Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd
Waterloo General Offices
London
SE1 8SW
Vicky.Brown2@networkrail.co.uk
Telephone
+44 1908781000
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.networkrail.co.uk/
Buyer's address
https://networkrail.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html
one.3) Communication
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Other activity
Rail Industry
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Market Engagement - Non Destructive Testing Training
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 80500000 - Training services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
This soft market testing PIN and RFI questionnaire has been developed by Network Rail (NR) in advance of procuring a solution for the provision of
Non Destructive Testing (NDT) Training Courses.
NR wishes to incentivise the market to engage with the opportunity and contribute innovation, experience and delivery capability to the delivery of
these courses. In line with NR’s procurement principles, NR is committed to becoming an ‘informed’ client with excellent visibility and understanding of the market and the supply chains and customers operating within them.
At this stage, pre-procurement, NR are committed to engaging with the industry to inform and refine the overall sourcing strategy.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: Yes
Maximum number of lots that may be awarded to one tenderer: 2
The contracting authority reserves the right to award contracts combining the following lots or groups of lots:
Lot 1 Non Destructive Testing - Level 1 – Basic Ultrasonic Test & Ultrasonic Testing Rail Level 2
Lot 2 – All other courses
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Lot 1 Non Destructive Testing - Level 1 – Basic Ultrasonic Test & Ultrasonic Testing Rail Level 2
Lot No
1
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 71632200 - Non-destructive testing services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
Main site or place of performance
https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/our-regions/
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The purpose of this RFI and soft market testing is to:
• Understand the markets capacity and capability to deliver the courses and to further develop the procurement strategy;
• Provide potential suppliers the opportunity to give feedback to help inform the refinement of NR’s approach;
• Obtain information from the market to understand the market perspective;
• Understand the appetite from Small / Medium Enterprises (SME) to consider tendering; and
• Understand the appetite from Non Destructive Testing service providers to consider tendering with the use of experts to deliver the training.
The responses to this Questionnaire will be synthesised to identify key market themes, to be shared internally with key stakeholders and to further inform the sourcing strategy. This soft market testing is not itself a Call for Competition under the Find a Tender Services (FTS) (whether pursuant to the Public Contracts regulations 2015, the Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016, the Concession Contracts Regulations 2r016, or otherwise). NR does not commit itself to commencing any such sourcing process.
The supplier must:
• Provide high quality training;
• Ensure that trainers have enough knowledge of NR and/or the rail industry, and a detailed knowledge of the subject area concerned;
• Ensure all trainers are approved as per the Associate Trainer Process (ATP), as set out below (NB Suppliers do not need ATP approval to tender for this opportunity but this will need to be in place following the award of a contract);
• Ensure that all personnel and trainers maintain all appropriate and current qualifications and/or competences necessary;
• Promote equality, diversity, and inclusion as per NRs strategy Equity, diversity and inclusion - Network Rail; and
• Ensure that its personnel and trainers adhere to the relevant assurances set out in NR standard NR/L2/CTM/202. This standard specifies requirements for the quality assurance of training/assessment organisations and individuals involved in the delivery of training/assessments which award a Network Rail competence which is deemed Safety Critical and requires an 'Authority to Work'.
An overview of the NR designed & completed training courses for “Non Destructive Testing” (NDT) are included in the RFI document located on the NR opportunity page on Bravo at
www.networkrail.bravosolution.co.uk. View current opportunities and select the link for "Soft-Market Engagement NDT RFI December 2024"
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Lot 2 - All other courses
Lot No
2
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 71632200 - Non-destructive testing services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
Main site or place of performance
https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/our-regions/
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The purpose of this RFI and soft market testing is to:
• Understand the markets capacity and capability to deliver the courses and to further develop the procurement strategy;
• Provide potential suppliers the opportunity to give feedback to help inform the refinement of NR’s approach;
• Obtain information from the market to understand the market perspective;
• Understand the appetite from Small / Medium Enterprises (SME) to consider tendering; and
• Understand the appetite from Non Destructive Testing service providers to consider tendering with the use of experts to deliver the training.
The responses to this Questionnaire will be synthesised to identify key market themes, to be shared internally with key stakeholders and to further inform the sourcing strategy. This soft market testing is not itself a Call for Competition under the Find a Tender Services (FTS) (whether pursuant to the Public Contracts regulations 2015, the Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016, the Concession Contracts Regulations 2r016, or otherwise). NR does not commit itself to commencing any such sourcing process.
The supplier must:
• Provide high quality training;
• Ensure that trainers have enough knowledge of NR and/or the rail industry, and a detailed knowledge of the subject area concerned;
• Ensure all trainers are approved as per the Associate Trainer Process (ATP), as set out below (NB Suppliers do not need ATP approval to tender for this opportunity but this will need to be in place following the award of a contract);
• Ensure that all personnel and trainers maintain all appropriate and current qualifications and/or competences necessary;
• Promote equality, diversity, and inclusion as per NRs strategy Equity, diversity and inclusion - Network Rail; and
• Ensure that its personnel and trainers adhere to the relevant assurances set out in NR standard NR/L2/CTM/202. This standard specifies requirements for the quality assurance of training/assessment organisations and individuals involved in the delivery of training/assessments which award a Network Rail competence which is deemed Safety Critical and requires an 'Authority to Work'.
An overview of the NR designed & completed training courses for “Non Destructive Testing” (NDT) are included in the RFI document located on the NR opportunity page on Bravo at
www.networkrail.bravosolution.co.uk. View current opportunities and select the link for "Soft-Market Engagement NDT RFI December 2024"
two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice
1 September 2025
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
IMPORTANT NOTE: Interested parties should go to the Network Rail Bravo page (https://networkrail.bravosolution.co.uk), select view current opportunities, click on the link for 'Market Engagement Non Destructive Testing Training Services' to access a copy of the RFI which includes a questionnaire for suppliers to complete.
NR may be looking to tender this requirement in the near future. Any potential tender event in relation to this requirement will be issued via the NR procurement platform – BravoNR.
Please note any discussions which do occur will cease immediately should a formal competition ultimately be announced. NR is committed to ensuring fairness, openness and transparency, and to following the procurement regulations. The Periodic Indicative Notice is issued solely for the purpose of conducting pre-procurement market engagement via a request for information and does not constitute any commitment to undertake any procurement in the future. Interested parties will not be prejudiced by any response or failure to respond to the PIN event and a response to this PIN does not guarantee any invitation to participate in this event or any future procurement.
This PIN does not constitute a call for competition to procure any services, supplies or works mentioned in this PIN and NR will not accept any proposals offered in response to this PIN. NR is not liable for any costs, fees, or expenses incurred by any party in replying to or attending any PIN event. Any procurement of any services, supplies or works by NR will be carried out strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Utilities Regulations 2016 or otherwise.