Planning

London Underground Central Line Audible Alarm Unit - Design & Replacement of Combined Power Supply / Power-Amplifier Printed Circuit Board

TRANSPORT FOR LONDON

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

12 Sep 2025 at 15:41

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Transport for London is currently in the planning stage for a tender involving the design and replacement of the Combined Power Supply/Power-Amplifier Printed Circuit Board for the London Underground Central Line Audible Alarm Unit on the 1992 Tube Stock. This procurement process focuses on identifying suitable suppliers who can design, replace, and test the necessary components to ensure continued operation and safety of the audible alarm units. Interested parties are required to complete and return a Preliminary Market Engagement Document via email by the 2nd of October 2025. The procurement falls under the industry category of electromechanical equipment, alarm systems, and public transport services by railways, with the total gross value estimated at £220,000. The contract period is scheduled from April 2026 to March 2028, with the procurement method aligned with a non-threshold utility special regime. The procurement is regional to London, UK.

This tender provides significant opportunities for businesses specialising in low-volume, safety-critical electronics, particularly those focused on electromechanical and railway systems. Companies with expertise in producing and testing printed circuit boards and those capable of managing obsolescence effectively are well-positioned to compete. The phased development model calls for initial prototyping, batch production, and the possibility of scaling, allowing businesses with strong capacity and robust assurance testing capabilities to demonstrate their strengths. Furthermore, firms with innovative approaches to long-term support in electromechanical equipment can leverage this opportunity to establish themselves as key suppliers for Transport for London.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

London Underground Central Line Audible Alarm Unit - Design & Replacement of Combined Power Supply / Power-Amplifier Printed Circuit Board

Notice Description

Scope Description The proposed tender is intended to secure LUL 92TS Central Line Audible Alarm Unit (AAU) - Design & Replacement of Combined Power Supply (PSU)/ Power-Amplifier Printed Circuit Board (PCB) updates required on the 1992 Tube Stock (92TS) Central Line of the Preliminary Market Engagement document. Context: TfL is exploring market interest and capability for remediation of 92TS Audible Alarm Units (AAU) by replacing the combined Power Supply Unit (PSU)/Power Amplifier Printed Circuit Board (PCB) inside each AAU, carrying out required factory and site testing, and returning fully functional AAUs for service. The AAU comprises two internal boards - Combined PSU/Power-Amplifier PCB Voice synthesis PCB Failures have occurred exclusively on the Power Supply Unit (PSU)/Power-Amplifier PCB, which is no longer supported by the Original Engineering Manufacturer (OEM). Given the AAU's safety-critical function, trains cannot operate without it, making obsolescence remediation essential. TfL intends to proceed in phases: Phase 1 - Development of 2 prototype combined PSU/Power-Amplifier PCB units (PCB design validation, Final Acceptance Testing (FAT) and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT)) Phase 2 - Production of 18 units of combined PSU/Power-Amplifier PCB subject to prototype approval. Phase 3 - Potential Future Demand (option) - up to 180 additional combined PSU/Power-Amplifier PCB units Objective: Identify suppliers with capability to design, replace, and test PSU/Power-Amplifier PCBs within existing AAU housings, while maintaining fit, form, and function equivalence. Understand supplier approaches to obsolescence management, aiming for 15-20 years of ongoing support. Assess capacity to deliver through a phased model: prototypes, batch production, and potential scaling. Evaluate supplier test and assurance capability, including: Final Acceptance Testing (FAT) Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) Compliance with RIA 12 and EN 50121-3-2 (EMC), and BS EN 61373 Cat 1, Class B (shock & vibration). Gain insight into market best practice for low-volume, safety-critical electronics.

Planning Information

Engagement process description Please email HaliseAkkaya@tfl.gov.uk to request and complete the Preliminary Market Engagement Document. Please answer all questions and send your completed questionnaire by email to the Procurement Manager, Halise Akkaya ( HaliseAkkaya@tfl.gov.uk ) before 17:00 GMT on 2nd October 2025. Late Responses will not be considered. Non-responses to this expression of interest will be deemed as not interested. If bidders do not choose to participate in the Early Market Engagement process, this will not affect the ability to participate in the tender, if Expression of Interest to participate in the tender is received by the closing date. Your answers will be treated as TfL restricted in accordance with TfL standard S1782. Information security classification. This means that your answers will only be visible to people authorised by TfL, typically only the TfL staff involved in the procurement.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0599c0
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/056351-2025
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
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

31 - Electrical machinery, apparatus, equipment and consumables; lighting

35 - Security, fire-fighting, police and defence equipment

50 - Repair and maintenance services

60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

CPV Codes

31720000 - Electromechanical equipment

35121700 - Alarm systems

50222000 - Repair and maintenance services of rolling stock

60210000 - Public transport services by railways

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£200,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
12 Sep 20255 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
2 Oct 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
TRANSPORT FOR LONDON
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
bsfaribaadministration@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

Download

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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