Planning

Aerial Survey of the UK Rail Network - LiDAR ( Light Detection and Ranging) and Aerial Photography

NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

30 Jan 2026 at 14:46

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Network Rail Infrastructure Limited, a central government public authority, is currently in the planning stage of a procurement process titled "Aerial Survey of the UK Rail Network - LiDAR and Aerial Photography." This tender falls under the services industry category, specifically aerial photography services, and targets the entire UK region. The procurement is expected to be above the financial threshold and follows a special regime for utilities. The process began on 30th January 2026, with the organisation inviting all interested parties for a Pre-Market Engagement exercise, requiring expressions of interest to be submitted by 2nd March 2026. This market engagement is part of their preparation to capture LiDAR and RGB data during the winter 2027/28 season, aiming to deliver Earthwork Asset condition information efficiently.

This tender offers lucrative opportunities for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) with expertise in aerial photography and related technological services to grow their business by collaborating with a prominent national infrastructure entity like Network Rail. The procurement, valued at £12,000,000 gross, allows qualified businesses to participate in providing high-tech survey services essential for monitoring the condition of the UK rail network. Companies that can demonstrate capability in rapid data capture and processing within the specified contract period from May 2027 to April 2028 are well-positioned to compete effectively in this tender.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Aerial Survey of the UK Rail Network - LiDAR ( Light Detection and Ranging) and Aerial Photography

Notice Description

Network Rail require an Aerial Survey of the UK rail network, principally consisting of LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and RGB (Red, Green and Blue) data capture. There is a desire to capture this data in the winter 2027/28 season (November 2027 to March 2028) and process it rapidly for the purposes of delivering Earthwork Asset condition information.

Planning Information

Network Rail is inviting all interested parties to express their interest in this ‘Pre-Market Engagement exercise’ - Please email marcus.pendlebury@networkrail.co.uk with the subject heading "NR National Aerial Survey". Once interest has been logged, Network Rail will send a Market Engagement Questionnaire along with a background information document. We request that the questionnaire is completed by Monday 2nd March 2026 at 17:00 hours, so please register your interest as soon as possible. A follow-up market engagement session may be held with all suppliers, or individual clarification questions sought in response to the questionnaire. Please also register as a supplier on our Procurement portal at https://networkrail.bravosolution.co.uk/ if you haven’t done so already.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-061326
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/008527-2026
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

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

CPV Codes

79961200 - Aerial photography services

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
30 Jan 20263 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
30 Jun 20265 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
30 Apr 2027 - 30 Apr 2028 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED
Contact Name
Marcus Pendlebury
Contact Email
marcus.pendlebury@networkrail.co.uk
Contact Phone
+447794101149

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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