Scope
Description
Legacy lineside equipment housings (dating from the 1960s-2000s) on the GB rail network are experiencing increasing thermal stress due to hotter, longer summers and changing climate patterns. These housings were not designed for elevated ambient temperatures or prolonged thermal loads and are increasingly at risk of overheating, which may degrade the reliability or lifespan of the sensitive signalling and telecoms equipment inside.
In Kent Route, there are over 5,000 and in Southern Region there are over 15,000 of these housings (also known as Location Cases), and nationally over 60,000.
Network Rail is seeking passive thermal management solutions that can be retrofitted to existing housings without compromising security, structural integrity, or existing cable penetrations. Active cooling systems are not desirable due to power constraints, maintenance burden, and whole-life cost implications.
Network Rail is keen to understand the products and innovation that exist in the market, and the capability of the supply chain to meet Network Rail's requirements and help to deliver better public services and value for money
Network Rail is looking initially for 100 housings to be retrofitted within Southern Region ready for summer 2026, then, if successful, increasing the fitments across the region year on year.
Contract dates (estimated)
- 2 February 2026 to 1 February 2028
- 2 years
Main procurement category
Goods
CPV classifications
- 44111520 - Thermal insulating material
Engagement
Engagement deadline
20 June 2025
Engagement process description
The Market Engagement for the "Passive Thermal Management Solutions for Legacy Lineside Signalling Equipment Housings (Location Cases)" will be conducted through the completion of a questionnaire.
This questionnaire must be returned by 20th June 2025.
To access the Market Engagement submission document, please follow these steps:
1. Visit our Bravo site using the link provided below.
Link to Bravo: https://networkrail.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html
2. On the Bravo login page, locate and select the "View Current Opportunities" option at the bottom left of the page. Find and select the link for 'Southern Region Passive Thermal Management Solutions for Legacy Lineside Signalling Equipment Housings (Location Cases)' to access the documents available for the market engagement exercise.
There is no need to log in to Bravo to access the opportunity. You can view and download the necessary documents without logging in.
An overview of the requirements and the instructions for returning the market engagement information are detailed within the PDF document titled 'Passive Thermal Management Solutions Market Engagement'.
The questionnaire that is required to be completed and returned is provided in a separate Word document titled 'Appendix 1 - Passive Thermal Management Solutions Market Engagement Submission Form'.
Please ensure you follow these instructions carefully to submit your information correctly.
Participation
Particular suitability
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
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: Nathan Massingham
Email: nathan.massingham@networkrail.co.uk
Website: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/
Region: UKI45 - Lambeth
Organisation type: Public authority - central government