction Products Regulations would support the advisory element. The selected supplier was a large consultancy, showing that National Highways has awarded this requirement through a framework call-off; SMEs were also considered suitable.

## Notice

The need for updates to the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB) and Manual of Contract Documents for Highways Works (MCHW) (Instructions for Specifiers (IfS) and Specification for Highway Works (SHW)) has been established from a review carried out by National Highways. The objectives are to: - enhance content, usability, and structure in line with the current revision of the Manual for Development of Documents (MDD); - increase the applicability to modern forms of contracts and construction techniques; - promote decarbonisation and digital readiness of the DMRB Documents; and, - ensure the new DMRB documents are aligned with the associated MCHW documents. - ensure that the DMRB and MHCW requirements align and work well together During this task, the Consultant shall support NH in the completion of: - updates to the geotechnical DMRB & MCHW documents; - governance deliverables and outputs appropriate for the change category in accordance with the MDD; and, - industry awareness documentation. The Consultant's activities during this task involve: - online document reviewing, commenting, drafting, and authoring; - advising on aspects connected with this work; - technical review and comment on drafted text; - compliance with the MDD; - liaison with Client's specialists (including Technical Authors for the other parts of the DMRB and MCHW, owned by other disciplines) and other interested parties (designers, specifiers, and constructors to be identified); - planning for and supporting Technical Authors engagement at TSC meetings; - supporting NH in the informing of industry and the supply chain; and, - advising on relevant legislation such as the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations and Construction Products Regulations.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/b365221c-69e9-4c31-ae03-b2d40cdffeaf |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Framework |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Selective |
| Procurement method details | Call-off from a framework agreement |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 6 Oct 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 6 Oct 2026 |
| Contract period | 7 Oct 2026 - 31 Mar 2029 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £200,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £149,108 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | National Highways |
| Locality | BIRMINGHAM |
| Postcode area | Birmingham |
| Postcode | B4 6GA |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLG West Midlands (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLG3 West Midlands |
| ITL 3 | TLG31 Birmingham |
| Local authority | Birmingham |
| Electoral ward | Ladywood |
| Westminster constituency | Birmingham Ladywood |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | Ove Arup & Partners Ltd |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73220000 - Development consultancy services

## Release History

- 6 Oct 2026 at 08:57 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/b365221c-69e9-4c31-ae03-b2d40cdffeaf

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/b365221c-69e9-4c31-ae03-b2d40cdffeaf
  6th October 2026 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder

## Provenance

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