Scope
Description
Design, manufacture, supply, install, and commission of 1 x full cab train driver simulator, and 6 x desktop/lite simulators including a warranty, maintenance & support service.
Chiltern Railways requires the provision of one (1) single full cab train driver simulator to support driver training, route familiarisation, operational competency assessments, and degraded / emergency scenario handling. The simulator must replicate the operational characteristics of Chiltern's Class 168 train and the associated Chiltern route network and signalling systems. The simulator will have a full trainers desk to interface and control the simulator. The simulator will be located at the training school in Banbury.
Chiltern Railways require 6 x desktop/lite simulators. The simulators must replicate the operational characteristics of Chiltern's Class 168 train and the associated Chiltern route network and signalling systems. The 6 desktops simulators will be located at driver depot locations and primarily used to undertake ongoing competency assessments and continuous professional development training. The locations are:
Marylebone
Birmingham
Aylesbury
Banbury
Stourbridge
Bletchley
The total value of £1.5m (estimated) includes design, manufacture, supply, installation and commissioning (envisaged to be 1 year) plus software upgrades, warranty, maintenance and support services.
Total value (estimated)
- £1,500,000 excluding VAT
- £1,800,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 27 February 2026 to 31 December 2031
- 5 years, 10 months, 2 days
Main procurement category
Goods
CPV classifications
- 34151000 - Driving simulators
- 34152000 - Training simulators
Contract locations
- UKG1 - Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire
- UKI3 - Inner London - West
- UKI7 - Outer London - West and North West
- UKJ1 - Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Participation
Legal and financial capacity conditions of participation
This will be a Key Contract under Chiltern National Rail Agreement , and the supplier will be required to need to sign a Umbrella Direct Agreement with the Secretary of State for Transport, under the Railways Act 1993 (as amended from time to time including pursuant to the Transport Act 2000 and the Railways Act 2005).
CHILTERN is entitled to terminate the Contract in full by giving not less than 3 months written notice.
The Supplier shall have or demonstrate they can obtain the following insurances with a reputable insurer:
Employer's liability insurance £10m.
Public liability insurance £10m.
Professional indemnity insurance £2m.
Product Liability insurance £10m.
Comply with the Arriva Code of Conduct.
Please see the ITP for further information.
Technical ability conditions of participation
The Supplier is to hold ISO 9001, ISO 45001, ISO 14001, ISO 23019 or other equivalent standards that equal or exceed these.
Please see ITP for further information.
Particular suitability
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Submission
Submission type
Requests to participate
Deadline for requests to participate
10 November 2025, 12:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
Access to the procurement documents is restricted. Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge.
To access the Procurement Documents:
CHILTERN will be using the Market Dojo e-platform for this Procurement.
Bidders should use the link https://marketdojo.com/market-dojo-sign-up/ and follow the instructions to register as a supplier.
Once a Bidder is logged into Market Dojo it will be able to locate the Procurement by clicking Train Driver Simulators - Invitation to Participate and searching for the reference number 0B44F9D7C4
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Suppliers to be invited to tender
3 to 5 suppliers
Selection criteria:
CHILTERN intends to invite 3 to 5 Bidders to participate in Stage 2, the Invitation to Tender. See ITP for further details.
Award decision date (estimated)
20 February 2026
Award criteria
| Name | Description | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technical | Please refer to the Invitation to Tender (DRAFT) |
Quality | 50% |
| Commercial | Please refer to the Invitation to Tender (DRAFT) |
Price | 40% |
| Legal | Please refer to the Invitation to Tender (DRAFT) |
Quality | 10% |
Other information
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Competitive flexible procedure
Special regime
Utilities
Competitive flexible procedure description
This procurement will consist of the following Stages.
Stage 1 - Invitation to Participate (ITP) which includes a procurement specific questionnaire (PSQ). Bidders who are successfully shortlisted in Stage 1 will be invited to participate in Stage 2.
Stage 2 - Invitation to Tender.
Stage 3 - Bidder Briefing Event
Stage 4 - Demonstration.
Stage 5 - BAFO
Stage 6 - Preferred Bidder Stage and Contract Award.
Contracting authority
THE CHILTERN RAILWAY COMPANY LIMITED
- Companies House: 03007939
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PNPV-7838-DRMN
1 Admiral Way
Sunderland
SR3 3XP
United Kingdom
Region: UKC23 - Sunderland
Organisation type: Private utility