Awarded contract

45,000,000

Details

Value
45,000,000
Topic
Railway-track inspection services
Published
28 January 2026

Tender description

Network Rail has awarded national Framework Agreements for the provision of Track Bed Investigations for England & Wales, and for Scotland. The framework scope includes standard and deep track bed investigations, concrete coring and various drainage surveys, which are used for the design and specification of the trackbed for track renewals. The framework is specific to the Engineering Services Design Delivery function in Network Rail. The workbank comes from client teams in the Network Rail regions who will call-off from the framework when track bed investigations are required. Due to the work-related nature of these activities, the framework terms & conditions are based on the NR29 Framework Contract for Network Rail Amended NEC4 Engineering and Construction Short Contract. The framework will run for an initial period of five years, and Network Rail will have the option to extend for two further one-year periods, providing the flexibility for a five, six or seven year framework duration. Lot 1: Track Bed Investigation Framework - England & Wales The specification for the Track Bed Investigation Framework covers the following track bed investigation and associated works, and site & factual reporting which are to be provided for track sites in England & Wales: Standard Track Bed Investigation: • Determining the condition of the existing track bed and sub-grade • Assessing the condition of the existing lineside drainage. • Dynamic Cone Penetration (DCP) to determine the soil structural properties. • Trial trenches to determine drainage paths and lateral variation of track bed materials. • Categorising of Spent Ballast for disposal • Measuring structural constraints (clearances) to support the construction phase and compliance with COM Regulations 2015 (Design Risk Register) to determine construction risks and mitigations. Deep Track Bed Investigation • Deeper window sampling and Standard Penetration Test (SPT) using heavy probing techniques for investigating Track Bed Stabilisation sites. Additional Works and Other Investigation Techniques • Stiffness Measurement surveys using Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD), and Light Weight Deflectometer (LWD). • Drainage level surveys/topographical surveys to support the design track of drainage systems. • Concrete coring of slab track or other associated foundations • Material testing • Rail and sleeper deflection monitoring using cameras, Geophones or similar. Lot 2: Track Bed Investigation Framework - Scotland's Railway The specification for the Track Bed Investigation Framework covers the following track bed investigation and associated works, and site & factual reporting which are provided in Scotland: Standard Track Bed Investigation: • Determining the condition of the existing track bed and sub-grade • Assessing the condition of the existing lineside drainage. • Dynamic Cone Penetration (DCP) to determine the soil structural properties. • Trial trenches to determine drainage paths and lateral variation of track bed materials. • Categorising of Spent Ballast for disposal • Measuring structural constraints (clearances) to support the construction phase and compliance with COM Regulations 2015 (Design Risk Register) to determine construction risks and mitigations. Deep Track Bed Investigation • Deeper window sampling and Standard Penetration Test (SPT) using heavy probing techniques for investigating Track Bed Stabilisation sites. Additional Works and Other Investigation Techniques • Stiffness Measurement surveys using Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD), and Light Weight Deflectometer (LWD). • Drainage level surveys/topographical surveys to support the design track of drainage systems. • Concrete coring of slab track or other associated foundations • Material testing • Rail and sleeper deflection monitoring using cameras, Geophones or similar.

Timeline

  1. Completed: Award date22 October 2025
  2. Completed: Award published28 January 2026
    Current notice

About the buyer

Network Rail runs a safe, efficient railway, and buys as a central public body split between a national Route Services team and its regional routes. Suppliers must register on BravoNR, Network Rail's procurement portal, before bidding for work. Every prospective supplier also registers on Find a Tender, the Cabinet Office's digital platform. Safety-critical work needs audited status on RISQS, the rail industry's supplier qualification scheme, before Network Rail contracts directly. A contract register lists every national contract and framework, with a contact for each. Network Rail's latest spend reporting covers Control Period 7, the 2024-25 financial year.

Procurement spend from central entities makes up 66% of overall UK public spend.

Over the past 5 years, most of Network Rail's contract awards have been in IT services, architectural and engineering services and construction work.

Relevant CPV codes

  • 71631470 · Railway-track inspection services

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