Planning

Supply of Tubular Stretcher Bars (TSBs)

NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Planning

27 Mar 2026 at 16:05

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

02 Jun 2025 at 14:04

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Network Rail Infrastructure Limited is seeking to engage suppliers for the procurement of Tubular Stretcher Bars (TSBs), crucial components for railway-track construction, under the category of railway materials. The contracting authority is located in London, United Kingdom, and is currently in the planning stage of the procurement process. The organisation aims to gather market interest and assess supplier capabilities through a formal market engagement exercise scheduled to conclude on 10 April 2026. Participation in this engagement exercise is voluntary and aims to prepare the supply chain for future potential opportunities within this sector.

This tender represents a significant opportunity for businesses, particularly manufacturers of railway-track construction materials and innovators in the industry, to align with Network Rail's strategic procurement requirements and potentially secure future contracts. The focus will be on products manufactured to specified standards, requiring product approval. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) are encouraged to participate, given the suitability provision within the planned procurement. With ongoing and volatile demand estimated between £1.75m to £3m annually, this contract will be vital for businesses aiming to expand their market presence and contribute to the UK's rail infrastructure development.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Supply of Tubular Stretcher Bars (TSBs)

Notice Description

This premarket engagement is looking to engage with the market to understand the level of interest and capacity for the manufacture and supply of Tubular Stretcher Bars (TSBs). As these TSBs are a safety critical component to the track they will require product approval. Historic demand over the last four years has seen an average spend of PS1.75m to PS3m a year which tranlsates to a range of 5,000 to 10,000 units sourced a year. Due to the volatile demand for this good, Network Rail is unable to forecast further than 6 months for demand.

Planning Information

Network Rail is undertaking a market engagement exercise to understand the level of interest and capacity for the manufacture and supply of Tubular Stretcher Bars (TSBs). These goods will be required to be manufactured to specified standards with product approval required. This engagement aims to gather information from suppliers who have the technical capability, production capacity, and supply-chain readiness to support Network Rail’s ongoing requirements. Documents attached to the market engagement provides detail around the TSBs and what is required. During the engagement window, suppliers may submit clarification questions using the correspondence function within Bravo. All clarification responses will be issued through the portal to ensure fairness and transparency. The Procurement Documents can be downloaded from Network Rail's BravoNR sourcing platform via this link. https://networkrail.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html From the welcome screen, access the 'Current Opportunities' link and select: pqq_3886 - Supply of Tubular Stretcher Bars (TSBs) Network Rail welcomes participation from all interested suppliers, including established manufacturers, innovators and potential new entrants to the market. Responses received will inform future strategy and ensure the supply chain is well positioned for potential forthcoming opportunities. Non participation in this market engagement will not preclude any organisation from taking part in future procurement processes. Should a formal procurement exercise be launched, Network Rail will publish a tender notice as a call for competition.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-052acb
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/028701-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

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

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation

CPV Codes

34946000 - Railway-track construction materials and supplies

34946120 - Railway materials

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
27 Mar 20264 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
1 Mar 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Mar 2027 - 1 Apr 2030 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SE1 8SW
Post Town
South East London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI4 Inner London - East
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI45 Lambeth
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Lambeth
Electoral Ward
Waterloo & South Bank
Westminster Constituency
Vauxhall and Camberwell Green

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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