Expression of Interest - Freight Analysis and Modelling Environment (FAME)

This is a Preliminary Market Engagement Notice/Expression of Interest.

The Department for Transport ('Department') is looking to develop an, in-house, Freight Analysis and Modelling Environment (FAME), centred on a new national freight transport model. We expect FAME will have the following capability/characteristics:

• the ability to simulate the movement of freight flows, by both (aggregated) commodity and vehicles.
• be multimodal and include competition between road, rail and domestic shipping services.
• include both the domestic movement of goods, and also international maritime and rail services to the UK, including route choice for short-sea shipping and the channel tunnel services.
• the ability to forecast freight demand and flows into the future, based on factors including population and economic projections
• the ability to test different scenarios, based on a range of assumptions, to understand the impact on the national freight system.
• built in the Python programming language.

The Department is expecting to procure external support for the development of FAME this summer (2026) following an open procurement process. Ahead of this, we are looking to host a workshop where potential suppliers, or interested parties, are given an opportunity to share their thoughts on the Department's proposals for FAME. We hope this will ensure a realistic and feasible specification, timelines and contract terms, and also allow experts across industry to provide suggestions to help shape the specification.

BUDGET - TBC. Likely above threshold for services.

We have provisionally selected 6th May, 12:30 - 14:30 for the workshop to take place, and expect it to be an online event via MS Teams. Please note, if you cannot attend the workshop but still want to provide written feedback, please still confirm your expression of interest to receive the draft schedule of requirements.

NEXT STEPS:

Interested suppliers will need to register to DfTs e-sourcing platform using the following link: https://dft.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.html

Once registered, you can formally access the PQQ and submit an interest by using the following PQQ link: https://dft.app.jaggaer.com/go/16288810019D490830DF