Department for Transport Shared Research, Evaluation and Analysis

AI Summary

The Department for Transport is inviting tenders for a four‑year call‑off contract that will deliver flexible, high‑quality research, evaluation, economic analysis and related analytical support across a wide spectrum of transport policy areas. The contract will support the analytical needs of more than 80 specialists in social research, evaluation, behavioural science, economics, operational research, statistics and transport modelling, and will allow up to three suppliers to be appointed to meet commissions that arise throughout the contract term. The services required span qualitative, quantitative and mixed‑methods primary research, secondary dataset analysis, advanced quantitative modelling and forecasting, behavioural and accessibility‑focused studies, monitoring and evaluation, cost‑benefit analysis, economic appraisal, and analytical quality assurance, all of which will inform policy and operational decisions.

Suppliers must demonstrate the breadth of analytical capability necessary to design, deliver, peer‑review, quality‑assure and communicate findings that are policy‑relevant and aligned with government guidance, including the Magenta Book, Green Book and AQuA Book. Projects will be driven by proportionate methods, with clear documentation of assumptions and limitations, and will deliver outputs such as reports, slide packs, spreadsheets, datasets, analytical code, models and technical annexes suitable for policy, analytical and public audiences. The contracting entity expects suppliers to sustain adequate technical expertise, capacity, resilience and project management to execute multiple concurrent commissions while maintaining oversight, quality, timeliness, confidentiality, continuity and effective stakeholder communication.

All analytical work must be conducted in accordance with proportionate methods and stated to meet the Magenta Book, Green Book and AQuA Book standards.

Description

Invitation to tender documnets can be accessed at the following link- https://dft.app.jaggaer.com/go/7987765301A0F7302D0B
Suppliers not already registered on the Department for Transport's e-sourcing portal Jaggaer here- dft.app.jaggaer.com
The Department for Transport (DfT) is procuring a shared research, evaluation and analysis call-off contract to provide flexible access to timely, high-quality research, monitoring, evaluation, economic analysis and related analytical support across a range of transport policy areas. The proposed contract is expected to support analytical requirements across four divisions, which cover a broad range of transport policy areas:
Accessible and inclusive transport (particular focus on those with physical and mental health conditions and/or groups with different protected characteristics)
Active travel (cycling, wheeling and walking)
Buses, planning and housing
Devolution of responsibility for transport in England, including devolution deals, place-based policy, and strategy for integrated transport
Local highways maintenance
Local Authority capability and capacity
Passenger transport (light rail, taxis, private hire vehicles, community transport)
Road Freight (including: roadworthiness and vehicle regulation; international freight; HGV driver skills, hours and working conditions; traffic commissioners and operator licencing)
Multimodal Freight (including: modal shift; freight innovation funding; work to improve connectivity of data and insights across the freight network)
Dangerous Goods
Future Borders (including policies to improve traffic management in Kent)
Borders Resilience and Response (managing disruption at borders and along the strategic road network)
Road safety (including supporting road users, safer vehicles, post collision care, safer infrastructure, and enforcement)
Motoring Agencies (DVSA, DVLA and VCA – including MOT and driver licensing)
International Vehicle Standards
Connected and Autonomous vehicles
AI, data, and other emerging transport technologies
Vehicle Infrastructure (e.g. charging)
Strategic Roads (Strategic Road Network managed by National Highways)
Traffic and Technology (including traffic management, parking, street works etc.)
Micro-mobility, such as e-scooters, and other forms of transport innovation (e.g. pavement robots)
Lower Thames Crossing
These divisions are home to more than 80 analysts with expertise in social research, evaluation, behavioural science, economics, operational research, statistics, and transport modelling; any of whom could commission work through the contract during its lifetime.
The proposed contract would replace and expand the remit of an existing call-off contract that commenced in March 2023.
The requirement is for a call-off contract under which up to three suppliers may be appointed and individual commissions would be agreed as requirements arise. The maximum budget is £7,500,000 excluding VAT, if three Suppliers are appointed, this will result in 3x contracts of equal £2,500,000 value. The proposed contract term is 4 years. Commissions agreed before the contract end date may continue, provided each commission is completed within seven years of its start date.
The proposed contract will cover a broad range of research, evaluation, economic analysis and related analytical services. This may include, but is not limited to: evidence reviews and synthesis; qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods primary research; secondary analysis of existing datasets; advanced quantitative analysis, modelling and forecasting; behavioural, user-centred and accessibility-focused research; monitoring and evaluation, including process, impact, outcome and value for money evaluation; cost-benefit analysis, economic appraisal and economic evaluation; and analytical quality assurance.
Suppliers would be expected to demonstrate broad analytical capability and be able to design, deliver, peer review, quality assure and clearly communicate high-quality, policy-relevant analysis in line with relevant government guidance, including the Magenta Book, Green Book and AQuA Book. Across all work, suppliers will be expected to apply proportionate methods, document assumptions and limitations clearly, and translate findings into practical recommendations for policy, operational or funding decisions.
Suppliers would be expected to provide sufficient technical expertise, capacity, resilience and project management capability to deliver multiple commissions concurrently, including short-term, medium-term and longer-term projects of varying complexity. Suppliers may deliver requirements through their own organisation, consortium arrangements, named subcontractors or other approved delivery partners. Due to the broad nature of the proposed requirements, the Department encourages suppliers to consider whether consortium, subcontracting or other partnership arrangements would help them provide the necessary breadth of expertise, capacity and resilience. Any such arrangements should include clear lines of responsibility, with the lead supplier retaining appropriate oversight and accountability for quality, timeliness, confidentiality, continuity and management of all work delivered under the contract.
Outputs from the contract would be used to inform policy and operational decisions and to build the evidence base across a range of transport policy areas. Outputs may include, depending on the individual commission, reports, slide packs, spreadsheets, datasets, analytical code, models, evidence logs, technical annexes and other supporting materials. The DfT expects outputs to be robust, proportionate, clearly communicated, appropriately documented, quality assured and suitable for policy, analytical and, where relevant, public audiences. Individual commissions will have tailored milestones, deliverables and outputs.

Contract location: UK
Communication: https://dft.app.jaggaer.com/go/7987765301A0F7302D0B
Enquiry deadline: 2026-10-26T12:00:00+00:00
Submission address and any special instructions: https://dft.app.jaggaer.com/go/7987765301A0F7302D0B
Tenders may be submitted electronically: allowed
Award decision date (estimated): 2027-01-18T23:59:59+00:00

Lot: 1
Lot value (estimated)
7.500.000,00 GBP excluding VAT
9.000.000,00 GBP including VAT
Information about options. Options: Yes

Award criteria:
NameTypeWeighting
Qualityquality70%
Priceprice20%
Social Valuequality10%

Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted: En

Details

Status:
Open
Procedure type:
Other / Multiple Stage Procedures
Sectors:
73110000 - Research services
73300000 - Design and execution of research and development
79311400 - Economic research services
+1 more
Place of origin:
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Places of performance:
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Deadline:
Nov 12, 2026, 12:00 PM
Contract duration:
Start date: 15 February 2027, End date: 14 February 2031
Contract type:
Services
Publication date:
Oct 1, 2026
Created date:
Oct 3, 2026
Update date:
Oct 21, 2026

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