Home / Opportunities / Opportunity
PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITY

Exploratory Research into the Adaptation and Implementation of the Magnetic Main Flux Method (MMFM) for UK Bridge Infrastructure

National Highways Limited · Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

Tender information last checkedLast checked 26 Sept 2026, 07:52.

Opportunity overview

National Highways is a government owned organisation responsible for operating, maintaining and improving the strategic road network National Highways seeks to undertake exploratory research into the Magnetic Main Flux Method (MMFM), an advanced non-destructive testing (NDT) technique used to detect internal corrosion, wire breaks, and deterioration in bridge cable systems. This research will investigate the method’s suitability, performance, and adaptability for the United Kingdom’s bridge stock, particularly within aging suspension, cable-stayed, prestressed and post-tensioned concrete structures. There are claims that MMFM could demonstrate effectiveness under various protective layers—including cement grout, galvanisation, coatings, High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) sheathing, and wax—while providing quantitative assessment of corrosion and residual cable capacity. This exploratory work aims to understand if these claims for MMFM can be technically validated, and adaption for deployment under UK environmental and operational conditions could be considered. This notice forms part of a preliminary market engagement process under the Procurement Act 2023. It is intended solely to support exploratory research and does not constitute a call for competition or commit National Highways to any future procurement. All information shared during this process will be managed in accordance with applicable data protection regulations.

Classification

  • CPV73110000 — Research services

Lots

  • Lot 1Value not stated

Documents and notices

Published notice details

Additional information from the published procurement release. Fields appear only when supplied by the source; check the original notice and tender documents before acting.

Scope, procedure and submissions

Id
ocds-h6vhtk-06dc67
Main Procurement Category
services
Above Threshold
No
Status
planning

Legal basis

Id
2023/54
Scheme
UKPGA

Communication

Future Notice Date
5 Oct 2026, 23:59

Lots and requirements

Entry 1
Id
1
Status
planning

Suitability

Sme
Yes

Contract period

Starts
1 Dec 2026, 00:00
Ends
31 Mar 2027, 23:59

Items and delivery

Item 1
Id
1
Related Lot
1

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Scheme
CPV
Id
73110000
Description
Research services

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UKC
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Entry 2
Region
UKD
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Entry 3
Region
UKF
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Entry 4
Region
UKG
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Entry 5
Region
UKH
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Entry 6
Region
UKJ
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Entry 7
Region
UKK
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom

Planning and budget

Milestones

Entry 1
Id
engagement
Type
engagement
Description
The purpose of this market engagement is to gather information, insights, and research collaboration opportunities from organisations with experience in MMFM. National Highways wishes to understand the feasibility of UK‑based application, potential research partnerships, and requirements for data calibration, interpretation, and long‑term capability development. This exploratory research may inform future work oriented to technical specifications, pilot studies, and potential procurement pathways for integrating MMFM into national bridge maintenance strategies. Interested suppliers are invited to complete a Market Engagement questionnaire via the following link. https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/rZGdajuaXS This questionnaire seeks further information on supplier's research capability, experience with MMFM or similar technologies, available equipment, analytical tools and proposed areas for collaborative research. Responses should focus on exploratory research potential rather than commercial deployment. This notice is issued as a Preliminary Market Engagement notice under the Procurement Act 2023. It supports exploratory research and market understanding only and does not represent a call for competition or a commitment to any future procurement. Participation in this process will not confer any advantage in subsequent procurement activities.
Due
31 Aug 2026, 23:59
Status
scheduled

Documents

Entry 1
Id
074202-2026
Document Type
marketEngagementNotice
Notice Type
UK2
Description
Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
Published
5 Aug 2026, 13:27
Format
text/html

Buyer, suppliers and contacts

Organisation 1
Name
National Highways Limited
Id
GB-PPON-PGMJ-3793-VBBN

Identifier

Scheme
GB-PPON
Id
PGMJ-3793-VBBN

Address

Street Address
Three Snowhill, Snow Hill Queensway
Locality
Birmingham
Postal Code
B4 6GA
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Region
UKG31

Contact

Telephone
0300 123 5000

Roles

buyer

Details

Classifications

Entry 1
Scheme
UK_CA_TYPE
Id
publicAuthorityCentralGovernment
Description
Public authority - central government

Recorded locations

  • Buyer location · Birmingham · UKG31 · B4 6GA · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKC · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKD · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKF · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKG · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKH · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKJ · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKK · United Kingdom

Notice and amendment history

1 published notice version reviewed by ProcuraAxis.

1 VERSION
  1. 074202-2026Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ·