Automated ballast profile Identification

Official notice

Authority: NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED (Central government)

ServicesAbove thresholdUtilities

Sectors: Research & Development (R&D) (73) Delivery: UK

Planned pipeline valueValue not publishedpipeline notice, not a live tender

Tender notice expected 1 Jan 2026from the planned procurement notice

Contract term 1 yr 6 moends 23 Jan 2028 · starts 23 Jul 2026

Notice summaryFrom the published notice

Network Rail is seeking to understand market interest and readiness to deliver an automated solution for identifying ballast profile compliance across its track infrastructure. Ballast condition is a key determinant of track stability and safety.

What is being bought

Published requirement description

Network Rail is seeking to understand market interest and readiness to deliver an automated solution for identifying ballast profile compliance across its track infrastructure.

Ballast condition is a key determinant of track stability and safety. Network Rail seeks a reliable, automated method to measure ballast profiles and identify areas of non-compliance to support

preventative maintenance and asset management.

This initiative supports Network Rail’s goals for digital innovation, safety assurance, and predictive maintenance. It aligns with the broader programme of intelligent infrastructure and data-driven asset management

CPV: Research and development services and related consultancy services

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · no lot value published

Lot #1Planned 1 yr 6 mo

Contract period: 23 Jul 2026 – 23 Jan 2028 (1 yr 6 mo)

Delivery: UK

73000000 Research and development services and related consultancy services

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record

Legal basis: UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
Procurement category: Services
Notice status: Past planning notice
Procurement threshold: Above threshold (FTS publication)
Regulatory regime: Utilities
Commercial structure: Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type: Competitive procedure
GPA / WTO covered: Unspecified in notice
Recurring procurement: Unspecified in notice
First published: 23 Oct 2025, 20:32 BST
Last source update: 23 Oct 2025, 20:32 BST
Authority reference: Automated ballast profile Identification
FTS notice number: 2025/S 000-068004
Latest notice: Preliminary market engagement notice (UK2)
Classification (CPV): Research and development services and related consultancy services
Delivery area: UK
Official registry OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-05d2ea Find a Tender

How it was run

Official notice

Submission deadline: —

Timeline

23 Oct 2025 → 23 Jul 2026 · 4 dates

Planning notice published376 days ago
23 Oct 2025, 20:32 BST
Market engagement349 days ago
19 Nov 2025, 23:59 GMT
For further information relating to the scope of this pre-market engagement and the submission process, please review the document titled 'EOI RD Final' via the instructions below:
1. Follow the link networkrail.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html ↗
2. From the welcome screen access the 'view current opportunities' link and select '#42526 - Automated ballast profile identification'
Click on the PDF attachments to view the attached documents.
Tender notice expected306 days ago
1 Jan 2026, 23:59 GMT
Contract starts104 days ago
23 Jul 2026, 00:00 BST

Notice history

1 event · 1 release on Find a Tender

Preliminary market engagement notice published
23 Oct 2025, 20:32 BST
UK2

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Pipeline notice

Awards (0): No award published
Contracts (0): No contract published
Bid statistics: No aggregate bid statistics published

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED

Contracting authorityPublic authority - central government GB-PPON: PNZN-9524-VCQJ Waterloo General Office, London, London, SE1 8SWContact name, email

Official documents & specifications (1)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure

Preliminary market engagement notice planningPreliminary market engagement noticeUK2Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender23 Oct 2025, 20:32 BST