Find a TenderClosedTender notice
Published 21 May 2025, 18:18 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Elizabeth Line Tunnel Ventilation and Controls System Maintenance

Official notice

Authority: Docklands Light Railway Limited (Public body)

ServicesCompetitive flexible procedureAbove thresholdUtilitiesSME suitable
Final published estimate£17,580,000initial estimate £19,000,000 · 3 value updates
Submissions closed 9 Oct 2026
Next notice expected 13 Sept 2025
Contract term 3 yrsends 21 Mar 2030 · up to 22 Mar 2032 with extensions · starts 22 Mar 2027

What is being bought

Published requirement description

Rail for London Infrastructure (RfLI) will issue a Tender for planned maintenance and repairs to the Tunnel Ventilation and Controls System on the Central Section of the Elizabeth Line.

RfLI are responsible for maintenance of the Elizabeth Line. A fundamental element of the RfLI maintenance obligation is maintenance of the Tunnel Ventilation and Controls Systems - critical for the operational railway. The Tunnel Ventilation & Controls System on the Elizabeth Line are a critical part of the railway's infrastructure, designed to ensure safety, comfort, and operational reliability across the 21km of twin-bore tunnels beneath central London.

These systems support both normal environmental management and emergency response, including smoke extraction and safe evacuation. They are fully integrated with fire detection systems and centrally managed through an automated SCADA control platform.

The Elizabeth Line's Tunnel Ventilation & Controls System are vital to the safe and effective functioning of one of the UK's most advanced railway lines. Their robust design, automation, and safety integration ensure continuous protection for passengers and staff, while supporting the operational demands of a modern, high-frequency railway.

Regular and rigorous maintenance is essential to ensure system reliability, safety compliance, and continuity of service in both normal and emergency scenarios

The Rail Industry Supplier Qualification Scheme (RISQS) was utilised to identify the initial supplier longlist. RISQS is a Qualifying Utility Dynamic Market. Through RISQS, 157 potential suppliers were identified within the following RISQS (RICCL) categories:

  • D.E.5.1 - Fixed Ventilation Systems / Maintain
  • H.L.3.1 - General Building Management / Service

A Market Sounding Questionnaire (MSQ) and Expression of Interest (EOI) were issued to these suppliers on the 12/11/2025. The suppliers who registered interest were invited to PSQ

The MSQ obtained market feedback and supplier appetite, capability and capacity. The results from the findings were used to help shape the procurement strategy. Suppliers who engaged and expressed an interest was invited to participate in the PSQ

Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) was published on 29/07/2026, Suppliers who participated will be invited to tender stage (ITT)

  • How the procedure runs: An MSQ was published on the 12/11/2025 which obtained market feedback and supplier appetite, capability and capacity. The results from the findings were used to help shape the procurement strategy. TfL selected suppliers who engaged and expressed interest for the Procurement Selection Questionnaire (PSQ) stage. The steps to the competitive flexible Procedure are - MSQ - PSQ - Invitation to Tender (ITT) - Request for Pricing (RFP) - Best and Final Offer (BAFO)
  • No preliminary market engagement: EME was published via RISQS

CPV: Repair and maintenance services

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · value published
Lot #1Renewal 3 yrsSMEPublished value£17,580,000
Contract period: 22 Mar 2027 – 21 Mar 2030 (3 yrs) · up to 22 Mar 2032 with extensionsValue: £17,580,000 exc. VAT · £21,680,000 inc. VAT
Extensions: The proposed contract will be awarded for a period of Five (5) years with extension options for an additional Two (2)yearsSecond stage: 3–9 candidates invited to tender
Pre-qualification & selection criteria (PQQ)2
  • Technical & professional ability

    Technical - 50%

    Commercial - 30%

    HSEQ - 10%

    Responsible Procurement (Social Value) - 10%

  • Condition of participation

    The Rail Industry Supplier Qualification Scheme (RISQS) was utilised to identify the initial supplier longlist. RISQ is a Qualifying Utility Dynamic Market. Through RISQS, 157 potential suppliers were identified within the following RISQS (RICCL) categories:

    • D.E.5.1 - Fixed Ventilation Systems / Maintain
    • H.L.3.1 - General Building Management / Service

    A Market Sounding Questionnaire (MSQ) and Expression of Interest (EOI) were issued to these suppliers. The suppliers who registered were invited to PSQ.

    Suppliers who participated in the PSQ will be invited to ITT

    shortlisting

What it takes to win
i

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 more
How bids were scored
Quality: 100%
Published sub-criteria (1)
  • Technical: 100%
Published award criteria (1)
  • Technical: Technical - 50% Commercial - 30% HSEQ - 10% Responsible Procurement - 10%
Conditions of participation2
  • Technical & professional ability

    Technical - 50%

    Commercial - 30%

    HSEQ - 10%

    Responsible Procurement (Social Value) - 10%

  • Condition of participation

    The Rail Industry Supplier Qualification Scheme (RISQS) was utilised to identify the initial supplier longlist. RISQ is a Qualifying Utility Dynamic Market. Through RISQS, 157 potential suppliers were identified within the following RISQS (RICCL) categories:

    • D.E.5.1 - Fixed Ventilation Systems / Maintain
    • H.L.3.1 - General Building Management / Service

    A Market Sounding Questionnaire (MSQ) and Expression of Interest (EOI) were issued to these suppliers. The suppliers who registered were invited to PSQ.

