Award

DISAB Tubevac Overhaul

TRANSPORT FOR LONDON

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

05 Jan 2026 at 08:29

Summary of the contracting process

Transport for London has completed an award phase for the overhaul of two DISAB Tubevac Machines, vital for maintaining the London Underground's rail infrastructure. The procurement process, classified under railway maintenance and repair services, involved a direct award to DISAB UK LIMITED, given their exclusive intellectual property rights over specific machine components. Scheduled to take place from 5th March 2026 to 4th March 2027, this contract is valued at approximately £1,310,373. Located in the UK, primarily London, this initiative falls under the 'services' category, offering strategic growth opportunities in the utilities sector.

Businesses specialising in railway maintenance, engineering, and repair services can leverage this tender to expand their portfolios, particularly those with niche capabilities in handling OEM-controlled assets. Small to medium-sized enterprises with a focus on innovative engineering methods and those already established in the utilities industry are well-suited to participate in similar future opportunities. This contract underscores the importance of maintaining and operating specialised equipment to ensure the efficiency and safety of public transport infrastructure, opening doors for suppliers with relevant expertise in similar high-value projects.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

DISAB Tubevac Overhaul

Notice Description

This procurement is for the overhaul of two DISAB Tubevac Machines (the 'Assets) for London Underground, Engineering Vehicles Rolling Stock. DISAB Tubevac Machines are specialized rail-mounted vacuum units that help to keep railway tracks clean and safe, reducing downtime and improving efficiency during maintenance projects. They are mounted on rail wagons and used primarily for ballast track renewals and track maintenance. These machines employ powerful suction technology to remove and handle large volumes of material - such as ballast, dust, and debris - efficiently and safely during rail infrastructure works. Total contract amount is circa PS1,310,373. The justification for awarding this proposed contract in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023 Direct Award to DISAB UK LTD is compliant with Schedule 5 - paragraph 5 as the following conditions are met in relation to the public contract: a) a particular supplier having intellectual property rights or other exclusive rights, only that supplier can supply the goods, services or works required, and b) there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works.

Procurement Information

The Tubevac machines are OEM-controlled assets with critical components under DISAB's intellectual property, including hoppers, engine houses, oil and fuel tanks, manipulator arms, and J-hooks. Technical schematics, wiring diagrams, and spare parts information are strictly controlled and not shared with third parties. The overhaul requires compatible parts, and due to lack of technical documentation and information, it is not possible to create a specification for an alternative.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05feef
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/000117-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK5 - Transparency Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation

50 - Repair and maintenance services


CPV Codes

34621000 - Railway maintenance or service vehicles, and railway freight wagons

50200000 - Repair, maintenance and associated services related to aircraft, railways, roads and marine equipment

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£1,310,373 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
5 Jan 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
5 Jan 20262 weeks ago
Contract Period
5 Mar 2026 - 4 Mar 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Pending
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

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

Local Authority
Newham
Electoral Ward
Stratford Olympic Park
Westminster Constituency
Stratford and Bow

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

DISAB

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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