Notice Information
Notice Title
W&W Frontline Labour Framework Market Engagement
Notice Description
Please note the contract start and end dates are to be confirmed. The dates represented in this notice are incorrect. Network Rail is undertaking preliminary market engagement in relation to the potential future provision of frontline labour services for the Wales Route and the Western Route. The current Frontline Labour Framework provides principal vendor arrangements for the supply of core frontline labour across geographic lots, supported by national specialist lots covering Electrification & Plant (E&P) and Signalling & Telecoms (S&T) grades. As part of an ongoing category and route-level review, Network Rail is considering whether future requirements for the Wales and Western Routes could be delivered through separate route-based frameworks, procured independently of other regions. The services in scope are expected to include the provision of frontline rail labour to support maintenance and enhancement activities on Network Rail infrastructure, including (but not limited to): Track (core) labour Civils (core) labour Trackworker protection roles Semi-professional grades Sentinel-sponsored and competence-managed rail labour All supplied personnel would be required to meet relevant industry standards, including Sentinel requirements and applicable Network Rail assurance, safety and competency frameworks. Through this preliminary market engagement exercise, Network Rail seeks to: Assess market capability and capacity to support route-specific frontline labour frameworks; Understand existing supplier presence and labour pool availability within the Wales and Western Routes; Test supplier appetite to bid for one or both route-based frameworks; Explore mobilisation, resilience and delivery considerations under a route-led procurement model; Gather insight into potential opportunities to enhance operational responsiveness, local accountability and overall value. This notice is issued for market engagement purposes only. It does not constitute a call for competition, does not commit Network Rail to undertake any procurement, and does not form part of a formal procurement process. Any future procurement would be subject to separate notice in accordance with applicable procurement regulations. Network Rail welcomes responses from both incumbent and non-incumbent suppliers with relevant frontline rail labour capability.
Planning Information
How to Participate 1. Access the Microsoft Form using the link - https://forms.office.com/e/ndSXCLmaS6 2. Review all questions carefully and provide complete responses. 3. Submit the form electronically by selecting “Submit” at the end of the questionnaire. All responses must be submitted via the Microsoft Form. Responses submitted via email will not be accepted unless specifically requested by Network Rail. Deadline for Responses The closing date for submission of responses is: 27th February 2026 16:00 Responses received after this deadline may not be considered as part of this engagement. Clarifications If you require clarification regarding this market engagement exercise, please submit your query via email to: Amy.Slocombe@networkrail.co.uk Network Rail may share clarification responses in anonymised form where considered relevant to all participants. Important Information This market engagement exercise is for information-gathering purposes only. It does not constitute a call for competition, does not form part of a formal procurement process, and does not commit Network Rail to undertake any procurement activity. Participation (or non-participation) in this engagement will not confer any advantage or disadvantage in any future procurement process. Network Rail reserves the right to: • Amend or discontinue this engagement exercise; • Not proceed with any procurement; • Conduct further engagement activities if required
Notice Details
Publication & Lifecycle
- Open Contracting ID
- ocds-h6vhtk-064df9
- Publication Source
- Find A Tender Service
- Latest Notice
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/012449-2026
- 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
- SME, VCSE
- Awardee Scale
- Not specified
Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)
- CPV Divisions
45 - Construction work
50 - Repair and maintenance services
71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services
79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security
-
- CPV Codes
45234100 - Railway construction works
45234120 - Urban railway works
45234125 - Underground railway station
50220000 - Repair, maintenance and associated services related to railways and other equipment
50225000 - Railway-track maintenance services
71311200 - Transport systems consultancy services
71311210 - Highways consultancy services
71311230 - Railway engineering services
79610000 - Placement services of personnel
79620000 - Supply services of personnel including temporary staff
Notice Value(s)
- Tender Value
- £42,000,000 £10M-£100M
- Lots Value
- Not specified
- Awards Value
- Not specified
- Contracts Value
- Not specified
Notice Dates
- Publication Date
- 11 Feb 20261 weeks ago
- Submission Deadline
- Not specified
- Future Notice Date
- 14 Aug 20266 months to go
- Award Date
- Not specified
- Contract Period
- 30 Jul 2027 - 11 Nov 2029 2-3 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
- Amy Slocombe
- Contact Email
- amy.slocombe@networkrail.co.uk
- Contact Phone
- +447935372368
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
- TLI3 Inner London - West, TLI7 Outer London - West and North West, TLK South West (England), TLK11 Bristol, City of, TLL Wales
-
- Local Authority
- Lambeth
- Electoral Ward
- Waterloo & South Bank
- Westminster Constituency
- Vauxhall and Camberwell Green
Further Information
Notice Documents
-
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/012449-2026
11th 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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