S30091 Pavement Technical Standard Committee DMRB and SHW cyclic reviews and delivery of updates
National Highways LimitedEstimated Value
£280,000 – £0
Deadline
17 April 2026
Published
3 June 2026
Type
services
Overview
The need for the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB) and Standards for Highways (SHW) rewrite was established from a review carried out by National Highways, in collaboration with the Devolved Administrations as part of the RIS1 Protocol Agreement. The objectives are: - Enhance content, usability, and structure - Increase the applicability to modern forms of contracts and construction techniques - Promote decarbonisation and digital readiness of the DMRB Documents - Ensure the new DMRB documents are aligned with the associated Future SHW documents The Task is for the provision of specialist consultants on DMRB and Manual of Contract Documents for Highways Works (MCHW) who can: 1. undertake updates comprising prioritised changes; as Category A and B. 2. produce the required documentation to support the relevant category of change 3. deliver the updates through the Technical Standard Committee (TSC) process and Collaborative Authoring Review (CARs) platform The consultants shall have extensive capability in the above and knowledge of pavement engineering. The Task involves: - Online document drafting/authoring - Provision of advice on aspects connected with this work - Completion of assessments to support the TSC process - Liaison with Client's specialists (including Technical Authors for the other parts of the specification and interdependencies within documents owned by other disciplines) and other Suppliers - Planning for and supporting Technical Authors engagement at pavement TSC meetings - Supporting informing industry and the supply chain - Advising on relevant legislation such as the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations and Construction Products Regulations
AI Analysis
Powered by AI — always verify against official documents
The UK government is looking for specialist pavement engineering consultants to help update and modernise the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB) and Standards for Highways (SHW) documents. The work involves reviewing existing standards, making approved changes to reflect modern construction methods and digital practices, and managing these updates through a formal committee review process.
Requirements
- Extensive capability in DMRB (Design Manual for Roads and Bridges) updates and revisions
- Extensive capability in MCHW (Manual of Contract Documents for Highways Works)
- Specialist knowledge in pavement engineering
- Ability to undertake Category A and B prioritised changes to standards
- Experience with online document drafting and authoring platforms
- Knowledge of the Technical Standard Committee (TSC) process
- Experience with Collaborative Authoring Review (CARs) platform
- Understanding of Construction (Design and Management) Regulations
- Understanding of Construction Products Regulations
- Ability to liaise with multiple stakeholders across disciplines
Key Tasks & Deliverables
- Identify and implement prioritised Category A and B changes to DMRB documents
- Produce documentation supporting each category of change to standards
- Draft and author updates using the CARs (Collaborative Authoring Review) online platform
- Prepare assessments and evidence to support changes through the TSC review process
- Attend and support pavement technical standard meetings as required
- Coordinate with other technical authors working on related parts of the specification to ensure consistency
- Liaise with National Highways specialists and other suppliers on interdependencies
- Provide advice on construction techniques, decarbonisation, and digital readiness aspects
- Ensure updated documents align with modern contract forms and construction methods
- Support communication with industry and supply chain on standard changes
- Review compliance with relevant construction legislation and regulations
How to Read This Tender
- 1This is a specialist technical contract — you'll need genuine expertise in pavement engineering and standards development. Don't bid unless you have real experience with DMRB or similar technical manuals.
- 2The 'Category A and B' changes language is important — find the full tender documents to understand the difference and what each involves. This determines the level of work required.
- 3Look for details on the TSC process and CARs platform in the full spec. These are formal review and approval processes with specific timings and governance — you need to understand how they work before bidding.
- 4Pay close attention to the 'interdependencies within documents owned by other disciplines' requirement — this means you'll be coordinating with teams working on bridges, drainage, traffic, etc. This adds complexity and requires good communication skills.
- 5The mention of 'decarbonisation and digital readiness' signals that updates aren't just technical tweaks — they're strategic reviews of how modern construction practices (electric vehicles, renewable materials, digital tools) fit into standards. Understand current industry direction before bidding.
Tips for Small Businesses
- Consider teaming up with a larger highways consultancy or engineering firm if you're solo — most SMEs winning this type of work partner with established players who have existing DMRB credibility. You bring specialist knowledge; they bring track record and client relationships.
- Check early whether you need Chartered Engineer (CEng) status or specific professional qualifications. These contracts often have unstated expectations around professional credentials — confirm this before investing bid time.
- The work involves extensive liaison and meeting attendance — factor in travel and time costs for multiple TSC meetings, not just document drafting. Some of this will be face-to-face at National Highways offices or regional locations.
Award Details
Ove Arup
£275,004
Likely incumbents
Suppliers who won similar work from this buyer in the last 5 years.
- 1
Ove Arup & Partners Ltd - SPaTS
3 contracts wonlatest 23 Jun 2026ends 31 Aug 2028£557,186
total awarded
- 2
Ove Arup & Partners Limited
1 contract wonlatest 25 Jun 2026ends 31 Mar 2028£184,967
total awarded
- 3
Arup Aecom
1 contract wonlatest 23 Jun 2026ends 31 Mar 2028£2m
total awarded
- 4
AtkinsRéalis Jacobs Joint Venture AJJV
1 contract wonlatest 9 Jun 2026ends 31 Mar 2029£383,044
total awarded
Ove Arup & Partners Ltd - SPaTS is the most likely incumbent based on recency and category match. To win, bidders typically need a clearly differentiated proposition or a price advantage.
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Buyer Profile
National Highways LimitedKey Dates
Published
3 June 2026
Submission deadline
17 April 2026
Notice type
Contract
Source
contracts finder
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