The Department for Transport (DfT) has published a preliminary market engagement notice for a shared research, evaluation and analysis call-off contract valued at £7.2m.
The proposed contract would run from 1 February 2027 to 28 February 2031 and allows for a possible extension to 28 February 2032, bringing the total length to just over five years.
Under this contract, suppliers would provide flexible access to ‘timely, high-quality research, monitoring, evaluation, economic analysis and related analytical support' across a range of transport policy areas.
This would cover a ‘broad range of transport policy areas', including:
- Accessible and inclusive transport
- Active travel
- Buses, planning and housing
- Devolution of responsibility for transport in England
- Local highways maintenance
- Local Authority capability and capacity
- Passenger transport
- Road freight
- Multimodal Freight
- Dangerous Goods
- Future borders
- Road safety
- AI, emerging transport technologies, and connected and autonomous vehicles
- Vehicle infrastructure
- Micromobility
- Lower Thames Crossing
The DfT stated that this contract would replace and expand the remit of an existing call-off contract that started in March 2023. At the moment, the contract is expected to allow a maximum of three suppliers, with individual commissions agreed ‘as requirements arise'.
Those wishing to take part in the preliminary engagement can sign up to an online supplier engagement event taking place on 8 September 2026.
Following the event, the DfT plans to publish the tender notice by 1 October.
Full details of the notice can be found here.
