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Operation of RIDC Melton

Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Tender

23 Oct 2026 at 11:35

UK4 - Tender Notice
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 seeking a supplier to operate Test Track Melton. The services cover management of train movements and rail haulage; site and workshop support; operational facilities services; provision of locomotives and related equipment; incident response; and coordination with stakeholders. Rail infrastructure and structural building maintenance are expressly outside the scope. This is a railway operations and support services requirement, classified under railway transport services. Delivery is at Test Track Melton in the United Kingdom. The operational scope may be adjusted or reorganised, including changes to service boundaries or bringing services in-house, according to Network Rail’s operational, commercial, safety and business requirements. The described service areas include railway management, safety and compliance, depot operations, rolling stock and operational support, facilities and site resilience, and business performance and improvement.

Network Rail invited offers through a competitive flexible, selective procedure. The contracting process has reached tender: suppliers first complete a selection questionnaire, and successful candidates are invited to tender; up to five candidates may proceed. Expressions of interest were due by 25 November 2026 at 12:00, and enquiries by 16 November 2026 at 12:00. The initial contract period is 1 April 2028 to 31 March 2032, with two possible two-year extensions, for a maximum potential term of eight years. The estimated value is £29,386,811 excluding VAT (£35,264,173 including VAT). Quality accounts for 50% of evaluation, covering technical submission and methodology, mobilisation, organisation and key personnel, subcontractors and suppliers, security, social value and data protection. Commercial price accounts for the remaining 50%.

The opportunity suits suppliers able to manage railway test-track operations and coordinate train movements, rail haulage, locomotives and supporting equipment, site and workshop activity, operational facilities, incident response and stakeholder relationships. A strong bid will need to demonstrate credible technical methods and a workable mobilisation programme, alongside an effective contract organisation and suitably experienced key personnel. Suppliers should be prepared to set out their proposed subcontractors and suppliers, and address people security, social value and data protection. The work spans several operational disciplines, and the buyer may alter the service scope or delivery arrangements over the contract. Small and medium-sized businesses and voluntary, community or social enterprises are identified as suitable participants; the selection stage assesses economic and technical capability and reduces candidates based on mandatory requirements and technical scores.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Operation of RIDC Melton

Notice Description

Network Rail is seeking a supplier to operate Test Track Melton, including the management of train movements, rail haulage , site and workshop support, operational facilities services, provision of locomotives and associated equipment, incident response and stakeholder coordination. Rail Infrastructure and structural building maintenance are excluded. The contract is expected to commence on 1st April, 2028 for an initial four year term, with options to extend by a further two years plus two years, giving a maximum term of eight years.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Options: Network Rail may decide to change the scope of the Services in future and it may restructure, combine, seperate, transfer, reallocate or bring the Services in-house in accordance with one or more of the following five options. Network Rail will determine the final scope and delivery arrangement based on its operational, commercial, safety and business requirements. Option 1. Operational Railway Management, Safety and Compliance Option 2. Depot Operations Option 3. Rolling Stock, Plant and Operational Support Option 4. Facilities, Security and Site Resillience Option 5. Business Performance, Customer and Continuous Improvement Services

Renewal: The proposed Contract duration is four (4) years, with the option to extend for a further two (2) years plus an additional two (2) years, giving a maximum potential Contract term of eight (8) years.

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/100378-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

CPV Codes

60200000 - Railway transport services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£29,386,811 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
£29,386,811 £10M-£100M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
23 Oct 20263 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
1 Apr 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2028 - 31 Mar 2032 4-5 years
Recurrence
2035-01-02

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

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

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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