Official UK procurement notice
45,000,000 · UK public procurement notice
Authority: NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED (Central government)
What is being bought2 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionNetwork Rail has awarded national Framework Agreements for the provision of Track Bed Investigations for England & Wales, and for Scotland.
The framework scope includes standard and deep track bed investigations, concrete coring and various drainage surveys, which are used for the design and specification of the trackbed for track renewals.
The framework is specific to the Engineering Services Design Delivery function in Network Rail. The workbank comes from client teams in the Network Rail regions who will call-off from the framework when track bed investigations are required.
Due to the work-related nature of these activities, the framework terms & conditions are based on the NR29 Framework Contract for Network Rail Amended NEC4 Engineering and Construction Short Contract.
The framework will run for an initial period of five years, and Network Rail will have the option to extend for two further one-year periods, providing the flexibility for a five, six or seven year framework duration.
CPV: Railway-track inspection services
How this framework works
From the published notice- Places
- up to 1 suppliers
Lots and requirements (2)Procurement structure
2 lots · all with a published value · win at most 2 of themLot #1Track Bed Investigation Framework - England & WalesAwardedRenewal UK, North East +7Published value£40,500,000
The specification for the Track Bed Investigation Framework covers the following track bed investigation and associated works, and site & factual reporting which are to be provided for track sites in England & Wales:
Standard Track Bed Investigation:
- Determining the condition of the existing track bed and sub-grade
- Assessing the condition of the existing lineside drainage.
- Dynamic Cone Penetration (DCP) to determine the soil structural properties.
- Trial trenches to determine drainage paths and lateral variation of track bed materials.
- Categorising of Spent Ballast for disposal
- Measuring structural constraints (clearances) to support the construction phase and compliance with COM Regulations 2015 (Design Risk Register) to determine construction risks and mitigations.
Deep Track Bed Investigation
- Deeper window sampling and Standard Penetration Test (SPT) using heavy probing techniques for investigating Track Bed Stabilisation sites.
Additional Works and Other Investigation Techniques
- Stiffness Measurement surveys using Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD), and Light Weight Deflectometer (LWD).
- Drainage level surveys/topographical surveys to support the design track of drainage systems.
- Concrete coring of slab track or other associated foundations
- Material testing
- Rail and sleeper deflection monitoring using cameras, Geophones or similar.
Lot #2Track Bed Investigation Framework - Scotland's RailwayAwardedRenewal ScotlandPublished value£4,500,000
The specification for the Track Bed Investigation Framework covers the following track bed investigation and associated works, and site & factual reporting which are provided in Scotland:
Standard Track Bed Investigation:
- Determining the condition of the existing track bed and sub-grade
- Assessing the condition of the existing lineside drainage.
- Dynamic Cone Penetration (DCP) to determine the soil structural properties.
- Trial trenches to determine drainage paths and lateral variation of track bed materials.
- Categorising of Spent Ballast for disposal
- Measuring structural constraints (clearances) to support the construction phase and compliance with COM Regulations 2015 (Design Risk Register) to determine construction risks and mitigations.
Deep Track Bed Investigation
- Deeper window sampling and Standard Penetration Test (SPT) using heavy probing techniques for investigating Track Bed Stabilisation sites.
Additional Works and Other Investigation Techniques
- Stiffness Measurement surveys using Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD), and Light Weight Deflectometer (LWD).
- Drainage level surveys/topographical surveys to support the design track of drainage systems.
- Concrete coring of slab track or other associated foundations
- Material testing
- Rail and sleeper deflection monitoring using cameras, Geophones or similar.
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
- Suitability
The framework terms & conditions will be based on the NR29 Framework Contract for Network Rail Amended NEC4 Engineering and Construction Short Contract.
- “45,000,000” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, up to 1 suppliers, not a single contract.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Negotiated procedure with prior call for competition
- Legal basis
- CELEX · 32014L0025 Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016 (Directive 2014/25/EU)
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Framework agreement
- Who may use this agreement
- Not stated in the notice; call-off rights may be limited to the establishing authority
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- No (one-off requirement)
- First published
- 5 Feb 2024, 15:46 GMT
- Last source update
- 28 Jan 2026, 10:56 GMT
- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-007483- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-04373dFind a Tender
How it was run
Official notice- Appointment period ends
- 26 Jul 2024, 12:00 BST
- Submission channel
- {"written"}
- Accepted languages
- en
- Bid validity
- 270 days from the deadline
Timeline
17 Apr 2024 → 28 Jan 2026 · 4 dates- Next notice expected17 Apr 2024, 00:00 BST
- Admission / appointment period endsperiod end, not a bid countdown26 Jul 2024, 12:00 BST
- Invitations to tender expected28 Nov 2024
- Notice published272 days ago28 Jan 2026, 10:56 GMT
Notice history
5 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 19 Jul 2024- Published value published: £45,000,00019 Jul 2024, 11:27 BST
- Status changed to active19 Jul 2024, 11:27 BST
- Procurement method changed19 Jul 2024, 11:27 BST
- Deadline published: 26 Jul 2024, 12:00 BST19 Jul 2024, 11:27 BST
- Status changed to complete28 Jan 2026, 10:56 GMT
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast2 suppliers are admitted to this framework without individual award values or dates; the JSON mirror lists them.
Contracts
TBI NR29 NEC4 Engineering and Construction Short Framework Contract - Lot 1
- Signed
- 22 Oct 2025
- Value
- —
- Status
- active
TBI NR29 NEC4 Engineering and Construction Short Framework Contract - Lot 2
- Signed
- 22 Oct 2025
- Value
- —
- Status
- active
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Dispute resolution & review bodies
- The High CourtReview body
Official documents & specifications (2)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Technical selection criteria
- Economic and financial selection criteria