Scope
Description
Civils examinations within Network Rail refer to the inspection, examination and reporting of structural assets to ensure the safety, reliability, and longevity of railway infrastructure. These examinations help identify defects, monitor structural integrity, and determine necessary maintenance or repair works to prevent failures and ensure continued safe operation of the rail network. The framework's scope, which will cover critical infrastructure, including bridges, culverts, retaining walls, coastal and estuary defences, underwater structures, and tunnels.
Please note the estimated spend under this framework is £113,000,000.00 Excluding VAT over the 8 year period of the framework. The value of the notice is £136,000,000.00 excluding to allow fo an unexpected spend which may be required through the framework. All spend is estimated and may vary depending on demand and requirements.
Commercial tool
Establishes a framework
Total value (estimated)
- £136,000,000 excluding VAT
- £163,200,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2030
- Possible extension to 30 June 2034
- 8 years
Description of possible extension:
Extension 2+1+1
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 71315300 - Building surveying services
Contract locations
- PL5 - South-Western
- UKL - Wales
- UKI - London
Lot 1. Wales & Western Tunnels
Description
Civils Examination of Tunnels
Lot value (estimated)
- £9,892,730 excluding VAT
- £11,871,276 including VAT
Framework lot values may be shared with other lots
Same for all lots
CPV classifications, contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 2. Bridges, Culverts, Retaining Walls, Underwater, Coastal & Estuary, Ancillaries - Cvils Examinations
Description
Civils Examinations of - Bridges, Culverts, Retaining Walls, Underwater, Coastal & Estuary, Ancillaries
Lot value (estimated)
- £103,402,462 excluding VAT
- £124,082,954 including VAT
Framework lot values may be shared with other lots
Same for all lots
CPV classifications, contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Framework
Maximum number of suppliers
3
Maximum percentage fee charged to suppliers
0%
Justification for framework term over 8 years
Not Applicable
Framework operation description
The framework will operate under a schedule of rates. The schedule of rates will be used to determine the cost of an annual work bank. For the commercial evaluation of the framework each bidder will provide a range of costs within a pricing document which will then create a total cost to be used in evaluation.
Lot 1 - Supplier will recieve 100% of the work bank for the lot
Lot 2 - Supplier 1 / 2 will recieve 100% of the work bank for its allocated route within the region
Award method when using the framework
Without competition
Contracting authorities that may use the framework
Establishing party only
Participation
Particular suitability
Lot 1. Wales & Western Tunnels
Lot 2. Bridges, Culverts, Retaining Walls, Underwater, Coastal & Estuary, Ancillaries - Cvils Examinations
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Submission
Enquiry deadline
4 November 2025, 11:59pm
Submission type
Requests to participate
Deadline for requests to participate
11 November 2025, 11:59pm
Submission address and any special instructions
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Suppliers to be invited to tender
Lot 1. Wales & Western Tunnels
5 suppliers
Selection criteria:
The top scoring 5 suppliers will be taken through from stage 1 PSQ to stage 2 ITTPSQ will be 100% technical follows by an ITT as per the below weightings
Lot 2. Bridges, Culverts, Retaining Walls, Underwater, Coastal & Estuary, Ancillaries - Cvils Examinations
5 suppliers
Selection criteria:
Top 5 scoring bidders will be taken through to ITTPSQ will be 100% technical follows by an ITT as per the below weightings
Award decision date (estimated)
1 April 2026
Award criteria
Lot 1. Wales & Western Tunnels
| Name | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| ITT | Quality | 60% |
| ITT | Price | 40% |
Lot 2. Bridges, Culverts, Retaining Walls, Underwater, Coastal & Estuary, Ancillaries - Cvils Examinations
| Name | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| ITT | Quality | 60% |
| ITT | Cost | 40% |
Other information
Applicable trade agreements
- Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
- Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Competitive flexible procedure
Special regime
Utilities
Competitive flexible procedure description
Network Rail will carry out a conditions of participation stage (requiring completion of a procurement specific questionnaire) followed by a multi- stage tender process consisting of 2 stages down selecting each stage as follows:
Stage 1 - PSQ - Technical - 100% Weighting - Top 5 Consultants to Progress
Stage 2 - ITT - Technical 60% - Commercial 40% - No. Consultants awarded - Lot 1 - 1 Consultant - Lot 2 - 2 Consultants - 1 aligned to each route
Documents
Documents to be provided after the tender notice
Bravo Project Reference - project_42363 - #40144 - CEFA Structures Examinations
PQQ: pqq_3727 - W&W Civils Examination Framework Agreement
Contracting authority
NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PNZN-9524-VCQJ
Waterloo General Office
London
SE1 8SW
United Kingdom
Contact name: Amy Slocombe
Email: amy.slocombe@networkrail.co.uk
Website: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/
Region: UKI45 - Lambeth
Organisation type: Public authority - central government