---
title: "Major Civil Engineering Works Framework"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-050e45"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-050e45"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-050e45.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-050e45.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "DFI TRANSPORT AND ROAD ASSET MANAGEMENT (TRAM)"
published: "2025-05-07"
---

# Major Civil Engineering Works Framework

Buyer: DFI TRANSPORT AND ROAD ASSET MANAGEMENT (TRAM)  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-050e45

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## Summary

The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) Transport and Road Asset Management (TRAM) is preparing to launch a procurement exercise for a Major Civil Engineering Works Framework, primarily focusing on delivering civil engineering projects across Northern Ireland. The procurement is currently at the planning stage, with a pre-market engagement set to conclude by 21st May 2025. This initiative falls under the construction and civil engineering industry category and is designed to be a multi-lot and multi-supplier framework, potentially extending up to 8 years. The opportunity involves traditional client-designed projects, design and build, early contractor involvement, and construction of highway improvements and major structures. The framework aims to facilitate projects with diverse lot values ranging from £5 million to over £80 million, with the expected start date for contracts being 1st June 2026.

Businesses in the civil engineering sector can find substantial opportunities for growth through participation in this framework. The framework's flexible and value-driven approach is particularly advantageous for small to medium enterprises (SMEs), which are encouraged to compete for the lots tailored to various project value ranges. Companies with expertise in site preparation work, construction, and civil engineering are well-positioned to leverage this framework for strategic project engagement and business expansion across Northern Ireland. The framework also anticipates creating an efficient partnership model for long-term infrastructure development, thereby fostering an environment conducive for sustained business collaborations.

## Notice

The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) is preparing to launch a procurement exercise for a new Major Civil Engineering Works Framework (works with an estimated value above PS5million). The framework will aim to provide a flexible, efficient, and value-driven mechanism for delivering civil engineering related projects across Northern Ireland. The framework is anticipated to be multi-lot and multi-supplier, with a potential duration of up to 8 years. The framework is to facilitate, but is not limited to, the following proposed scope: * Traditional Client Design project. * Design & Build. * Early Contractor Involvement (ECI). * Construction of highway improvements. * Major capital renewal schemes. * Construction of major structures including grade separated junctions, bridges and retaining walls. It is currently intended to establish 4 lots based on project value ranges as outlined below: * Lot 1 will cover works ranging from PS5m - PS15m. * Lot 2 will cover works ranging from PS15m - PS40m. * Lot 3 will cover works ranging from PS40m - PS80m. * Lot 4 will cover works in excess of PS80m.

### Planning Information

DfI seeks to engage with the market at this early stage to help shape the scope, structure, and approach of the new Major Civil Engineering Works Framework. 
The purpose of this exercise is to:
• Gauge interest from the market. 
• Understand capacity and capability. 
• Test assumptions around framework structure and lotting strategy, supplier numbers, framework operation, contract structure, workshare approach, key performance indicators (KPIs) and delivery models.
• Identify potential challenges or opportunities ahead of formal procurement.
If you wish to participate, a questionnaire for completion and return is available via eTendersNI under ID 5943521.
The questionnaire must be completed and submitted via the CfT messaging facility on eTendersNI by the engagement deadline date and time stated.
Respondents are advised that the procurement description, estimated contract start and end date, estimated date of publication or estimated contract value should not be taken as a final "version" of DfI's requirements. 
The Pre-Market Engagement pertains to a future contract opportunity which will be advertised in its own right in due course. 
This notice is not a call for competition to procure any works or services. Interested parties will not be prejudiced by any response, or lack thereof, to this notice. Nor shall a response to this notice guarantee an opportunity to participate in this market engagement exercise or any future procurement process that DfI may conduct. 
DfI is not liable for any costs, fees or expenses incurred by any party responding to this notice or any party who may participate in the market engagement exercise.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/019532-2025 |
| Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice |
| Procurement type | Framework |
| Procurement category | Works |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Not specified |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 7 May 2025 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 21 May 2025 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 31 May 2026 - 31 May 2030 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Planning |
| Lots status | Planning |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | DFI TRANSPORT AND ROAD ASSET MANAGEMENT (TRAM) |
| Locality | BELFAST |
| Post town | Northern Ireland |
| Postcode | BT7 2JA |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| ITL 1 | TLN Northern Ireland |
| ITL 2 | TLN0 Northern Ireland |
| ITL 3 | TLN06 Belfast |
| Local authority | Belfast |
| Electoral ward | Central |
| Westminster constituency | Belfast South and Mid Down |
| Delivery location | TLN0 Northern Ireland |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 45 - Construction work

### Codes

- 45100000 - Site preparation work
- 45200000 - Works for complete or part construction and civil engineering work

## Release History

- 7 May 2025 at 20:38 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/019532-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/019532-2025
  7th May 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-050e45. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-050e45.json.