Official UK procurement notice
UK4 - Tender Notice Template - Network Design & Integration Services
Authority: NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED (Central government)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionNetwork Rail's Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) function is responsible for the provision and assurance of telecommunications network design services up to the User Network Termination Point (UNTP).
Network Rail intends to procure Network Design, Integration and Provisioning services to supplement its in-house engineering capability and support the delivery of secure, resilient and interoperable telecommunications services across the rail network.
The services will support Network Rail's Fixed Telecommunications Network (FTN), Fixed Telecommunications Network Next Generation (FTNx) and associated voice platforms, providing design, integration and provisioning activities for regional and national enhancement, renewals and capital investment programmes, including signalling, electrification and asset renewal schemes.
The contracts will operate under a managed service provider (MSP) model comprising a retained Core Team and scalable Variable Team capability. The Core Team will provide continuity of engineering governance, specialist capability, integration and provisioning services. Variable ES4 and ES5 design activity will be commissioned through authorised, fixed-price Work Packages.
Network Rail intends to appoint two suppliers, with work allocated on a geographic basis to support operational resilience, business continuity and delivery capacity. Regional allocation will generally be determined by the originating Network Rail region, although Network Rail reserves the right to reallocate work to manage capacity, performance and delivery risks.
- How the procedure runs: Network Rail are following the Competitive Flexible Procedure in adherence with the Procurement Act 2023. The procedure will encompass the following stages: Stage 1 – Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) The Tender Notice will commence the start of the first selection stage of the procurement process by inviting Suppliers to complete the Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) in which Network Rail will assess the Suppliers’ capability, capacity, and eligibility to deliver the contract. Following evaluation, the seven (7) highest-ranked participants that successfully satisfy the PSQ requirements will be selected to progress and invited to participate in the tender stage. Stage 2 – Invitation to Tender (ITT) The tender stage will be published next. The tender documents, explaining each step, will be provided to the participants selected as the result of the PSQ process. In the tender stage, participants will be required to provide their responses to the qualification, technical and commercial envelopes. Participants will be evaluated based on the highest overall tender scores, combining both technical and commercial evaluations. The top two ranking participants will both be awarded a contract. Network Rail reserves the right to make changes and issue updated versions of the documents to suppliers, to reflect the relevant stage of the Competitive Flexible Procedure, any changes to the procurement process, or to incorporate new information as it becomes available.
- No preliminary market engagement: Preliminary market engagement has already been undertaken, and an RFI under PIN 2022/S 000-020485 was published to engage with the supply chain. Therefore, a separate Preliminary Market Engagement Notice has not been issued.
CPV: Computer network services · Engineering services · Integrated telecommunications services · Systems and technical consultancy services · Telecommunication consultancy services · Telecommunications services
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1Published value£32,000,000
- Economic & financial standing
Please refer to PSQ documentation and Appendices in the Bravo portal.
- Technical & professional ability
Please refer to PSQ documentation and Appendices in the Bravo portal.
- Condition of participationshortlisting
Shortlisted through Conditions of Participation and Technical Scoring within the PSQ.
The 7 suppliers who have passed the Conditions of Participation and score highest technically in the PSQ will be invited to the tender stage.
Please refer to the PSQ documentation in the Bravo portal.
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 (2)
- Technical Envelope: 60%
- Commercial Envelope: 40%
Published award criteria (2)
- Technical Envelope: A high level summary of the ITT Technical Envelope is below: Technical Understanding (weighting 12.5%) Technical Approach/Methodology (weighting 20.8%) Deployment (weighting 8.3%) Outline Programme (weighting 4.2%) Understanding & Approach to Technical Design (weighting 16.7%) Understanding & Approach to Provisioning (weighting 8.3%) Key Personnel/CV’s (weighting 12.5%) Social Value (weighting 16.7%) Further information will be provided at the tender stage to the shortlisted participants.
- Commercial Envelope: A pricing document containing day rate pricing with weighted scenarios based on example work packages will be provided. Responses will be evaluated on a proportionate vs best basis. Further information will be provided at the tender stage to the shortlisted participants.
- Economic & financial standing
Please refer to PSQ documentation and Appendices in the Bravo portal.
- Technical & professional ability
Please refer to PSQ documentation and Appendices in the Bravo portal.
- Condition of participationshortlisting
Shortlisted through Conditions of Participation and Technical Scoring within the PSQ.
The 7 suppliers who have passed the Conditions of Participation and score highest technically in the PSQ will be invited to the tender stage.
Please refer to the PSQ documentation in the Bravo portal.
- Price carries 40 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 4 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
- 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
- Yes (GPA, CPTPP)
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 28 Jul 2026, 14:53 BST
- Last source update
- 28 Jul 2026, 14:53 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 8 Apr 2027
- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-071294- Latest notice
- Tender notice (UK4)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06d56cFind a Tender- Contract terms summary
Network Rail will pay valid, undisputed invoices within 28 days of receipt.
Suppliers must flow down prompt payment terms (28 days) to its supply chain.
Please refer to the Procurement Documents for full details.
- How it runs
Network Rail are following the Competitive Flexible Procedure in adherence with the Procurement Act 2023. The procedure will encompass the following stages:
Stage 1 – Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ)
The Tender Notice will commence the start of the first selection stage of the procurement process by inviting Suppliers to complete the Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) in which Network Rail will assess the Suppliers’ capability, capacity, and eligibility to deliver the contract. Following evaluation, the seven (7) highest-ranked participants that successfully satisfy the PSQ requirements will be selected to progress and invited to participate in the tender stage.
Stage 2 – Invitation to Tender (ITT)
The tender stage will be published next. The tender documents, explaining each step, will be provided to the participants selected as the result of the PSQ process. In the tender stage, participants will be required to provide their responses to the qualification, technical and commercial envelopes. Participants will be evaluated based on the highest overall tender scores, combining both technical and commercial evaluations. The top two ranking participants will both be awarded a contract.
Network Rail reserves the right to make changes and issue updated versions of the documents to suppliers, to reflect the relevant stage of the Competitive Flexible Procedure, any changes to the procurement process, or to incorporate new information as it becomes available.
- Risks
Network Rail considers that the following risks could jeopardise the satisfactory performance of the contract and, due to their nature, may not be fully addressable at contract award:
- Changes to rail industry structures, government policy, or rail reform programmes (including Great British Railways or successor arrangements) may require amendments to governance, delivery models, contracting entities, customer interfaces, service demand or reporting requirements.
- Changes to Network Rail business priorities, CP7/CP8 investment programmes, enhancement schemes, renewals activity, funding availability, or regional demand profiles may materially alter the volume, timing, location or nature of network design, integration and provisioning services required.
- Changes to telecommunications technologies, network architectures, security requirements, industry standards, supplier products, hardware availability, software platforms, FTNx evolution, GSM-R replacement programmes, cloud technologies, or equipment obsolescence may require modifications to technical requirements, service scope or delivery methods.
- Changes to applicable legislation, railway standards, safety requirements, cyber security requirements, data protection obligations, environmental requirements, procurement legislation, or regulatory obligations may necessitate amendments to contractual requirements, deliverables, governance arrangements or reporting obligations.
- Variability in project pipelines, design-rule changes, programme reprioritisation, regional work allocation, or exceptional demand conditions may require adjustments to resourcing models, supplier allocations, work package arrangements, service volumes or delivery mechanisms.
- Supplier capacity constraints, specialist skills shortages, market changes, supply chain disruption, third-party dependencies, product withdrawal, or component shortages may require modifications to service delivery arrangements to maintain continuity of service and operational resilience.
- Transition from existing arrangements, onboarding of replacement suppliers, integration with new systems, or changes to retained Network Rail operating models may require revisions to mobilisation, transition, assurance or operational readiness activities.
How it was run
Official notice- Requests to participate (first stage)
- 25 Aug 2026, 17:00 BST
- Submission deadline
- 25 Aug 2026, 17:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 11 Aug 2026, 17:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Submissions must be made through Bravo Platform (networkrail.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html ↗). Please ensure you are registered and have an active account.
Timeline
28 Jul 2026 → 1 Jul 2027 · 5 dates- Tender notice published90 days ago28 Jul 2026, 14:53 BST
- Clarification questions by76 days ago11 Aug 2026, 17:00 BST
- Submission deadline62 days ago25 Aug 2026, 17:00 BST
- Today27 Oct 2026
- Award decision expected byin 163 days8 Apr 2027, 23:59 BST
- Contract startsin 246 days1 Jul 2027, 00:00 BST
Notice history
1 event · 1 release on Find a Tender- Tender notice published28 Jul 2026, 14:53 BSTUK4
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (2)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Bidding documents and specificationsAccess: Network Rail will issue a Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ), which must be completed by suppliers wishing to participate in this tender opportunity. The PSQ will be available via the Bravo portal at https://networkrail.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html and can be found in Current Opportunities. Please note that to access the PSQ and be considered for this opportunity, you must be registered on the Network Rail Sourcing Platform: https://networkrail.bravosolution.co.uk/ Alongside the PSQ, Network Rail will issue supporting documentation related to this procurement, including: • Instructions to Participants • Technical requirements • Contractual documentation and associated schedules For further details, please access the PSQ documentation. The provided documents and specifications reference Network Rail standards. If you do not have access to Network Rail’s Standards Portal, please request access here: NetworkRail Standards Website
Notices published for this procedure
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender