Steve Rowsell, the agency's procurement director, said there were plans to introduce the framework system by the end of next year.
He said the format for the new deals with main contractors would be the same as those for consultants. Under these contracts, the UK is split into four regions (Midlands, northern England, South-east and South-west) and consultants in each one pool resources and decide the best way to share work.
The agency claims that this method will speed up the delivery of highway projects by two years.
Contractors accepted onto a framework agreement will work with the agency on every stage of a road, from feasibility study to construction.They will also be expected to play a part in public consultations.
Good teams will not be broken up once a task is complete but can be kept together
John Spellar, minister for transport
Commenting on the consultants, transport minister John Spellar said they could start work on projects as soon as they had been accepted onto a framework agreement by the agency.
He said the system would encourage successful teams to enter into longer-term relationships than in the past.
Spellar said: "Good teams will not be broken up once a task is complete but can be kept together and bring their experience to another task."
The consultants chosen for the framework agreements are WS Atkins, WSP, Pell Frischmann Consultants, White Young Green, Parkman, Scott Wilson Kirkpatrick, Brown & Root Consulting, Arup Transport, Capita DBS, Bullen Consultants, Mouchel, Parsons Brinckerhoff, Hyder Consulting and Mott MacDonald.