    Suppliers who participated in the PSQ will be invited to ITT

    shortlisting

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record
Procedure method
Competitive flexible procedure
Legal basis
UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
Procurement category
Services
Notice status
Closed
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
21 May 2025, 18:18 BST
Last source update
25 Sept 2026, 14:05 BST
Award evaluation window
Submission end – 12 Mar 2027
Authority reference
WS2530552115
FTS notice number
2026/S 000-084397
Latest notice
Tender notice (UK4)
Classification (CPV)
Repair and maintenance services
Delivery area
North East (UKC)North West (UKD)Yorkshire & Humber (UKE)East Midlands (UKF)West Midlands (UKG)East of England (UKH)London (UKI)South East (UKJ)
+1 moreSouth West (UKK)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-051c31 Find a Tender
How it runs

An MSQ was published on the 12/11/2025 which obtained market feedback and supplier appetite, capability and capacity. The results from the findings were used to help shape the procurement strategy. TfL selected suppliers who engaged and expressed interest for the Procurement Selection Questionnaire (PSQ) stage.

The steps to the competitive flexible Procedure are

  • MSQ
  • PSQ
  • Invitation to Tender (ITT)
  • Request for Pricing (RFP)
  • Best and Final Offer (BAFO)

How it was run

Official notice
Run through: portal not identified
Electronic submission allowedLanguage: EN
Requests to participate (first stage)
9 Oct 2026, 17:00 BST
Submission deadline
9 Oct 2026, 17:00 BST
Clarification deadline
2 Oct 2026, 17:00 BST
Submission channel
Official e-sourcing portal
Electronic submission
Allowed
Accepted languages
en
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

Timeline

21 May 2025 → 22 Mar 2027 · 8 dates
  1. Planning notice published
    21 May 2025, 18:18 BST
  2. Next notice expected
    13 Sept 2025, 23:59 BST
  3. Tender notice published51 days ago
    7 Sept 2026, 13:13 BST
  4. Latest notice published33 days ago
    25 Sept 2026, 14:05 BST
  5. Clarification questions by26 days ago
    2 Oct 2026, 17:00 BST
  6. Submission deadline19 days ago
    9 Oct 2026, 17:00 BST
  7. Today
    29 Oct 2026
  8. Award decision expected byin 134 days
    12 Mar 2027, 23:59 GMT
  9. Contract startsin 143 days
    22 Mar 2027

Notice history

9 events · 4 releases on Find a Tender · since 21 May 2025
  1. Pipeline notice published
    21 May 2025, 18:18 BST
    UK1
  2. Tender notice published
    7 Sept 2026, 13:13 BST
    UK4
  3. Published value published: £19,000,000
    7 Sept 2026, 13:13 BST
  4. Status changed to active
    7 Sept 2026, 13:13 BST
  5. Procurement method changed
    7 Sept 2026, 13:13 BST
  6. Tender notice published
    24 Sept 2026, 09:38 BST
    UK4
  7. Published value updated to £26,400,000
    24 Sept 2026, 09:38 BST
    was £19,000,000
  8. Tender notice published
    25 Sept 2026, 14:05 BST
    UK4
  9. Published value updated to £17,580,000
    25 Sept 2026, 14:05 BST
    was £26,400,000
Published amendments (2)

Changes to the notice is the contract duration. The initial contract duration is 3 years + 2 years optional extension. This has been changed to 5years + 2 years optional extension. This also increased the proposed contract value.

Contract value was amended

Routine re-releases (4)
  • 2025-05: 1 release · 21 May 2025

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Transport for London

Contracting authorityPublic undertaking GB-PPON: PHMT-6197-NWNZ 5 Endeavour Square, London, London, E20 1JNContact name, email

Official documents & specifications (7)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Tender pack and attachments

  • Bidding documents and specificationstenderBidding documents and specificationsAccess: Scope of works, service requirements, site information and Evaluation Criteria will be published on TfL e-tendering portal https://www.sap.com/products/spend-management/ariba-login.html
  • Technical specifications tenderTechnical specifications
  • Bidding documents and specifications tenderBidding documents and specificationssuppliers who have registered interest will be invited to ITT Only Tender Responses submitted via TfL's online e-Tendering Platform will be evaluated

Notices published for this procedure

  • Tender notice tenderTender noticeUK4Tender notice on Find a Tender
  • Tender notice tenderTender noticeUK4Tender notice on Find a Tender
  • Tender notice tenderTender noticeUK4Tender notice on Find a Tender
  • Pipeline notice planningPipeline noticeUK1Pipeline notice on Find a Tender