Official UK procurement notice
T1389 Rules and standards to enable autonomous movement of inspection technologies
Authority: Rail Safety Standards Board (RSSB) (Public body)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionWhile systems capable of autonomous or semi-autonomous movement have demonstrated operational readiness, their use remains constrained by existing rules and definitions that do not reflect their modern capabilities. While aerial inspection platforms such as drones are increasingly used across the rail industry, this research focuses solely on “systems capable of autonomous or semi-autonomous movement” for inspection operations, defined here as ground-based technologies operating on or near the track.
This research aims to unlock their potential by identifying regulatory blockers and enablers.
For more information about this opportunity, please visit the Delta eSourcing portal at:
www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-London… ↗
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CPV: Research services
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1Published value£100,000
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).
Published sub-criteria (5)
- W2 Tenderer’s understanding and methodology [Max 4 pages]: 35%
- W3 Tenderer’s experience and individual expertise [Max 2 pages, excluding CVs]: 25%
- W4 Project management: Planning and engagement: 15%
- W5 Project management: Risks and opportunities: 5%
- Price: 20%
Published award criteria (5)
- W2 Tenderer’s understanding and methodology [Max 4 pages]
- W3 Tenderer’s experience and individual expertise [Max 2 pages, excluding CVs]
- W4 Project management: Planning and engagement
- W5 Project management: Risks and opportunities
- Price
- Price carries 20 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 2 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Below threshold - open competition
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Closed
- Procurement threshold
- Below threshold
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 8 Aug 2025, 16:51 BST
- Last source update
- 8 Aug 2025, 16:51 BST
- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-047428- Latest notice
- Tender notice (UK4)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Not published
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-058493Find a Tender
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- 19 Sept 2025, 12:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 5 Sept 2025, 12:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
Timeline
8 Aug 2025 → 6 Oct 2025 · 4 dates- Tender notice published8 Aug 2025, 16:51 BST
- Clarification questions by5 Sept 2025, 12:00 BST
- Submission deadline19 Sept 2025, 12:00 BST
- Contract starts389 days ago6 Oct 2025, 00:00 BST
Notice history
1 event · 1 release on Find a Tender- Tender notice published8 Aug 2025, 16:51 BSTUK4
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (1)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender