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Provision of Services for Drugs & Alcohol Testing and Medication Advice Line

Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd

This public procurement record has 6 releases in its history.

Award

05 Oct 2026 at 14:44

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

02 Jul 2026 at 09:57

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
TenderUpdate

08 Jan 2026 at 08:28

UK4 - Tender Notice
Tender

06 Jan 2026 at 16:03

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

29 Oct 2025 at 11:49

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

27 Oct 2025 at 15:52

UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Network Rail Infrastructure Limited has procured UK-wide drug and alcohol testing and medication advice services for its rail workforce. The work covers random testing, testing for cause and after incidents or accidents, and active monitoring under a support programme. It also includes point-of-care testing kits with a Medical Review Officer service, testing Network Rail Occupational Health Service employee testers, and a medication advice line. The requirement combines workplace health services with drug-detection testing. Services are intended for delivery across the United Kingdom. The scope brings together routine and event-triggered testing, support and monitoring, testing equipment and specialist medical review, alongside telephone advice on medication.

The procurement is complete: Abbott Toxicology Ltd was selected and the contract was signed. The award date was 2 July 2026; the contract runs from 20 October 2026 to 19 October 2036. Its value is £8,613,516 excluding VAT (£10,336,220 including VAT). Network Rail used a competitive flexible procedure under a selective route, with a shortlist of up to four candidates and an electronic auction for commercial negotiation. Three suppliers submitted final bids. Evaluation weighted technical quality at 70% and price at 30%; candidates needed at least 50% of the technical weighting to reach the auction. The technical assessment covered service delivery, safety, reporting, quality assurance, social value, mobilisation and data protection. The commercial model covered eight service lines.

For suppliers preparing for a similar requirement from Network Rail, this award demonstrates demand for a joined-up UK-wide service that can handle routine and incident-led drug and alcohol testing, active monitoring, point-of-care kits, medical review and medication advice. Credible providers need the operational reach and workforce to deliver these services across the rail network, maintain continuity and mobilise effectively. The buyer’s assessment also placed substantial emphasis on technical quality, including safety, reporting, quality assurance, data protection and clear service-delivery methods. Social value expectations included equality, diversity and inclusion, carbon reduction and modern slavery. Candidates were expected to demonstrate financial capacity, relevant technical capability and mandatory additional accreditations, and to meet legal and data-protection requirements. The award went to a large toxicology supplier; SMEs were considered suitable for the requirement.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of Services for Drugs & Alcohol Testing and Medication Advice Line

Notice Description

The provision of Drug and Alcohol Testing services: Random Drug & Alcohol testing programme For-cause and post incident/accident D&A testing Drug & Alcohol Support programme active monitoring testing Supply of POCT kits with Medical Review Officer (MRO) service Test the Tester for Network Rail Occupational Health Service employee testers Medication advice line

Planning Information

The purpose of this PME is to: • Engage with the supply market and understand the level of interest in bidding for this potential future opportunity; • Allow suppliers who are interested in any potential future tender activity relating to this requirement, to be aware of the procurement platform that will be used, and provide them with the steps to complete qualification to this platform if requested (should they not have already done so); • Identify suitable suppliers available in the market; • Identify the capacity and capabilities of the suppliers available in the market; • Identify any additional services, requirements or concepts that Network Rail have not considered – this information may then be considered to support Network Rail in developing/updating its specification for the tender opportunity; • Gain feedback on the draft specification, and other aspects of the potential strategy for this opportunity, such as suppliers preferred contract length. Please note that any content received in response to this PME will be used purely for information purposes only and will not be deemed as forming part of any proposed bid or potential future tender. The scope of services for the opportunity will be more fully described in the associated tender documents. In addition, the contract and procurement process will provide for potential transfer of either the procurement process or the resulting contract itself in the event that this is required due to the establishment of GBR, rail reform or other corporate restructuring. The Market Engagement (ME) Document 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, scroll down and select: Provision of Services for Drugs & Alcohol Testing and Medication Advice Line

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05d47b
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/093893-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

38544000 - Drug detection apparatus

85100000 - Health services

85140000 - Miscellaneous health services

85147000 - Company health services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£10,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
£10,000,000 £10M-£100M
Awards Value
£8,613,516 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
£8,613,516 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
5 Oct 20263 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
24 Dec 2025Expired
Award Date
2 Jul 20263 months ago
Contract Period
20 Oct 2026 - 19 Oct 2036 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd
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
Postcode Area
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

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Abbott Toxicology Limited

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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