Planning

Aerial Survey of the UK Rail Network - LiDAR ( Light Detection and Ranging) and Aerial Photography

  • NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED

UK2: Preliminary market engagement notice - Procurement Act 2023 - view information about notice types

Notice identifier: 2026/S 000-008527

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-061326

Published 30 January 2026, 2:46pm



Scope

Description

Network Rail require an Aerial Survey of the UK rail network, principally consisting of LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and RGB (Red, Green and Blue) data capture.

There is a desire to capture this data in the winter 2027/28 season (November 2027 to March 2028) and process it rapidly for the purposes of delivering Earthwork Asset condition information.

Total value (estimated)

  • £10,000,000 excluding VAT
  • £12,000,000 including VAT

Above the relevant threshold

Contract dates (estimated)

  • 1 May 2027 to 30 April 2028
  • Possible extension to 30 April 2029
  • 2 years

Main procurement category

Services

CPV classifications

  • 79961200 - Aerial photography services

Contract locations

  • UK - United Kingdom

Engagement

Engagement deadline

31 May 2026

Engagement process description

Network Rail is inviting all interested parties to express their interest in this 'Pre-Market Engagement exercise' - Please email marcus.pendlebury@networkrail.co.uk with the subject heading "NR National Aerial Survey".

Once interest has been logged, Network Rail will send a Market Engagement Questionnaire along with a background information document. We request that the questionnaire is completed by Monday 2nd March 2026 at 17:00 hours, so please register your interest as soon as possible.

A follow-up market engagement session may be held with all suppliers, or individual clarification questions sought in response to the questionnaire.

Please also register as a supplier on our Procurement portal at https://networkrail.bravosolution.co.uk/ if you haven't done so already.


Participation

Particular suitability

  • Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
  • Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)

Submission

Publication date of tender notice (estimated)

30 June 2026


Procedure

Special regime

Utilities


Contracting authority

NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED

  • Public Procurement Organisation Number: PNZN-9524-VCQJ

Waterloo General Office

London

SE1 8SW

United Kingdom

Contact name: Marcus Pendlebury

Telephone: +447794101149

Email: Marcus.Pendlebury@networkrail.co.uk

Website: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/

Region: UKI45 - Lambeth

Organisation type: Public authority - central government