Transport Scotland has formally invited tenders for its £1.94bn A9 Dualling Delivery Framework Agreement which will be used to procure the remaining sections of the road programme between Perth and Inverness.

This marks the start of the final stage in the procurement process following publication of the contract notice in June. It follows an initial prequalification stage and invites bidders to submit their tender proposals.

The framework agreement is expected to conclude by the end of this year, from which the final five A9 dualling projects between Perth and Inverness will be procured keeping the A9 Dualling programme on track for completion by the end of 2035.

Shortlisted contractors have been invited to tender across the framework’s two lots. They are:

• Balfour Beatty Morrison Construction
• Graham
• Hochtief (UK) Construction
• Kier Transportation
• Wills Brothers Civil Engineering

The A9 Dualling Programme will deliver long-term improvements to journey reliability, road safety and connectivity between Perth and Inverness as well as supporting economic growth across the Highlands and Perthshire, creating new jobs supporting sustainable employment opportunities.

The 11 miles of construction on A9 dualling currently underway are already supporting hundreds of jobs including for apprentices, graduates. On the Tomatin to Moy section alone, the project employs 256 people, with nearly two-thirds of the workforce based locally.

Transport Scotland says the framework agreement creates a sustained programme of construction activity across the A9, providing long-term certainty for the supply chain while supporting jobs, skills and economic growth across Scotland.