DfT Structures Fund: Your delivery hub
Awards are expected this autumn. Delivery reporting starts on 1 April 2027 and schemes must be complete and reopened to traffic by 31 March 2030. This hub provides guidance on what to do, and when.
Key DfT Structures
Fund dates
Key dates and procurement teams can do next.
Our Team Is Ready
If you’d like to discuss the right framework and delivery partner for you then please get in touch.
Final Submissions Closed on 3rd August 2026
Now the final submissions are closed, procurement teams can prepare their commercial and delivery plan.
Funding awards expected in Autumn
Decide your procurement route as soon as you know the outcome.
Delivery reporting begins 1 April 2027
Have your contractor or design team appointed and mobilised.
Schemes must be complete by 31 March 2030
Procurement teams can programme back from this date with contingency to ensure they are complete and reopened to traffic.
Delivery reporting begins on 1 April 2027. Are you ready?
From 1 April 2027, funded authorities will report on scheme progress. The time between an award and that date is short once you allow for internal approvals, procurement and mobilisation. The quickest way to show real progress is to appoint your delivery team early, and both routes below are free to access.
Appoint your contractor
early
Early input helps you firm up buildability, programme and cost before you commit. Our Civil Engineering Framework covers bridges, structures and tunnels, highways, road maintenance, and wider civil engineering schemes.
Appoint your design team
Need design and technical support first? Appoint your design team through our Professional Services Framework, including structural engineering and project management support.
KPIs to help you deliver on time for March 2030
The Structures Fund completion date is fixed, so delay is the main risk. Our framework does not stop at appointment. We performance manage contractors against the agreed programme, tracking time and cost.
1
Time management
The framework operates strict performance standards. Progress is tracked against your agreed programme in real-time, so we can spot early warnings of slippage and intervene.
2
Cost management
The framework KPIs every supplier on cost performance, tracking bid value, contract award and final account. Clients can directly appoint contractors with the best cost management KPI.
3
Contract support
The framework team is made up of NEC-accredited specialists that can advise on call-off routes, contract options, amendments and performance management throughout your scheme.
What the Structures Fund covers and
the framework supports
The Structures Fund covers eight types of local highway structure. Our Civil Engineering and Infrastructure Framework covers the works involved in each.
Bridges
Flyovers
Packaging of Structures
Tunnels
Embankments
Culverts
Cuttings
Retaining Walls
Experienced suppliers on our frameworks
Access consultants and contractors with a track record on complex infrastructure.
DfT Structures Fund Frequently Asked Questions
If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for, our team is here to help. The team is happy to talk through any aspect of the framework, process or requirements in more detail.
Key information about the Structures Fund
When do Structures Fund awards get announced?
Awards are expected in autumn 2026. We update this page as soon as the Department for Transport publishes outcomes.
When does Structures Fund delivery reporting start?
Delivery reporting begins on 1 April 2027. Funded authorities will need to report progress on their scheme from that date.
When must Structures Fund schemes be finished?
Schemes must be completed and reopened to traffic by 31 March 2030.
Who can benefit from the Structures Fund?
Local highway authorities in England and Transport for London. For what the fund covers and how applications worked, see our Structures Fund explainer.
What structures are covered?
Bridges, flyovers, retaining walls, culverts, embankments, cuttings and tunnels, either as single structures or packages of connected structures in one area. Enhancements can be included where they are an essential consequence of the repair or replacement.
Does the Structures Fund cover cost overruns?
No. The Department for Transport makes fixed-value awards, and cost escalation for any reason remains a risk owned by the local highway authority. Early market engagement and cost planning help manage that risk.
Delivery and procurement with Procure Partnerships Framework
How can we mobilise quickly enough for 1 April 2027?
Appoint your delivery team early. Through our frameworks you can appoint a contractor for early contractor involvement or a design team, and we can give you market intel within 72 hours to shape your procurement route.
How does the framework have a positive impact on the local regional economy & what is its commitment to delivery through the local supply chain?
The framework positively impacts local and regional economies through its division into regional lots, ensuring that contractors, consultants, and their supply chains are local to the project area, supporting regional economic growth and employment. Delivery through local supply chains within a 30-mile radius of project sites are benchmarked and monitored as key performance indicators within the framework’s social value and procurement strategy. Projects routinely surpass minimum targets for local employment and SME inclusion, contributing meaningfully to workforce development and local business sustainability. In 2024/25, the framework generated £117 million in local supply chain spend, created 398 jobs, and supported 2,442 weeks of apprenticeships. Aligning with government priorities, the framework actively promotes procurement opportunities for local SMEs, apprenticeship programmes, and social enterprises, to drive regional prosperity.
How can the Procure Partnerships team support organisations with limited procurement resources?
The Procure Partnerships Framework team provides end-to-end procurement and commercial support for organisations with limited internal resource, acting as an extension of the client’s procurement function. Support includes market engagement, tender preparation and issue, management of clarifications and evaluations, and compliance oversight, with post-award performance monitored through Compliance Chain, including financial and supply chain health and enforcement via a penalty points system. The framework offers multiple compliant call-off routes, including single-stage, two-stage (including express), and direct award, all structured to ensure fairness, transparency, and regulatory compliance. The team provides guidance, documentation, supplier management, and publication of all required notices, enabling efficient, legally compliant, and risk-managed procurement and contract award.
What are the procurement timescales associated with using the framework?
When using the Procure Partnerships Framework, the average time to complete a tender process is typically 4–6 weeks for construction projects and 2–4 weeks for professional services, depending on project complexity and procurement route. By accessing our pre-qualified contractors and consultants, who undergo regular financial and quality compliance checks, our trusted partners are immediately available to participate in new procurements, removing lengthy vetting and onboarding stages for framework users. This approach reduces average time to market by 2–3 months compared to an open tender process. The framework is designed to optimise speed, with most projects moving from initiation to appointment within a 6-week period, delivering measurable cost and efficiency advantages.
Can you help build tender packs?
Yes. We support both clients and contractors at tender stage, with expertise in designing tender packs – helping set clear, achievable social value priorities, ensuring commitments reflect local needs, procurement objectives and MAT evaluation criteria. While contractors remain responsible for authoring and delivering their bid responses, our advisory support helps ensure proposals are realistic, measurable and aligned with framework expectations.
Do you support NEC contracts?
Yes. Our NEC-accredited specialists advise on call-off routes, contract options, amendments, cost planning and performance management.
Turn your DfT Structures Fund award into a delivery plan
We offer free procurement advice for public sector clients. Talk to us about your scheme and we will come back within 72 hours with market intel, at no cost and with no obligation to use the framework.