Planning

Operation of RIDC Melton

NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Planning

26 Nov 2025 at 14:09

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

25 Nov 2025 at 17:37

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Network Rail Infrastructure Limited is currently in the planning stage of a public procurement process related to the operation of the Rail Innovation and Delivery Centre (RIDC) at Melton, recently renamed Test Track Melton Mowbray. This initiative, categorised under the support services industry for railway transport, is aimed at managing the test track, depot facilities, and customer rail traffic movements. The procurement is initiated as a tender and is open for market engagement to gather expressions of interest and feedback on the draft specifications. Interested parties need to respond to a questionnaire available until 23rd December 2025 via Network Rail's Bravo tendering service. The procurement covers services above the threshold with an anticipated contract period starting on 1st April 2027 and extending potentially until 31st March 2035, contingent on renewal options. The procurement is directed from Network Rail's Waterloo General Office in London, UK.

This tender offers significant business growth opportunities, notably for SMEs, given the substantial contract value of up to £31,920,000. Companies providing railway support services, especially those experienced in large-scale operational management, will find this opportunity well-suited to their expertise. Additionally, businesses looking to establish long-term relationships in the transportation infrastructure sector may benefit from the framework agreement structure and Network Rail's central government affiliation. To participate, businesses should ensure they are registered on Bravo and respond to the market engagement promptly to maximise their prospects of being considered for this lucrative and strategically important contract.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Operation of RIDC Melton

Notice Description

This is a preliminary market engagement exercise at this stage only to receive expressions of interest and feedback on Network Rail's requirement via a questionnaire. The requirement relates to the operation of Rail Innovation and Delivery Centre (RIDC) - Melton. This site has been renamed as Test Track Melton Mowbray recently. Its operation includes the management of the test track, depot management, managing supporting facilities and customer rail traffic movements. A full draft specification can be found alongside the market engagement questionnaire. Access details are described within this notice. Access: https://networkrail.bravosolution.co.uk/esop/guest/go/opportunity/detail?opportunityId=60540 The required event to respond to the questionnaire is pqq_3826. Those who have not used Bravo before will need to create an account. The homepage for this can be found here: https://networkrail.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html

Planning Information

A market questionnaire has been published alongside this notice within Bravo, Network Rail's tendering service. Parties interested in expressing interest are encouraged to access this via the details linked below and respond. Network Rail seeks to establish market interest and solicit feedback on our draft specification to understand how clear and deliverable our requirements are. A draft specification has been provided alongside this to assist in answering the questionnaire. Questionnaire responses are requested by 23/12/2025. Extension requests for responses may be submitted, but Network Rail cannot guarantee any can be granted. Any extensions made will be granted equally to all participating parties who have expressed interest via Bravo at the time of it being granted. This requirement is currently not being tendered, this is market engagement activity only to assess interest and feasibility. Unless there are issues accessing Bravo, all queries are to be directed to Network Rail using the messaging function within the service. If you are experiencing access issues, please notify Tom.Hedges@networkrail.co.uk in the first instance. Access: https://networkrail.bravosolution.co.uk/esop/guest/go/opportunity/detail?opportunityId=60540 The required event to respond to the questionnaire is pqq_3826. Those who have not used Bravo before will need to create an account. The homepage for this can be found here: https://networkrail.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05e8be
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/077294-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
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

63 - Supporting and auxiliary transport services; travel agencies services

CPV Codes

63711000 - Support services for railway transport

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£26,600,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
26 Nov 20252 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
1 Apr 20262 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Mar 2027 - 31 Mar 2031 4-5 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
Thomas Hedges
Contact Email
tom.hedges@networkrail.co.uk
Contact Phone
+447561875580

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

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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