National Highways Operational Technology Commercial Framework
A Voluntary Ex-Ante Transparency (VEAT) Notice
by NATIONAL HIGHWAYS
- Source
- Find a Tender
- Type
- Framework (Services)
- Duration
- not specified
- Value
- £600M
- Sector
- TECHNOLOGY
- Published
- 08 Sep 2025
- Delivery
- not specified
- Deadline
- n/a
Concepts
Location
Guilford
2 buyers
- National Highways Guilford
62 suppliers
- AECOM London
- Campbell Scientific Loughborough
- Chubb Systems Blackburn
- Colas Birmingham
- Core Control Solutions Ilkeston
- Costain Integrated Technology Solutions Maidenhead
- Cubic Transportation Systems Salfords Redhill
- DW Windsor Telford
- Indra Sistemas Madrid
- J1 Led Intelligent Transport Systems Pty Beenleigh
- Jenoptik Traffic Solutions Camberley
- Marston Holdings Birmingham
- Navtech Radar Wantage
- Neology London
- P Ducker Systems Derby
- Redflex Traffic Systems Southampton
- Motorola Solutions London
- Q Free Bristol Edinburgh
- Techmiracle Technologies Huntingdon
- Telent Technology Services Warwick
- TRL Wokingham
- Vaisala Birmingham
- Vivacity Labs London
- WJ North Knutton
- Yunex Dorset
- Swarco UK & Ireland Basingstoke
- WSP London
- Altaroute Bristol
- Clearview Intelligence Milton Keynes
- Infratec Middlesbrough
- DW Windsor Hoddesdon
- Ritherdon Darwen
- Adma Solutions Hove
- Sociedad Iberica de Construcciones Electricas Sociedad Anonima Madrid
- Amey OW London
- Atos IT Services London
- Cognizant Worldwide London
- Jenoptik Camberley
- Leidos Innovations Glasgow
- Morson Projects Manchester
- Mott Macdonald Croydon
- Netcompany London
- Nicander Billingham
- Sopra Steria Hemel Hempstead
- Actica Consulting Guildford
- Arcadis Consulting London
- Ove Arup & Partners London
- Atkins Epsom
- Certes IT Service Solutions Coleshill
- Cross8 Warwick
- Frazer Nash Consultancy Plymouth
- Intelligent Transformation London
- Jacobs London
- Kier Highways Salford
- KPMG London
- PA Consulting Services London
- Pell Frischmann Consulting Engineers London
- Pricewaterhousecoopers London
- Sweco Leeds
- Nichols Group London
- Turner & Townsend Consulting Leeds
- Yunex London
Description
The Operational Technology Commercial Framework (OTCF) is a commercial vehicle to support the delivery of the National Highways operational technology pipeline and to meet the strategic aims of National Highways. The OTCF is comprised of five Lots and National Highways awarded it on 10 January 2022 and published a Contract Award Notice on 26 January 2022. This notice concerns the proposed extension of the OTCF from 9 January 2026 to 9 January 2028 pursuant to Regulations 72(1)(e) and/or 72(1)(c) Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR). For further information, please see the "Explanation" section, and other sections, of this notice.
