Planning

Certificate Lifecycle Management Programme Core Services

NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED

This public procurement record has 5 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

04 Nov 2025 at 15:40

PlanningUpdate

23 Oct 2025 at 21:42

PlanningUpdate

23 Oct 2025 at 21:27

PlanningUpdate

23 Oct 2025 at 21:26

Planning

18 Sep 2025 at 17:57

Summary of the contracting process

Network Rail Infrastructure Limited is conducting a procurement process under the utilities regime for its Certificate Lifecycle Management Programme Core Services. This initiative, valued at approximately £800,000, focuses on the implementation of a solution to manage SSL/TLS certificates in response to emerging industry standards. The process is currently in the planning phase, with market engagement notices issued to attract potential suppliers. Interested suppliers are invited to participate in the preliminary market engagement, with the opportunity to submit structured presentations as part of their response. The latest deadline for presentation submissions has been extended to 12th November 2025, and the procurement process is expected to commence on 30th November 2025, with the contract running until 30th November 2028. The service location is primarily focused on London, United Kingdom, under the information technology services category.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in IT services, particularly those offering solutions related to software development, compliance, and security automation. The requirements for centralised and automated management of security certificates across multiple environments indicate a demand for innovative technology capable of handling large-scale infrastructure operations. Businesses with a strong track record in providing scalable IT solutions, especially those aligning with new security standards, will find this tender particularly appealing. Small to medium enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSE) are encouraged to participate, with the procurement process designed to support their involvement. This engagement will allow suppliers to position themselves as key technology partners for Network Rail, offering opportunities for growth and the potential to influence future digital strategies within the rail infrastructure sector.

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Notice Title

Certificate Lifecycle Management Programme Core Services

Notice Description

Network Rail is seeking to engage the market regarding the future procurement of a Certificate Lifecycle Management (CLM) solution. This project is driven by significant industry changes, including the CA/Browser Forum's decision to reduce the maximum lifespan of public SSL/TLS certificates over the coming years. By 2029, certificates will require renewal as frequently as every 47 days, and domain validation reuse will be limited to just 10 days. These changes are intended to enhance security but will introduce substantial operational overhead, making manual certificate management impractical and automation essential. Network Rail operates across a complex landscape of on-premises, cloud, and supplier-managed environments. A key challenge is the fragmented ownership and lack of central visibility over certificates, particularly those issued and managed by third-party suppliers. This fragmentation increases the risk of outages due to expired or misconfigured certificates and limits Network Rail's ability to monitor, renew, or enforce compliance directly. The CLM project aims to address these challenges by implementing a solution that enables the centralised, automated management of certificates throughout their lifecycle, regardless of where they are issued or managed. The solution must provide comprehensive visibility across all environments, support robust automation for renewal and validation, and enable clear supplier accountability through contractual mechanisms. This includes the ability to track certificates managed by third parties, enforce renewal responsibilities, and ensure that incidents caused by supplier failures can be managed contractually. Network Rail is inviting suppliers to demonstrate how their solutions can meet these requirements, including the ability to: Centrally track and manage certificates across all environments and suppliers. Automate certificate renewal, validation, and compliance processes. Provide visibility and control over third-party issued certificates. Support supplier accountability and contractual enforcement. Align with upcoming industry standards and security requirements. Deliver proven solutions at scale, with references from similar large infrastructure organisations. We welcome responses from suppliers offering innovative, scalable, and future-proof approaches, including those with experience in complex, multi-stakeholder environments. Suppliers are encouraged to share relevant case studies, lessons learned, and any alternative models that could help Network Rail achieve its objectives. This market engagement will inform Network Rail's approach to the procurement of a CLM solution that ensures security, operational resilience, and compliance in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Planning Information

Network Rail is inviting suppliers to participate in this preliminary market engagement for the Certificate Lifecycle Management System. The engagement process is as follows: Accessing the Documents: Suppliers should access the draft requirements and supporting documents via the Network Rail Bravo platform. Visit https://networkrail.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html, select "View Current Opportunities," and choose "Certificate Lifecycle Management Programme Core Services." The documents will be available in the attachments section; no login is required. Reviewing Requirements: Suppliers are requested to carefully review the draft requirements document and all supporting materials provided. Supplier Response - Structured Presentation: After reviewing the requirements, suppliers must prepare a structured PowerPoint presentation that addresses all elements outlined under the "Supplier Presentation Requirements for PME" section of the briefing pack. Presentations should comprehensively cover each specified area, demonstrating how your solution meets Network Rail's needs and responding to all requested points. Submission Instructions: Completed presentations must be submitted by email to Humza Tayyab at humza.tayyab@networkrail.co.uk no later than 17:00 on 12th November 2025. Please ensure your submission clearly references your organisation name and the CLM Programme. Submissions received after the deadline may not be considered. Clarifications: Any questions or requests for clarification regarding this notice should be directed to humza.tayyab@networkrail.co.uk. Review and Further Engagement: Upon receiving your completed presentation, Network Rail will review all responses and may contact suppliers for further information or discussion if necessary.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-059daa
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/070933-2025
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, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

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

72212170 - Compliance software development services

72212200 - Networking, Internet and intranet software development services

72212218 - License management software development services

72212732 - Data security software development services

72222300 - Information technology services

72260000 - Software-related services

72261000 - Software support services

72267000 - Software maintenance and repair services

72590000 - Computer-related professional services

72610000 - Computer support services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£800,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
4 Nov 20253 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
12 Nov 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
30 Nov 2025 - 30 Nov 2028 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
NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED
Contact Name
Humza Tayyab
Contact Email
humza.tayyab@networkrail.co.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

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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