Notice Information
Notice Title
992,638
Notice Description
This is a voluntary ex ante transparency (VEAT) notice. This notice is to indicate that Network Rail intends to contract with Aptitude Software Limited, for the Software licencing + support & maintenance services.
Lot Information
Lot 1
This requirement is for a three year renewal for the Microgen Aptitude Software Licence, Maintenance and Support Agreement with Aptitude Software Limited via a Single Tender Action (STA) commencing on 23/06/2025. The "Track access billing programme" has been established within Route Services IT to deliver a consolidated software application, database and infrastructure for the recording of Track Access, Compensation Payments (Planned and Unplanned) and the maintenance of reference data. The Billing programme is a strategic programme to improve the way in which the billing function for Network Rail (NR) is carried out and managed by the organisation. As a longstanding client of Aptitude since 2008, Network Rail has leveraged Aptitude Software Limited platform to support critical internal operations through a customised application built and maintained using the Aptitude Platform. Key Areas of Support: * Web Application Development Network Rail uses the Aptitude Platform's web application generator to develop and operate an internal application. Uniquely, they run their environment on Microsoft Windows, utilising IIS (Internet Information Services) and .NET technologies, rather than the more common Linux-based setup. * Calculation Capability The platform supports core business calculations - specifically, those used to model and determine the fees other companies must pay to access and use railway infrastructure. These financial models are essential to Network Rail's operations. * Ongoing Upgrades and Technical Support Aptitude has supported several platform upgrades over the years, with the most recent migration to version 24.4.1. We assisted in resolving issues during this process, particularly compatibility concerns with Windows Server 2022. * Testing and Migration Status Network Rail is in the final phase of testing their newly upgraded application. Most system tests have been completed successfully, with a few final validations currently underway. * Continued Engagement While direct development work has been minimal since 2019, Aptitude continues to provide proactive technical support, version upgrades, and assistance with troubleshooting to ensure continued platform stability.
Procurement Information
This award is compliant with the New Procurement Act 2023 under section 41 referencing I7 Sch. 5 para. 4 and para. 5 ; competition is absent for technical reasons and NR's C&P Policy. The Rationale is as follows: * Due to a particular supplier having intellectual property rights or other exclusive rights, only that supplier can supply the goods, services or works required, and * There are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works. * due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only a particular supplier can supply the goods, services or works required, and * There are no other suppliers in the marketplace that are able to replace NR's legacy billing systems with a single solution that could manage changes to the billing rules more effectively and to more efficiently manage the workload and improve the accuracy of revenue collection. The Contract Award Notice also noted that the estimated total value was based on Network Rail's current forecast of future spend under the frameworks. The Contract Award Notice noted that the values are Network Rail's best estimate based on currently available information, and in particular that any third party spend is not certain at the stage the Contract Award Notice was published. Please note that this is a voluntary transparency notice and the contracts have not yet been awarded.
Notice Details
Publication & Lifecycle
- Open Contracting ID
- ocds-h6vhtk-0546ef
- Publication Source
- Find A Tender Service
- Latest Notice
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/031626-2025
- Current Stage
- Award
- All Stages
- Award
Procurement Classification
- Notice Type
- Award Notice
- Procurement Type
- Standard
- Procurement Category
- Services
- Procurement Method
- Limited
- Procurement Method Details
- Negotiated without publication of a contract notice
- Tender Suitability
- Not specified
- Awardee Scale
- Large
Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)
- CPV Divisions
72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
-
- CPV Codes
72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
Notice Value(s)
- Tender Value
- Not specified
- Lots Value
- Not specified
- Awards Value
- Not specified
- Contracts Value
- Not specified
Notice Dates
- Publication Date
- 11 Jun 20258 months ago
- Submission Deadline
- Not specified
- Future Notice Date
- Not specified
- Award Date
- 10 Jun 20258 months ago
- Contract Period
- Not specified - Not specified
- Recurrence
- Not specified
Notice Status
- Tender Status
- Complete
- Lots Status
- Not Specified
- Awards Status
- Active
- Contracts Status
- Active
Buyer & Supplier
Contracting Authority (Buyer)
- Main Buyer
- NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LTD
- Contact Name
- Not specified
- Contact Email
- humza.tayyab@networkrail.co.uk
- Contact Phone
- +44 1908781000
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
Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)
View full OCDS Record for this contracting process
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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