Planning

Adhesion Prediction Tool Replacement

TRANSPORT FOR LONDON

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

16 May 2025 at 13:16

PlanningUpdate

16 May 2025 at 11:45

PlanningUpdate

16 May 2025 at 11:42

Planning

16 May 2025 at 11:38

Summary of the contracting process

Transport for London (TfL) has initiated a planning stage for a contract titled "Adhesion Prediction Tool Replacement," focusing on the railway industry. The procurement process involves early market engagement to refine the project's specifications and does not bind TfL or suppliers to any commitments at this phase. The engagement includes preliminary notices, interactive supplier sessions, and a supplier day, with interested parties invited to submit their responses by 1 August 2025. The procurement is categorized under services with a special regime for utilities and covers industry-specific software packages related to railway transport services. The contract period is set to start in March 2026, concluding in March 2029, with procurement carrying out in the UK region, specifically at TfL’s headquarters in London.

This tender presents significant growth opportunities for businesses specializing in custom software development, railway transport support services, and those offering programming services of packaged software products. Companies with advanced technological capabilities in weather data processing and railway system integration are well-positioned to compete, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Through innovation, suppliers can contribute to developing a custom adhesion prediction tool, addressing rail adhesion challenges and enhancing passenger transport efficiency in urban environments. By participating, businesses can influence the specification of the project and potentially secure long-term partnerships with TfL.

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Notice Title

Adhesion Prediction Tool Replacement

Notice Description

This notice is issued by TfL to notify the market of our intention to carry out market engagement and a potential future tender which may commence in March 2026. The total contract value is unknown at this time we are embark on this market engagement process. This process does not commit TfL or potential suppliers to any spend. The specification has yet to be developed, however the findings from this market engagement process will inform the final specification. Scope: To transport the high number of passengers required in a modern city constrained by legacy tunnels and platform lengths needs more frequent trains which in turn requires higher acceleration and brake rates. However, to prevent wheel spin under acceleration or wheel slide under braking requires a minimum level of adhesion (friction) at the wheel rail interface. Adhesion Controllers Condition Assessment Tool (ACCAT) has been employed over the last 20+ years on the Central line and approaching 6 years on the Sub Surface Railway. Using the underlying logic, the ACCAT processes weather data provided by a 3rd party and several other inputs to predict the available rail adhesion and outputs recommendations in the following three categories: 1. The operation of railhead treatment trains, thus improving the level of adhesion available to trains. 2. Brake rate reduction, thus reducing the adhesion required to stop the train. It also recommends when an imposed brake rate reduction can be removed 3. Severe weather warnings TfL is interested in the innovation software development solutions offered by the market for the development of a custom adhesion prediction tool.

Planning Information

This exercise does not form part of any formal procurement process. All responses will be carefully considered but will not bind TfL to any approach to the procurement, nor will responses be treated as conveying any promise or commitment on the part of the respondent. Early Market Engagement process: - 1) Preliminary engagement notice - 2) Interested suppliers submit a response to MS form: https://forms.office.com/e/mxVLrTJM8Y - 3) Preliminary market engagement document issued to interested Suppliers - 4) Supplier day - 5) Interactive Supplier session If you have any questions in regards to this preliminary market engagement process please contact the Procurement Manager, Oluwatobi Omoniyi (oluwatobiomoniyi@tfl.gov.uk) TfL reserves the right to conduct further market engagement in the future if required.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0515bb
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/022260-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

48 - Software package and information systems

60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

63 - Supporting and auxiliary transport services; travel agencies services

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support


CPV Codes

48100000 - Industry specific software package

60200000 - Railway transport services

63711000 - Support services for railway transport

72210000 - Programming services of packaged software products

72230000 - Custom software development services

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
16 May 20259 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
28 May 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
2 Mar 2026 - 1 Mar 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
TRANSPORT FOR LONDON
Contact Name
Oluwatobi Omoniyi
Contact Email
oluwatobiomoniyi@tfl.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

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
TLI London

Local Authority
Newham
Electoral Ward
Stratford Olympic Park
Westminster Constituency
Stratford and Bow

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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