National Highways Sets Out New Rules for £14.5bn Road Delivery Framework
- Safer Highways
- Sep 15
- 2 min read
National Highways has unveiled fresh bidding and award criteria for its Scheme Delivery Framework 2 (SDF2)—a massive £14.5 billion procurement programme that will run from 2027 to 2035.
The initiative will cover renewals and minor upgrades across England’s Strategic Road Network (SRN) and marks the replacement of the existing Scheme Delivery Framework (SDF) and Pavement Delivery Framework.
SDF2 spans a wide range of works, from civil engineering and pavement maintenance to drainage, traffic management, and design services. The programme aims to streamline delivery through tighter collaboration with specialist contractors.
Key Changes to Bidding Rules
Under the new system, suppliers face stricter limits on the opportunities they can pursue:
One Band per bidder: Contractors must choose to bid in either Band A (Main Contractor), Band B (General Civils or Pavements), or Band E (Traffic Management).
Restrictions within Band B: Bidders can only compete for either General Civils (Lot 2) or Pavements (Lot 3), but not both.
No overlap for associated companies: If one company expresses interest in a Lot, any linked firm—whether through joint ventures, shared ownership, or significant personnel—cannot bid for the same Sub-Lot.
Award Criteria
National Highways has also tightened the rules for contract allocation to avoid concentration of work:
A single supplier may win a maximum of eight sub-lots across SDF2, excluding contingency roles.
Associated companies are treated as one entity, meaning collectively they cannot exceed the same number of sub-lots available to an individual bidder within a Lot.
Firms that secure a place in Bands A, B, or D are limited to just one sub-lot in Band F (Specialists), again not counting contingency positions.
Next Steps
The rules are designed to spread opportunities more evenly across the market, ensuring a competitive and balanced supply chain for the eight-year programme. The full bidding and award guidance can be accessed [here].
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