--- title: "Exploratory Research into Automated Pavement Compliance Testing (ACT) to Improve Safety on the Strategic Road Network" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06dc68" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06dc68" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06dc68.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06dc68.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "NATIONAL HIGHWAYS LIMITED" published: "2026-08-05" --- # Exploratory Research into Automated Pavement Compliance Testing (ACT) to Improve Safety on the Strategic Road Network Buyer: NATIONAL HIGHWAYS LIMITED Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06dc68 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06dc68) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06dc68.json) ## Summary The ongoing procurement process, led by National Highways Limited, aims to explore innovative approaches to pavement compliance testing on the Strategic Road Network in England. The preliminary market engagement, tagged under the 'planning' stage, seeks insights into automated testing technologies and their potential to enhance safety and construction quality. This initiative aligns with the organisation's commitment to safety and operational excellence. Businesses are invited to contribute to this research by 31 August 2026. Key locations involved include several regions across the United Kingdom such as UKC, UKD, and UKG, with the process structured as a service procurement with an estimated value of £60,000 to £72,000. This tender presents substantial opportunities for businesses specialising in pavement materials, automated testing technologies, and digital inspection methods. Such companies are well-suited to partake in the exploratory research, which not only fosters innovation but also creates pathways for future collaborations in enhancing road safety and operational quality. Engaging in this procurement process could position businesses at the forefront of technological advancements in road network maintenance, opening doors to future contracts and collaborations with National Highways and potentially impacting the standardised methodology of compliance testing across the nation. ## Notice National Highways (NH) is a government owned organisation responsible for operating,, maintaining and improving the Strategic Road Network (SRN) in England. NH is undertaking exploratory research into innovative approaches for pavement compliance testing on the SRN. This work aligns with the Home Safe & Well vision that no one should be harmed while travelling or working on the SRN. Pavement compliance testing is essential to ensure customer safety and the quality of highway renewal works. It is currently estimated that compliance testing activities account for approximately 98,500 work hours on the SRN each year. At present, much of this testing is carried out at night by operatives working adjacent to live traffic, exposing them to significant risks including vehicle incursions and people-plant interface hazards. There is an urgent need to explore and accelerate the adoption of automated compliance tests (ACT) that can remove operatives from high-risk live traffic environments. Early research indicates that such technologies have the potential not only to significantly improve workforce safety, but also to enhance pavement quality, deliver smoother roads, and improve the overall customer experience. ### Planning Information The purpose of this preliminary market engagement is to undertake exploratory research and gather insight from industry on the readiness, capability, and applicability of automated pavement compliance testing solutions. This engagement seeks to understand the state of the art, identify risks and barriers to adoption, and understand opportunities for pilot trials and collaborative innovation. Organisations with experience in pavement materials, automated testing technologies, digital inspection methods, or related research are invited to contribute to this exploratory engagement by completing an online questionnaire, available through the following link: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/D5Q2RMd13x Responses should focus on innovation potential, research collaboration, and early-stage deployment rather than commercial delivery. This notice is issued as part of a Preliminary Market Engagement exercise 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 may be used to inform technical decision-making, standards development, and potential future procurement strategies. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/074204-2026 | | 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 | | 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 | 1 Dec 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £60,000 | | 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 | TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England) | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services ### Codes - 73110000 - Research services ## Release History - 5 Aug 2026 at 12:27 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/074204-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/074204-2026 5th August 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/D5Q2RMd13x - 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-06dc68. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06dc68.json.