The three contracts are worth in the region of £40m and £60m each and will cover the Perth to Inverness stretch of road.
The contracts will cover:
- Birnam to Glen Garry
- Glen Garry to Dalraddy
- Dalraddy to Inverness
Discussing the contracts, Transport Minister Keith Brown said: "Dualling of the A9 has been talked about for a generation, but now this massive infrastructure project is on the road to delivery. Opening of the design contract tendering process marks a significant milestone in a project that will deliver faster and more reliable journey times and road safety improvements when it is completed.
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"Now is the chance for these businesses to bid for one of these design contracts which offer the prospect of steady work for the next 12 years for the three successful bidders.
"These commissions will also offer many opportunities for small and medium enterprises through sub-consultancy work.
"The continuing public interest in the dualling programme is evident by the fact that over 1,000 people took the time to view our plans last month at a series of public exhibitions.
"The public can still have their say and I would urge anyone with an interest in the dualling programme to comment by 26 July.
"The work is continuing apace to progress the upgrade of this important route between central Scotland and the Highlands and Islands."
The work forms part of a wider £3bn Scottish government project to dual the road completely between the two cities.
The work, which involves 80 miles, is scheduled to be completed in 2025.
(JP/CD)
