Notice Information
Notice Title
Future Labs - Rail Industry Energy Resilience
Notice Description
The rail industry is calling on the UK's brightest minds to help shape the future of transport, inviting creators, problem-solvers and disruptors from every corner of the country to help improve sustainability, safety and accessibility across Britain's rail network. Through Future Labs, the public ownership flagship innovation programme, Britain's train operators are seeking pioneering solutions to four of rail's toughest challenges. DFTO train operators have environmental and sustainability targets, whether that is for their overall carbon emissions, or specific to certain parts of their operations. In stations, we want to meet targets such as the creation of net zero stations. Severe weather events are occurring more frequently and are already impacting our operations. There is a risk that such events may impact our ability to provide a safe and operational environments for our customers and people in the future. We also know that energy generation comes from a variety of sources, and not all are renewable (low carbon intensive). As a consumer of electricity, DFTO operators cannot stipulate exactly where our electricity comes from, and the balance of power sources is very weather dependent. Although we may have purchased green energy financially, this does not mean that we are actually consuming green energy (this is a financial arrangement only). Energy production and transmission is based on regional generation and whole network loading, which is managed entirely by National Grid. There are current plans to install battery storage within some stations to store greener energy, either from onsite generation, or from when the local grid is providing low carbon intensity energy. When it comes to energy resilience, Future Labs is seeking new ways to generate, store and manage clean energy directly on-site. Innovators are encouraged to explore how battery systems, solar power or novel technologies could help stations become self-sufficient, resilient and low carbon, even in the face of disruption. Train Operating Companies (TOCs) in scope: *LNER, *TransPennine Express, Northern Trains, *Southeastern, *South Western Railway, *c2c *West Midlands Railway *London Northwestern Railway and *Greater Anglia. Objectives of the engagement The contracting authority wishes to engage with the market to: *Understand market capability and capacity *Explore potential delivery models and commercial approaches *Inform the scope, structure and procurement strategy of any future process To view this notice, please click here: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/delta/viewNotice.html?noticeId=1011868762
Planning Information
Suppliers interested in participating are invited to respond to this Energy Resilience Challenge Supplier Questionnaire latest by 23:59 on 18/02/2026 https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=e1y4hXsF4ESUCwNWEB2p1Zfob9keEKhPt_-AY4nqithUNzVVVFdPQlc5MFZCVjRVWUxRNEJaREg1Si4u&route=shorturl All information in terms of contract duration as well as budget will be refined following market engagement. These are currently indicative of the original stage which is most likely akin to a pilot.
Notice Details
Publication & Lifecycle
- Open Contracting ID
- ocds-h6vhtk-064754
- Publication Source
- Find A Tender Service
- Latest Notice
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/010144-2026
- 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
- Not specified
- Awardee Scale
- Not specified
Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)
- CPV Divisions
71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services
-
- CPV Codes
71314000 - Energy and related services
71314200 - Energy-management services
71314300 - Energy-efficiency consultancy services
Notice Value(s)
- Tender Value
- £50,000 Under £100K
- Lots Value
- Not specified
- Awards Value
- Not specified
- Contracts Value
- Not specified
Notice Dates
- Publication Date
- 4 Feb 20265 days ago
- Submission Deadline
- Not specified
- Future Notice Date
- 18 Feb 20262 weeks to go
- Award Date
- Not specified
- Contract Period
- 30 Apr 2026 - 2 May 2027 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
- TRANSPENNINE TRAINS LIMITED
- Contact Name
- Ahmed Akram
- Contact Email
- ahmed.akram@tpexpress.co.uk
- Contact Phone
- 0330 095 4077
Buyer Location
- Locality
- MANCHESTER
- Postcode
- M1 6LT
- Post Town
- Manchester
- Country
- England
-
- Major Region (ITL 1)
- TLD North West (England)
- Basic Region (ITL 2)
- TLD3 Greater Manchester
- Small Region (ITL 3)
- TLD33 Manchester
- Delivery Location
- Not specified
-
- Local Authority
- Manchester
- Electoral Ward
- Piccadilly
- Westminster Constituency
- Manchester Central
Further Information
Notice Documents
-
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/010144-2026
4th February 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)
View full OCDS Record for this contracting process
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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