Scope
Description
TfL is seeking to procure a new contract for a railway adhesion control software development services. This notice is issued by TfL to notify the market of our intention to carry out market engagement and a potential future tender which is due to commence in March 2026.
The total contract value is unknown at this time we are embark on this market engagement process. This process does not commit TfL or any potential suppliers to any spend.
The specification has yet to be developed, however the findings from this market engagement process will information the final specification.
To transport the high number of passengers required in a modern city constrained by legacy tunnels and platform lengths needs more frequent trains which in turn requires higher acceleration and brake rates. However, to prevent wheel spin under acceleration or wheel slide under braking requires a minimum level of adhesion (friction) at the wheel rail interface.
Adhesion Controllers Condition Assessment Tool (ACCAT) has been employed over the last 20+ years on the Central line and approaching 6 years on the Sub Surface Railway.
Using the underlying logic, the ACCAT processes weather data provided by a 3rd party and several other inputs to predict the available rail adhesion and outputs recommendations in the following three categories:
1. The operation of railhead treatment trains, thus improving the level of adhesion available to trains.
2. Brake rate reduction, thus reducing the adhesion required to stop the train. It also recommends when an imposed brake rate reduction can be removed
3. Severe weather warnings
TfL is interested in the innovation software development solutions offered by the market for the development of a custom adhesion prediction tool.
Contract dates (estimated)
- 2 March 2026 to 1 March 2029
- 3 years
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 48100000 - Industry specific software package
- 60200000 - Railway transport services
- 63711000 - Support services for railway transport
- 72210000 - Programming services of packaged software products
- 72230000 - Custom software development services
Contract locations
- UKI - London
Engagement
Engagement deadline
1 August 2025
Engagement process description
This exercise does not form part of any formal procurement process. All responses will be carefully considered but will not bind TfL to any approach to the procurement, nor will responses be treated as conveying any promise or commitment on the part of the respondent.
Early Market Engagement process:
- 1) Preliminary engagement notice
- 2) Interested suppliers submit a response to MS form: https://forms.office.com/e/mxVLrTJM8Y
- 3) Preliminary market engagement document issued to interested Suppliers
- 4) Supplier day
- 5) Interactive Supplier session
If you have any questions in regards to this preliminary market engagement process please contact the Procurement Manager, Oluwatobi Omoniyi (oluwatobiomoniyi@tfl.gov.uk)
TfL reserves the right to conduct further market engagement in the future if required.
Participation
Particular suitability
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Procedure
Special regime
Utilities
Contracting authority
Transport for London
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PHMT-6197-NWNZ
5 Endeavour Square
London
E20 1JN
United Kingdom
Contact name: Oluwatobi Omoniyi
Email: oluwatobiomoniyi@tfl.gov.uk
Region: UKI41 - Hackney and Newham
Organisation type: Public authority - central government