Lot Division
| 1 | The OTCF is a commercial vehicle to support the delivery of the National Highways operational technology pipeline and to meet the strategic aims of National Highways. National Highways awarded the OTCF on 10 January 2022 and published a Contract Award Notice on 26 January 2022. The Contract Award Notice explained that the OTCF: 1. has an estimated value of £500 million; 2. has an initial term of two years, expiring on 9 January 2024, with the option to extend for an additional two years to 9 January 2026; 3. comprises 61 suppliers across five lots; and 4. is the primary commercial vehicle to support the delivery of the RIS2 (and beyond) technology goods and services pipeline and to meet the strategic aims of National Highways. National Highways is considering a modification to the OTCF to extend the expiry date from 9 January 2026 to 9 January 2028. As a result of this extension in term, National Highways estimates that the estimated value of the OTCF would increase by 20% from the £500 million (plus VAT) specified in the Contract Award Notice to £600 million (plus VAT) for the full six-year term. This extension is required as: 1) when the new Government came into office in 2024, it conducted a review of the NH funding settlement for the five-year Roads Investment Strategy (RIS3) and introduced a one-year funding settlement, delaying RIS3, creating uncertainty in respect of NH planning for future procurements. 2) Under such circumstances including the uncertainty regarding the future demand for operational technology in the RIS3 settlement, NH was unable to procure all requirements to meet the critical operational roadside technology needs of its function for the near future. 3) NH must therefore rely on its existing supply chain through the OTCF to meet the immediate needs of RIS3. This does not provide sufficient time to set up new arrangements, so the proposed extension to the OTCF will allow NH sufficient time to develop and procure measures to meet the requirements of RIS3 following a funding settlement being agreed . No other modifications are being considered, so the terms and scope of supplies/services of the OTCF would remain the same for the extended period. However, bidders should also note that the initial estimated Lot values cited in the Contract Award Notice as the best estimates at the time of publication have been re-considered, based on data from the lifecycle of the framework agreement, and are revised as follows as a more accurate representation of the estimated value of contracts awarded under the lots for the full duration of the framework agreement (including the proposed extension to 9 January 2028). The changes have arisen due to alterations in procurement approach such as sourcing similar services from elsewhere or establishment of longer-term contracts than originally envisaged; changes in expected demand; and additional demands of major projects unforeseen at the time of publication of the Contract Award Notice. Interested organisations will note that despite changes to the individual lot values, the total overall value of the framework agreement is £600 million (plus VAT): Lot 1- Detector Systems (Goods, Services and Maintenance) – estimated £70 million figure in the contract award notice revised to £190 million; Lot 2 - Informing Systems (Goods, Services and Maintenance) – estimated £80 million figure in the contract award notice revised to £180 million; Lot 3 - Passive Systems (Goods, Services and Maintenance) – estimated £70 million figure in the contract award notice revised to £40 million; Lot 4 - Operational Systems (Services) – estimated £220 million figure in the contract award notice revised to £40 million; and Lot 5 - Operational Technology Consultancy Support (Services) – estimated £60 million figure in the contract award notice revised to £150 million. |
| 2 | (Operational Technology Commercial Framework Lot 2) - Operational Technology - Informing Systems (Goods, Services and Maintenance). |
| 3 | (Operational Technology Commercial Framework - Lot 3). Operational Technology - Passive Systems (Goods, Services and Maintenance). |
| 4 | (Operational Technology Commercial Framework - Lot 4). Operational Technology Operational Systems (specialist products, support services and solutions). |
| 5 | (Operational Technology Commercial Framework - Lot 5). Operational Technology Consultancy Support Services. |
Award Detail
| 1 | AECOM (London)
|
| 2 | Campbell Scientific (Loughborough)
|
| 3 | Chubb Systems (Blackburn)
|
| 4 | Colas (Birmingham)
|
| 5 | Core Control Solutions (Ilkeston)
|
| 6 | Costain Integrated Technology Solutions (Maidenhead)
|
| 7 | Cubic Transportation Systems (Salfords Redhill)
|
| 8 | DW Windsor (Telford)
|
| 9 | Indra Sistemas (Madrid)
|
| 10 | J1 Led Intelligent Transport Systems Pty (Beenleigh)
|
| 11 | Jenoptik Traffic Solutions (Camberley)
|
| 12 | Marston Holdings (Birmingham)
|
| 13 | Navtech Radar (Wantage)
|
| 14 | Neology (London)
|
| 15 | P Ducker Systems (Derby)
|
| 16 | Redflex Traffic Systems (Southampton)
|
| 17 | Motorola Solutions (London)
|
| 18 | Q Free Bristol (Edinburgh)
|
| 19 | Techmiracle Technologies (Huntingdon)
|
| 20 | Telent Technology Services (Warwick)
|
| 21 | TRL (Wokingham)
|
| 22 | Vaisala (Birmingham)
|
| 23 | Vivacity Labs (London)
|
| 24 | WJ North (Knutton)
|
| 25 | Yunex (Dorset)
|
| 26 | Swarco UK & Ireland (Basingstoke)
|
| 27 | WSP (London)
|
| 28 | AECOM (London)
|
| 29 | Altaroute (Bristol)
|
| 30 | Clearview Intelligence (Milton Keynes)
|
| 31 | Colas (Birmingham)
|
| 32 | Core Control Solutions (Ilkeston)
|
| 33 | Costain Integrated Technology Solutions (Maidenhead)
|
| 34 | Infratec (Middlesbrough)
|
| 35 | J1 Led Intelligent Transport Systems Pty (Beenleigh)
|
| 36 | Marston Holdings (Birmingham)
|
| 37 | Navtech Radar (Wantage)
|
| 38 | P Ducker Systems (Derby)
|
| 39 | Yunex (Dorset)
|
| 40 | Telent Technology Services (Warwick)
|
| 41 | TRL (Wokingham)
|
| 42 | WJ North (Knutton)
|
| 43 | Swarco UK & Ireland (Basingstoke)
|
| 44 | AECOM (London)
|
| 45 | Clearview Intelligence (Milton Keynes)
|
| 46 | Colas (Birmingham)
|
| 47 | Core Control Solutions (Ilkeston)
|
| 48 | Costain Integrated Technology Solutions (Maidenhead)
|
| 49 | DW Windsor (Hoddesdon)
|
| 50 | Marston Holdings (Birmingham)
|
| 51 | Neology (London)
|
| 52 | P Ducker Systems (Derby)
|
| 53 | Ritherdon (Darwen)
|
| 54 | Adma Solutions (Hove)
|
| 55 | Sociedad Iberica de Construcciones Electricas Sociedad Anonima (Madrid)
|
| 56 | Telent Technology Services (Warwick)
|
| 57 | TRL (Wokingham)
|
| 58 | WJ North (Knutton)
|
| 59 | WSP (London)
|
| 60 | Swarco UK & Ireland (Basingstoke)
|
| 61 | Yunex (Dorset)
|
| 62 | AECOM (London)
|
| 63 | Amey OW (London)
|
| 64 | Atos IT Services (London)
|
| 65 | Campbell Scientific (Loughborough)
|
| 66 | Cognizant Worldwide (London)
|
| 67 | Colas (Birmingham)
|
| 68 | Core Control Solutions (Ilkeston)
|
| 69 | Costain Integrated Technology Solutions (Maidenhead)
|
| 70 | DW Windsor (Hoddesdon)
|
| 71 | Indra Sistemas (Madrid)
|
| 72 | Jenoptik (Camberley)
|
| 73 | Leidos Innovations (Glasgow)
|
| 74 | Marston Holdings (Birmingham)
|
| 75 | Morson Projects (Manchester)
|
| 76 | Mott Macdonald (Croydon)
|
| 77 | Navtech Radar (Wantage)
|
| 78 | Neology (London)
|
| 79 | Netcompany (London)
|
| 80 | Nicander (Billingham)
|
| 81 | P Ducker Systems (Derby)
|
| 82 | Redflex Traffic Systems (Southampton)
|
| 83 | Sociedad Iberica de Construcciones Electricas Sociedad Anonima (Madrid)
|
| 84 | Sopra Steria (Hemel Hempstead)
|
| 85 | Telent Technology Services (Warwick)
|
| 86 | TRL (Wokingham)
|
| 87 | Vaisala (Birmingham)
|
| 88 | Vivacity Labs (London)
|
| 89 | WJ North (Knutton)
|
| 90 | WSP (London)
|
| 91 | Swarco UK & Ireland (Basingstoke)
|
| 92 | Yunex (Dorset)
|
| 93 | Actica Consulting (Guildford)
|
| 94 | AECOM (London)
|
| 95 | Amey OW (London)
|
| 96 | Arcadis Consulting (London)
|
| 97 | Ove Arup & Partners (London)
|
| 98 | Atkins (Epsom)
|
| 99 | Atos IT Services (London)
|
| 100 | Certes IT Service Solutions (Coleshill)
|
| 101 | Clearview Intelligence (Milton Keynes)
|
| 102 | Cognizant Worldwide (London)
|
| 103 | Costain Integrated Technology Solutions (Maidenhead)
|
| 104 | Cross8 (Warwick)
|
| 105 | Frazer Nash Consultancy (Plymouth)
|
| 106 | Intelligent Transformation (London)
|
| 107 | Jacobs (London)
|
| 108 | Jenoptik (Camberley)
|
| 109 | Kier Highways (Salford)
|
| 110 | KPMG (London)
|
| 111 | Marston Holdings (Birmingham)
|
| 112 | Morson Projects (Manchester)
|
| 113 | Mott Macdonald (Croydon)
|
| 114 | Navtech Radar (Wantage)
|
| 115 | Neology (London)
|
| 116 | Netcompany (London)
|
| 117 | PA Consulting Services (London)
|
| 118 | P Ducker Systems (Derby)
|
| 119 | Pell Frischmann Consulting Engineers (London)
|
| 120 | Pricewaterhousecoopers (London)
|
| 121 | Sociedad Iberica de Construcciones Electricas Sociedad Anonima (Madrid)
|
| 122 | Sweco (Leeds)
|
| 123 | Telent Technology Services (Warwick)
|
| 124 | Nichols Group (London)
|
| 125 | TRL (Wokingham)
|
| 126 | Turner & Townsend Consulting (Leeds)
|
| 127 | WSP (London)
|
| 128 | Yunex (London)
|
CPV Codes
- 72222300 - Information technology services
Indicators
- Award on basis of price and quality.
