National Highways has issued new bidding and award rules for Scheme Delivery Framework 2, its £14.5 billion eight-year procurement initiative (2027-2035) designed to deliver renewals and small improvement works across England’s Strategic Road Network (SRN). SDF2 replaces the current Scheme Delivery Framework (SDF) and Pavement Delivery Framework (PDF), covering civil works, pavement repairs, drainage, traffic management, and design services through collaboration with specialist contractors.
Among notable updates are
• Bidders can only bid for one Band of the following: Band A (Main Contractor), Band B (General Civils and Pavements) or Band E (Traffic Management)
• Within Band B Bidders can only bid for either General Civils (Lot 2) or Pavements (Lot 3).
• If a bidder expresses interest in a Lot, any associated company, JV or company that shares a person of significant interest is prevented from expressing interest in the same Sub-Lot.
In terms of Award Rules:
• Individual suppliers can be awarded a maximum of 8 sub-lots across SDF2, not including contingency positions (subject to bidding rules)
• Associated companies can only be collectively awarded the same total number of Region Sublots as an individual company within a Lot.
• Bidders awarded a place in Band A, B, or D, can only be awarded 1 sub-lot in Band F (Specialists). (not including contingency)
The bidding and award rules update can be accessed here:
(Pic: National Highways)
