---
title: "S30141 Technical Standards Implementation, Governance improvements and benefit realisation"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-ee9068b9-5e8c-4273-bd15-ddb0d7f348cc"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-ee9068b9-5e8c-4273-bd15-ddb0d7f348cc"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-ee9068b9-5e8c-4273-bd15-ddb0d7f348cc.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-ee9068b9-5e8c-4273-bd15-ddb0d7f348cc.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "National Highways"
published: "2026-09-02"
---

# S30141 Technical Standards Implementation, Governance improvements and benefit realisation

Buyer: National Highways  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-ee9068b9-5e8c-4273-bd15-ddb0d7f348cc

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## Summary

National Highways Limited commissioned development consultancy services to modernise the management of its technical standards over RIS3 and beyond. The work covers implementation and embedding of revised requirements in the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges and the Manual of Contract Documents for Highway Works, rather than a further large-scale redevelopment. It includes proportionate mitigation measures, stronger governance, faster updating and publication, consolidation of earlier changes, continuous digitisation, restructuring of standards and improvements to digital tools. The tools should help technical authors apply drafting rules and governance arrangements, supported by clearer and more accessible guidance. The intended benefits are more efficient, safe and consistent design, construction and maintenance across the highways sector. Delivery covers the United Kingdom and wider international locations.

The procurement is complete and the contract was awarded to WSP UK LTD on 28 August 2026. The awarded value is £377,976.87, and the contract runs from 1 September 2026 to 30 April 2029. The original estimated value was £402,000. This was a selective procurement using a call-off from a framework agreement, evaluated as a services requirement for development consultancy. The tender submission deadline was 10 August 2026 at 19:00. The opportunity was identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community or social enterprises. There was one procurement item covering the technical standards implementation, governance improvement, digitisation and benefit-realisation work described above. The award remains active.

This award shows sustained demand from National Highways for specialist consultancy that can turn technical standards into consistent operational practice. Relevant competitors would need credible capability in technical standards management, highways design, construction and maintenance, and the governance of standards development. Experience of implementing and embedding revised manuals would be important, alongside the ability to consolidate complex historical changes and introduce proportionate mitigation. Strong digital transformation skills would support work on standards databases, authoring tools, publication processes and the restructuring of technical content. Suppliers should also be able to produce clear guidance for technical authors and improve transparency and inclusivity across a standards lifecycle. The route to market is a framework call-off, so framework access and effective delivery at this scale are commercially relevant.

## Notice

National Highways has a statutory obligation under the Technical Regulations Protocol to keep its technical standards, the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB) and the Manual of Contract Documents for Highway Works (MCHW) up to date. Maintaining these standards creates opportunities to improve the efficiency, safety and consistency of design, construction and maintenance activities, aligning delivery with the organisation's strategic objectives. Building on the extensive refresh programmes completed in RIS1 and RIS2, the focus in RIS3 shifts from redevelopment to effective implementation and embedment of the revised DMRB and MCHW, including the introduction of proportionate mitigation measures, strengthened governance arrangements, and supporting digital tools to ensure consistent application across the sector. The proposed task will modernise National Highways technical standards management over RIS3 and beyond. It will enable more efficient updating, faster publication, and consolidation of changes made in RIS1 and RIS2. It will support continuous digitisation, restructuring of our technical standards, enhancements of digital tools, which will make it significantly easier for technical authors to develop standards, apply the drafting rules and the overall governance framework for technical standards. Enhancements to the standard governance will include clearer more accessible author guidance. This will improve both transparency and inclusivity across the standards development lifecycle.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/e7ca3a27-a9eb-4ee0-b2cb-979f52cfa108 |
| 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, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 2 Sep 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 28 Aug 2026 |
| Contract period | 1 Sep 2026 - 30 Apr 2029 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £402,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £377,976 |
| 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 | WSP UK Limited |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73220000 - Development consultancy services

## Release History

- 2 Sep 2026 at 08:05 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/e7ca3a27-a9eb-4ee0-b2cb-979f52cfa108

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/e7ca3a27-a9eb-4ee0-b2cb-979f52cfa108
  2nd September 2026 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder

## Provenance

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