Scope
Reference
WS2124341025 / LTC-23-607
Description
The London Trams Control system was originally installed in the late 1990s when the system was constructed and comprised two distinct elements:
1. The Trams Management System (TMS), installed in the depot at Therapia Lane and comprises software and hardware components responsible for taking information from equipment across the tram network and providing status and control capabilities to control room operational and maintenance staff. The TMS additionally performs a SCADA function, including software and Remote Terminal Units (RTUs) at the various traction power supply substations positioned across the network.
2. The Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) installed at various locations around the tram network, provide autonomous local decision making and control of aspects of the signalling and control system. Communication between these elements is provided by a distributed fibre-optic communications system.
The PLCs are original equipment and have been in use since the inauguration of the network at the turn of the century. The TMS is a more recent installation having been replaced in 2014.
Both parts of the control system contain elements that are becoming obsolete and nearing life expiry.
TfL is therefore procuring the design, delivery and implementation of a replacement system to encompass the full control system requirements, replacing the existing TMS, RTUs and PLCs. The requirement will also cover ongoing maintenance and support services.
The procurement is for award of two contracts to the same supplier, one for the design, delivery and implementation of the replacement system, and one for the ongoing maintenance and support services. The maintenance contract will commence following the implementation of the replacement system, on a minimum term of five years and an option to extend for the life of the system.
The estimated 7-year contract duration entered covers the estimated duration of the system replacement (est. 2 years) and initial maintenance term (5 years), with the option to extend the maintenance services for up to a further 15 years (covering the expected system life of 20 years total).
The contracting entity for this procurement will be Tramtrack Croydon Limited, which is a 100% owned subsidiary of Transport for London.
Total value (estimated)
- £24,000,000 excluding VAT
- £28,800,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 4 January 2027 to 31 December 2033
- Possible extension to 31 December 2048
- 21 years, 11 months, 28 days
Description of possible extension:
The maintenance and support services contract includes options to extend the contract for the life of the system.
Options
The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid.
The maintenance and support services contract shall allow for enhancement and renewal support to meet future network demand and asset management strategy.
Main procurement category
Works
Additional procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 32570000 - Communications equipment
- 34600000 - Railway and tramway locomotives and rolling stock and associated parts
- 45230000 - Construction work for pipelines, communication and power lines, for highways, roads, airfields and railways; flatwork
Contract locations
- UKI - London
Participation
Legal and financial capacity conditions of participation
Detailed within the Procurement Specific Questionnaire for this requirement.
Technical ability conditions of participation
Detailed within the Procurement Specific Questionnaire for this requirement.
Submission
Submission type
Requests to participate
Deadline for requests to participate
5 September 2025, 2:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
TfL e-Tendering:
This procurement process is being conducted electronically on TfL's e-Tendering portal SAP Ariba. Participation and Tender documentation will be available on this portal to all interested Applicants.
The portal can be accessed via the following link:
https://service.ariba.com/Supplier.aw
Central Digital Platform:
As part of the participation, Applicants should also be registered on the Central Digital Platform and have completed all the relevant registration questions. Further details can be found here:
SAP Ariba Registration:
The following instructions explain TfL's e-Tendering portal and provide guidance on how interested parties will be able to communicate with TfL in relation to this exercise.
(1) To register or to check if you are already registered to SAP Ariba, log on to https://service.ariba.com/Supplier.aw Interested parties must read the instructions carefully before proceeding with registration.
(2) Once you have registered on SAP Ariba (or are already registered), you must also register on TfL's SAP Ariba system through the following link https://s1-eu.ariba.com/Sourcing/Main/ad/selfRegistration?realm=TfL
Guidance on registering is available through the following link: here https://content.tfl.gov.uk/supplier-registration.pdf
(3) Upon completion of steps 1 and/or 2, interested parties must inform LesleyRossi@tfl.gov.uk with the following details:
- your organisation name as registered in SAP Ariba;
- your applicable supplier ID associated with TfL in SAP Ariba, in the form of SM Vendor ID, or ERP ID, or AN ID, or ACM ID;
- your single point of contact registered on SAP Ariba; first name and surname;
- your email address registered with SAP Ariba; and
- your role in the organisation as registered with SAP Ariba;
Completion of these steps will enable TfL to invite interested parties to the sourcing event in SAP Ariba to gain access to the procurement documents, allowing interested Applicants to view documents and submit their Participation stage responses via SAP Ariba.
Please contact Ariba_Supplier_Enablement@tfl.gov.uk in the first instance should you experience any problems with the portal for issues related to items 1 and 2 above.
Applicants must read the instructions carefully before proceeding with registration and are advised to satisfy themselves that they understand all the requirements of the procurement and terms of the contract and the rules of the procurement process before submitting their participation and tender responses.
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
8 December 2026
Award criteria
| Name | Description | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technical | Criteria are further described within the tender documentation. |
Quality | 50% |
| Commercial | Criteria are further described within the tender documentation. |
Cost | 40% |
| Social Value | Criteria are further described within the tender documentation. |
Quality | 10% |
Other information
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Competitive flexible procedure
Special regime
Utilities
Competitive flexible procedure description
This tender will follow the competitive flexible procedure comprising the following stages:
Stage 1) Participation Stage - comprising a Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ, including Conditions of Participation) and Declaration forms in accordance with the Participation Stage documents.
The four highest scoring compliant Applicants will progress to the following:
Stage 2) Invitation to Submit Initial Tender (ISIT) Stage - comprising Technical, Social value and Commercial submissions and in accordance with the ITT documents.
TfL will reserve the right to dialogue with Bidders during the ISIT stage. TfL may also elect to hold one or more negotiation stages in accordance with the ITT documents. If TfL proceeds with one or more negotiation stages, TfL will proceed with:
3) Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) Stage
4) Invitation to Submit Final Tenders (ISFT) Stage
All stages are further described in the Participation and Tender documents which will be available on TfL's SAP Ariba e-tendering portal to interested and registered suppliers.
Contracting authority
Transport for London
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PHMT-6197-NWNZ
5 Endeavour Square
London
E20 1JN
United Kingdom
Email: LesleyRossi@tfl.gov.uk
Region: UKI41 - Hackney and Newham
Organisation type: Public authority - central government