DfT National Freight Model

What the buyer is asking for

The Department for Transport (DfT) intends to procure a supplier to develop a new National Freight Model (NFM), an in-house, cross-modal freight modelling capability designed to support transport policy development, appraisal, forecasting and decision-making across the UK. The NFM will replace existing freight modelling approaches and provide a modern analytical framework capable of representing freight movements across road, rail and domestic maritime modes. The contract will include the design, development, calibration, validation and implementation of a multimodal freight model capable of estimating current and future freight demand and flows by commodity, vehicle type and transport mode. The model must support the analysis of domestic freight movements and international freight movements to and from the United Kingdom, including maritime and rail freight services. The NFM will be required to assess the impacts of changes to infrastructure, land use, economic conditions, logistics behaviours and government policy interventions. It will also enable the testing of alternative scenarios and sensitivities to support transport planning, network resilience analysis, decarbonisation initiatives, freight mode shift assessments and wider strategic policy development. The successful supplier will be expected to develop and document the model, provide supporting methodologies, undertake any necessary data collection or acquisition activities, deliver stakeholder engagement and training, and ensure that the Department can operate, maintain and further develop the model independently following completion of the contract. The procurement may include associated research, data acquisition, innovative analytical approaches and the development of new methodologies necessary to deliver the required modelling capabilities and outcomes. HOW TO ACCESS THE ITT: • Interest bidders will need to register to DfTs e-procurement platform (Jaggaer), using the below link: https://dft.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.html • Once registered - bidders can access the ITT via the below link: •https://dft.app.jaggaer.com/go/6836254501A080BE9F9F

How this is scored

Published by the buyer. A winning response is written to these weightings, not to the question.

• 80%qualityTechnical/QualityThere are five scored Quality questions within the Quality Envelope, which carries a total weighting of 70% of the overall tender evaluation. In addition, the Social Value Envelope carries a weighting of 10% of the overall tender evaluation. The summaries below are provided for information purposes only and are intended to give an overview of the areas that will be assessed. They do not reproduce the full questions or response requirements. Suppliers should refer to Appendix 6 – Quality Response Document for the complete questions, instructions and evaluation criteria. Quality Questions (70%) • Technical methodology for developing, validating and handing over a trusted, transparent and maintainable National Freight Model (NFM). • Approach to governance, programme management and delivery of the NFM within agreed time, cost and quality parameters. • Demonstration of recent and relevant transport and freight modelling capability, including the role of any consortium members or key subcontractors. • Demonstration of recent and relevant digital delivery capability to develop, deploy, document and transfer the NFM within DfT's Google Cloud Platform environment, including the role of any consortium members or key subcontractors. • Demonstration that the proposed delivery team possesses the collective skills, knowledge and experience required to deliver the NFM in accordance with the requirements set out in Appendix Social Value (10%) • Suppliers will be required to explain how they will deliver the Equal Opportunity theme within the Social Value Model. Interested suppliers may access the procurement documents, including Appendix 6 – Quality Response Document and the full evaluation criteria, via the Authority's eSourcing platform using the link provided in this notice.
• 20%priceCost / CommercialThe Commercial Envelope carries a weighting of 20% of the overall tender evaluation. The summary below is provided for information purposes only and does not reproduce the full pricing requirements. Suppliers should refer to the procurement documents for the complete instructions and pricing schedules. Commercial Evaluation (20%) Suppliers will be required to complete and submit the prescribed pricing schedule. The Total Core Delivery Price will be used for tender evaluation purposes and, subject to contract award, will form the basis of the contractual charges. Interest suppliers must complete all sections of the pricing schedule, including any supporting cost breakdowns and rate cards, in accordance with the instructions provided. Interested suppliers may access the procurement documents, including the pricing schedule, pricing instructions and full commercial evaluation criteria, via the Authority's eSourcing platform using the link provided in this notice.

What you must already have

Conditions of participation. These are pass or fail, so check them before writing anything.

• economic

  Please refer to Appendix 4 – Procurement Specific Questionnaire for details of the Authority's insurance and liability requirements. Interested suppliers can access the procurement documents, including the evaluation criteria and Appendix 4, via the Authority's eSourcing portal using the link provided.

• technical

  The quality evaluation criteria are set out in Appendix 6 – Quality Response Document. Interested suppliers can access the procurement documents, including the quality evaluation criteria and associated requirements, via the Authority's eSourcing platform using the link provided.

Timeline

4 published dates · Europe/London

1. Tender notice published13 days ago

   8 Sept 2026, 13:26 BST
2. Clarification questions bytoday

   21 Sept 2026, 17:00 BST
3. Submission deadlinein 18 days

   9 Oct 2026, 17:00 BST
4. Award decision expected byin 29 days

   20 Oct 2026, 23:59 BST

Commercial outcome and contract awards

Nothing awarded yet

Notice history

3 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender

1. Pipeline or early engagement notice1 Apr 2026, 13:45 BST030375-2026
2. Notice published1 Apr 2026, 13:53 BST030383-2026
3. Tender notice8 Sept 2026, 13:26 BST084877-2026

Documents

• Tender notice on Find a Tender