Scope
Description
To continue to enhance the safety environment for railway track workers, passengers and the public Network Rail need to introduce technology which enhances safety controls and enables work to be undertaken more efficiently.
Through this Preliminary Market Engagement Notice, Network Rail would like to understand available, or significantly developed, solutions for track worker controlled secondary/additional protection that does not require trackside devices on the current network. This is assumed to require either an update or addition to an existing signalling control system or a control centre device that interfaces to the signalling control system. In either case, a connection would then be made to the track worker to allow them to apply and remove the additional protection using a remote device.
The purpose of this Preliminary Market Engagement Notice is to allow Network Rail to understand:
• What solutions to the problem statement are currently available? And/or potentially available soon.
• What can the market offer?
• Which systems would it work with?
• What, if anything, would Network Rail need to change or adapt for successful implementation?
Total value (estimated)
- £1,000,000 excluding VAT
- £1,200,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2026
- 1 year
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 98000000 - Other community, social and personal services
Engagement
Engagement deadline
27 June 2025
Engagement process description
The purpose of publishing the Signalling Control Systems Preliminary Market Engagement Notice is to engage with the supply market to assess the level of interest / ability for the market to engage with Network Rail using various contractual models. For the sake of clarity, this is not a call to competition and no contract(s) will be awarded to any supplier as a result of participating in this exercise.
Within any response to this notice, Suppliers should clearly demonstrate a route to product approval and ergonomic sign-off, preferably with an existing or near-ready product. Submissions should also outline plans for trials, integration with existing interlockings, and ongoing support in a live environment. Network Rail would like to understand the RIRL of your product. In your response please describe the current and planned level.
A summary describing your solution which should include:
• Why you believe your solution will meet the needs detailed in the Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
• Overview of the solution in the form of a slide deck
• Provide evidence that the proposer can meet the requirements.
• Data or case studies on current deployment or anticipated results if in development
• Expected improvements in terms of safety and performance
• Timelines for development/implementation of your solution
• Indicative costs
• How your solution will interact and or integrate with the range of signalling systems that Network Rail currently operate
• Confirmation of if the solution is only applicable to that supplier's equipment or can be implemented more widely
• A proposal for current coverage (routes and mileage) and potential coverage following development in possessions or interlocking areas
• Assurances around cyber security risks
• How your solution handles system or component failure
• Outline of safety and regulatory compliance
• What the expected lifespan of the solution is and overview of maintenance schedule
• Does the solution require a subscription for ongoing software use? If so, what is the duration of the subscription, how frequently does it need to be renewed, and are long-term agreements or extended support packages available to ensure service continuity and access to updates?
A summary of your solution against the following categories with justification:
- All "requirements" can be 'met' and evidenced; Network Rail Product Acceptance is already in place.
- All "requirements" can be 'met' and evidenced, but no Network Rail Product Acceptance is in place but could be achieved within 6 months.
- Requirements cannot be met in full and or Product acceptance is not already in place / could not be achieved within 6 months.
RESPONDING TO THIS NOTICE:
Responding to this Notice is an excellent opportunity to engage, share relevant information and provide feedback. Should you wish to respond to this Notice please follow the instructions below:
1) Accessing the documents:
a. Follow the link: https://networkrail.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html
b. From the welcome screen, access the "Current Opportunities" link and select "Signalling Control System". Login is not required.
c. The released documents will be at the bottom of the page in the attachments section.
2) Once you have reviewed all the documents, the opportunity to feedback and clarify will be open until 5pm on Friday 27th June 2025.
3) Any feedback, questions or clarifications in respect of this notice, should only be addressed to adam.titmuss@networkrail.co.uk
Submission
Publication date of tender notice (estimated)
1 December 2025
Contracting authority
NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PNZN-9524-VCQJ
Waterloo General Office
London
SE1 8SW
United Kingdom
Contact name: Adam Titmuss
Telephone: +447999716302
Email: adam.titmuss@networkrail.co.uk
Website: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/
Region: UKI45 - Lambeth
Organisation type: Public authority - central government