--- title: "Integral Bridge Research" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06dc43" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06dc43" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06dc43.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06dc43.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "NATIONAL HIGHWAYS LIMITED" published: "2026-08-05" --- # Integral Bridge Research Buyer: NATIONAL HIGHWAYS LIMITED Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06dc43 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06dc43) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06dc43.json) ## Summary National Highways Limited, a central government public authority responsible for England's strategic road network, is in the planning stage of a procurement process titled "Integral Bridge Research". This initiative focuses on developing a controlled testing environment to replicate the behaviour of the Wisley Interchange integral bridge. The engagement invites organisations with expertise in structural soil interaction, instrumentation, and infrastructure monitoring to participate. The market engagement milestone is scheduled to conclude on 31st August 2026. This planning phase is part of the larger Procurement Act 2023 framework, seeking to generate preliminary insights without guaranteeing future procurement commitments. The main industry category is Research Laboratory Services, and the initiative is slated to begin on 4th January 2027, extending through 31st March 2029, with a gross budget allocation of £360,000. Businesses involved in civil engineering, geotechnology, and advanced data analytics can find growth opportunities by engaging with this tender. The project seeks companies capable of contributing to the design, construction, or testing of scaled physical models, along with those skilled in integrating laboratory and field data for structural and geotechnical analysis. The opportunity is suitable for SMEs and VCSEs interested in pioneering advancements in laboratory testing that complement current field trials. Participating entities will help shape future technical decision-making and standard development in structure-soil interaction (SSI) behaviour, which could lead to improvements in design standards, reduced material use, and lower construction costs in the long term. ## Notice National Highways is a government-owned company and the appointed strategic highways authority and licence holder responsible for operating, maintaining and improving England's SRN; 4,300 miles of motorways and major A roads at the core of the national transport network. National Highways is exploring options for the development of a controlled testing environment capable of replicating the behaviour of the Wisley Interchange integral bridge; pioneering remote control condition monitoring with 116 sensors recording data on a brand new integral bridge. National Highways is looking at extending the current live operational trial at the M25 Junction 10 Wisley Interchange integral bridge through the design and construction of a scaled physical model. This activity will enable controlled investigation of structural-soil interaction (SSI) behaviour, complementing the existing full-scale monitoring programme. The Wisley Interchange Bridge Trial is pioneering the use of remote condition monitoring on a newly constructed integral bridge, with 116 sensors currently deployed and recording live performance data. While the field trial provides invaluable real-world insight, the addition of a laboratory-based physical model will allow deeper understanding of settlement, stress, and strain behaviour under controlled conditions. The combined use of physical laboratory testing, advanced modelling, and live field data will provide early evidence on the potential to inform future updates to PD 6694-1. In the longer term, this approach has the potential to reduce material use, cut construction costs, and improve confidence in the design and delivery of integral bridge structures. This notice is issued as part of a Preliminary Market Engagement under the Procurement Act 2023. Participation does not constitute a commitment to procure or award any contract, nor does it provide any guarantee of involvement in future commercial opportunities. Information gathered will be used to support technical decision-making, standards development, and potential future procurement strategies. ### Planning Information Organisations with relevant capability and experience are invited to contribute information to support this market engagement. Interested parties are invited to demonstrate experience in structural soil interaction, physical modelling, instrumentation, or infrastructure monitoring. National Highways is interested to here previous experience in: • The design, construction, or testing of scaled physical models for civil or geotechnical infrastructure. • Capability in instrumentation, sensing, and monitoring, including the integration of laboratory and field data. • Experience applying advanced modelling, analytics, or digital frameworks to interpret structural and geotechnical behaviour. • Views on how laboratory-based testing can complement or accelerate live asset trials and inform design standards. • Any relevant examples of work supporting design guidance, standards development, or asset management decision making. Organisations are invited to provide feedback via the following link: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/VqHN9ekXLD ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/074140-2026 | | Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 5 Aug 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 5 Oct 2026 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 4 Jan 2027 - 31 Mar 2029 | | 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 | NATIONAL HIGHWAYS LIMITED | | Locality | BIRMINGHAM | | Post town | 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 | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services ### Codes - 73111000 - Research laboratory services ## Release History - 5 Aug 2026 at 11:23 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/074140-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/074140-2026 5th August 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/VqHN9ekXLD - https://nationalhighways.co.uk - 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-06dc43. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06dc43.json.