Planning

Rail Adhesion MSQ

TRANSPORT FOR LONDON

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

Planning

03 Oct 2024 at 09:21

Market Engagement Notice
Planning

03 Oct 2024 at 09:14

Market Engagement Notice
Planning

18 Sep 2024 at 10:40

Market Engagement Notice
Planning

12 Aug 2024 at 12:56

Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Transport for London (TfL) has initiated the procurement process for "Rail Adhesion MSQ," classified under the public transport services by railways (CPV: 60210000). Currently in the planning stage, this tender falls within the transport industry category and focuses on enhancing rail adhesion management. The opportunity caters to suppliers within the United Kingdom and is particularly inclusive of SMEs. The pre-procurement activity involves market engagement to request feedback and innovative solutions for rail adhesion challenges. Key dates include the submission deadline for the Market Sounding Questionnaire (MSQ) by 12:00 midday on Monday, 23rd September 2024.

This tender represents a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in rail solutions to collaborate with TfL and contribute to improving rail safety and service reliability. Companies adept in offering innovative, cost-effective, and efficient solutions for railhead contamination management are well-suited to compete. Given the diverse infrastructure of TfL’s network, solutions must account for a variety of conditions, including different station designs and rolling stock. This engagement provides a platform for potential suppliers to showcase their capabilities and influence future competitive procurement processes, fostering growth and establishing long-term business relationships with TfL.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Rail Adhesion MSQ

Notice Description

Transport for London's Open Innovation Team works with market innovators of all sizes to help solve some of the challenges that TfL faces where there is a need for more innovative solutions. Rather than prescribing solutions, we instead look to the market for creative, resourceful and novel approaches to problem solving to create new value for TfL by doing things better, quicker or cheaper. Transport for London (TfL) relies on adhesion management to maintain a safe, reliable, and high-frequency railway system while preserving asset health. Both high and low friction levels at the wheel-rail interface can cause safety issues like delays, derailments, and asset damage. To address these, TfL uses various operational, procedural, and technical solutions. During autumnal months, outdoor sections of the network (55% of the London Underground) face low adhesion due to fallen leaves mixing with iron oxides on rails. This can lead to delays, cancellations, wheel flats, and even collisions or derailments. TfL's current solutions include vegetation management, rail adhesion trains, Traction Gel Applicators, seasonal timetables, and reduced brake rates. Any new solution must consider the diverse infrastructure of TfL's network, which includes a mix of above-ground and underground stations with varying platform dimensions and designs. The network also features different rolling stock and signalling systems, some automated and others manually driven. Service intervals range from 22 to 36 trains per hour. Any proposed solution should ensure safety across these varied conditions without compromising service frequency or asset longevity. Problem statement: How might we target railhead contamination such that we retain optimal (or as near as feasible) levels of friction on the railhead; allowing us to run a high-frequency service year-round regardless of the weather? Additional information: TfL wishes to engage the market to seek feedback on emerging approaches and solutions for rail adhesion management. Interested respondents are required to email MSQinnovation@tfl.gov.uk to request the Rail Adhesion - Market Sounding Questionnaire (MSQ) for completion by 12:00 (midday) on Monday 23 September 2024 in order to receive the MSQ. This is a pre-procurement activity and does not imply any commitment to any future procurement process. The purpose is to seek feedback on TfL's approach, appetite from industry and information on alternative solutions that are being developed in the marketplace for similar schemes. Participation in the PIN and subsequent MSQ is not a prerequisite to, and will not prejudice, participation in any future competitive process. The information contained in this PIN or in any communication made between TfL and any supplier in connection with this should not be relied upon as constituting a contract, agreement, or representation that any contract will be offered as a result of this PIN and MSQ. If TfL decides to progress with any procurement exercise , TfL will publish a separate contract notice.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-9beb10dc-ecae-49af-82b2-1cd2172833e3
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/6f685bd2-6d06-4a89-86f2-6c3a3627cfa9
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Not specified
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

CPV Codes

60210000 - Public transport services by railways

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
3 Oct 20241 years ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
4 Oct 2024Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
TRANSPORT FOR LONDON
Contact Name
Valentina Laughton
Contact Email
msqinnovation@tfl.gov.uk
Contact Phone
077 2010 2283

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
E20 1JN
Post Town
East London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI4 Inner London - East
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI41 Hackney and Newham
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Newham
Electoral Ward
Stratford Olympic Park
Westminster Constituency
Stratford and Bow

Further Information

Notice Documents

Notice URLs

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts. 

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