--- title: "NorTMS External Audit Services" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06a1d3" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06a1d3" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06a1d3.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06a1d3.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "TRANSPORT FOR THE NORTH" published: "2026-05-22" --- # NorTMS External Audit Services Buyer: TRANSPORT FOR THE NORTH Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06a1d3 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06a1d3) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06a1d3.json) ## Summary The procurement process initiated by Transport for the North focuses on acquiring external audit services for the Northern Transport Modelling System (NorTMS). This process, which is currently in the planning phase, involves a market engagement session scheduled for 22 June 2025, conducted online via Microsoft Teams. Interested parties are requested to confirm participation by 19 June. The procurement category for this tender is services, under the CPV codes for technical analysis and auditing services, with a budgeted gross value of £360,000. The contracting period is set to begin on 1 April 2027 and can extend until 31 March 2030, suggesting significant potential for long-term collaboration. This tender presents considerable growth opportunities, primarily for businesses experienced in technical consultancy and auditing, particularly those with expertise in CUBE model reviews. Such businesses should have competent Python skills and should not have previously been directly involved with NorTMS or related frameworks unless their work pertains to previous audits. The scope includes providing thorough audits and insightful reports, making this an ideal opportunity for companies aiming to demonstrate their proficiency in technical analysis and build enduring partnerships with a key public authority like Transport for the North. ## Notice The NorTMS Audit is to undertake audits as required of the Northern Transport Modelling System (NorTMS), a Cube-based VDM with a focus on intercity rail in the North of England. These will be required on a call-off basis when a stable model release is available. After each audit the supplier will be expected to provide an audit report with recommendations for areas requiring improvement. This will be subject to a one+one+one year call-off basis. TfN requires a supplier who is an expert CUBE model reviewer with competent Python skills as some elements of NorTMS are coded in Python, and who has not worked with NorTMS or related to any TfN framework directly involved in NorTMS, unless the work that was delivered relates to the audit of NorTMS. The scope of work required for each NorTMS audit underpins the following objectives: *Provision of a full audit of all NorTMS inputs and outputs with the aim of instilling confidence in NorTMS for its use in modelling works and supporting business cases. *A review of each version of NorTMS following model updates and improvements prior to implementation on programme. *To understand the fitness for purpose of NorTMS in its use for assessing schemes for Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR). *Production of a comprehensive audit report giving a RAG rating of all the model elements reviewed. *A final report comprising of a plain English summary of issues identified (for a general audience) and a detailed technical report (for a modelling audience) with potential recommendations for areas requiring improvement, an outline of best practices in CUBE and the application of CUBE as a modelling tool. For more information about this opportunity, please visit the eSourcing portal at: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Manchester:-Technical-analysis-or-consultancy-services./37Z364B3KV To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/37Z364B3KV ### Planning Information Transport for the North (TfN) invites suppliers to attend an upcoming engagement session to explore future opportunities within our procurement pipeline. This will be focussed on expected upcoming modelling and visualisation activity expected from early 2027. This session will provide an opportunity to gain insight into our requirements, anticipated timescales, and overall procurement approach. Event Details: •Date: 22 June 2025 •Time: 1:05pm •Location/Format: Online (Microsoft Teams) Registration: Please confirm your attendance by 5:00pm on 19 June by emailing Emily Molden at emily.molden@transportforthenorth.com. We look forward to your response and hope you are able to join us for this session. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/048097-2026 | | Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 22 May 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 19 Jun 2026 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 31 Mar 2027 - 31 Mar 2028 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £300,000 | | 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 | TRANSPORT FOR THE NORTH | | Locality | MANCHESTER | | Post town | Manchester | | Postcode | M2 5DB | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLD North West (England) | | ITL 2 | TLD3 Greater Manchester | | ITL 3 | TLD33 Manchester | | Local authority | Manchester | | Electoral ward | Deansgate | | Westminster constituency | Manchester Central | | Delivery location | TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England) | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services - 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security ### Codes - 71621000 - Technical analysis or consultancy services - 79212000 - Auditing services ## Release History - 22 May 2026 at 14:21 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/048097-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/048097-2026 22nd May 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/37Z364B3KV - https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Manchester:-Technical-analysis-or-consultancy-services./37Z364B3KV - 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-06a1d3. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06a1d3.json.