Tender

Future Labs - Rail Industry Energy Resilience

TRANSPENNINE TRAINS LIMITED

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

08 May 2026 at 13:24

UK4 - Tender Notice
Tender

05 May 2026 at 10:13

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

04 Feb 2026 at 16:05

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Transpennine Trains Limited is spearheading the "Future Labs - Rail Industry Energy Resilience" initiative, a tender focused on the development of sustainable energy solutions for the rail industry, headquartered in Manchester, UK. This procurement is currently at the tender stage and invites industry experts to propose innovative approaches to boost energy resilience in train stations across the UK. The tender is classified under energy and related services and offers a contract amounting to £50,000, with a gross value of £60,000 GBP. The procurement method is an open competition, with submissions required via the Delta E-Sourcing platform by the 1st of June 2026, and all queries to be resolved by the 15th of May 2026. Key dates to note include the contract period start on the 30th of June 2026, ending on the 29th of June 2027.

This tender presents a lucrative opportunity for businesses specialising in energy management and consultancy services, particularly those with innovative solutions in clean energy generation, storage, and management. SMEs and social enterprises are encouraged to apply, especially if they possess expertise in developing self-sufficient, resilient, and low-carbon solutions for large networks such as the rail industry. With an emphasis on sustainability and operational efficiency, businesses that can provide pioneering technologies in battery systems, solar power, or other novel energy solutions will find this procurement process particularly well-suited for growth and collaboration with leading UK train operators including LNER, Southeastern, and TransPennine Express, among others.

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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

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/042561-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - open competition
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
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
£50,000 Under £100K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
8 May 20263 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
1 Jun 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
18 Feb 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
29 Jun 2026 - 29 Jun 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
TRANSPENNINE TRAINS LIMITED
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

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

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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