Legal Justification
National Highways (NH) is proposing to extend the OTCF from its current expiry date of 9 January 2026 to 9 January 2028. As a result of this extension in term, NH estimates that the estimated value of the OTCF would increase by 20% from the £500 million (plus VAT) specified in the Contract Award Notice to £600 million (plus VAT) for the total six-year term. No other changes are envisaged in respect of the scope of the framework (e.g. the supplies/services covered by the framework). NH considers that the changes proposed are permitted pursuant to Regulation 72(1)(e) and/or 72(1)(c) PCR (separately), as they do not constitute a substantial modification to the OTCF and/or they were brought about by unforeseen circumstances which do not alter the overall nature of the OTCF and do not increase its value by more than 50%. In respect of Regulation 72(1)(e), NH does not consider the proposed term extension of 2 years or the increase in estimated value to amount to be ‘substantial’ as it does not meet any of the conditions set out at Regulation 72(8) PCR. This is due to: - the proposed modifications not altering the fundamental nature of the OTCF. The OTCF will continue to deliver the same scope of services and equipment through the same five lots and supplier base. The proposed extension simply allows for the continued delivery of the OTCF under the existing terms; - the proposed modifications do not introduce any new conditions which would have allowed for different candidates’ bids to have been accepted under the original procurement procedure as the proposed modifications do not affect eligibility, scope or the evaluation criteria of the original procurement. NH does not consider that any additional suppliers would have been interested had the original contract notice contained a six-year term as opposed to a four-year term; - a £100m uplift in the estimated value over an additional two years represents a 20% increase in value, but supplier rates are not changing, so the economic balance is not affected by the increase in term. The extension simply allows for continued service delivery from the suppliers over a longer period; - the proposed term extension and the increase in estimated value does not extend the scope of the OTCF as there is no change to the supplies/services being supplier under each lot; and - there are no new contractors replacing any suppliers on the OTCF (though some suppliers procured originally may decide not to continue providing services for the extension period). Additionally, or in the alternative, NH considers the proposed term extension and increased estimated of value to be a permitted modification satisfying all criteria under Regulation 72(1)(c) PCR for the following reasons: - the practical need for the proposed modifications have been brought about by circumstances which were outside of NH control and in circumstances which NH acting diligently could not have foreseen; - the proposed modifications do not alter the overall nature of the contract, as the scope of services are not being altered, the term and consequently the estimated value of the OTCF are simply being extended; and - the increase in estimated value (£100 million) equates to a 20% uplift from the original procurement’s OTCF estimated value and this does not surpass the 50% threshold prescribed in Regulation 72(1)(c)(iii) PCR. In the original procurement, NH estimated based on best available data at the time, that the OTCF value would be £500 million. Now, with much more available data, NH can estimate with increased accuracy that the estimated value including the proposed 2-year proposed extension will be £600 million. National Highways will not commence steps to vary any existing arrangements until after a period of at least 10 days beginning with the day after the date on which this notice is published.
Other Information
The date in this note specified as the date of conclusion of the contract should be disregarded when considering this VEAT notice, as it is the date of submitting this VEAT notice on Find a Tender Service and is completed only as it is a mandatory field which does not enable a date in the future to be entered. While Regulation 33(3) PCR states that the term of a framework should be limited to four years “save in exceptional cases duly justified, in particular by the subject-matter of the framework agreement,” National Highways considers that the extension, which would take the total duration of the framework to six-years, meets this requirement as it is required as a result of circumstances outside National Highways’ control, such as the introduction of a one-year funding settlement and the fact that approval of the RIS3 budget has not yet been confirmed, so the framework is required to continue to ensure the delivery of critical safety equipment on the Strategic Road Network. All values stated in this notice are estimates and are exclusive of VAT.
Reference
- FTS 054580-2025