Notice Information
Notice Title
Enhanced Movement Limiting Devices for Plant to Improve Works Efficiency in Any Line Open Conditions - Network Rail
Notice Description
Network Rail is undertaking this preliminary market engagement to explore solutions for enhanced movement limiting devices for rail plant to deliver a Dynamic Virtual Wall (DVW) capability for engineering works. Connected Places Catapult (CPC ) is acting solely as a facilitator on behalf of Network Rail for this Preliminary Market Engagement exercise. The purpose of this notice is to gather industry insights on potential technologies, delivery models, risks, and commercial considerations that could inform a future procurement. Network Rail is seeking market input to inform the development of its procurement strategy and specification for forthcoming trials of DVW solutions. The ultimate objective is to support accreditation and enable the commercialisation of the solution following successful trial outcomes. Purpose: Network Rail is seeking market insight to shape the forthcoming procurement and trial design for a Dynamic Virtual Wall (DVW) capability. The engagement explores technical feasibility, supplier capability, delivery models, risks, and commercial considerations. It is **not** a competitive process and confers no advantage to participants. Network Rail aims to: - Increase value and productivity in maintenance and renewal activities. - Reduce Schedule 4 delay compensation costs by enabling more Any Line Open (ALO) working. - Improve national consistency and efficiency in engineering delivery. Current high-performance Movement Limiting Devices (MLDs) only function when RRVs operate on-rail. No approved engineering control exists for off-rail ALO operations. DVW is intended to close this gap. The Challenge: Develop a fail safe, safety critical DVW system that prevents RRVs or their loads from encroaching into open line clearances without physical barriers, enabling safe parallel working with live railway lines. Required DVW Capabilities- Solutions must: - Integrate with existing RRV fleets and hydraulic systems. - Provide a digitally enforced boundary preventing fouling of live lines. - Achieve minimum PLd / SIL2 equivalent performance. - Operate reliably in diverse railway environments (EN 50125). - Include interlocked override and external status indication. - Consider human factors: situational awareness, cognitive load, error prevention, operator visibility, and workflow continuity. - Automatically stop the machine before a boundary breach. - Be deployable as a retrofit or upgrade. Out of Scope: - Consultancy, academic research, or early-stage R&D. - Autonomous or semi-autonomous plant. - Factory train alternatives to RRVs. - Operational controls for ALO working. Network Rail invites input on: - Technical feasibility and technology maturity. - Supplier capability and capacity. - Delivery models, risks, and constraints. - Trial design parameters and resource implications. Responses are welcome from: - Full DVW system providers. - Suppliers enhancing existing MLDs. - Systems integrators with safety-critical control expertise. Suppliers who express an interest in this notice will receive the Preliminary Market Engagement document containing further information.
Planning Information
This engagement is exploratory and does not form part of any current procurement procedure. Responding to this Notice offers the opportunity to engage, share relevant information and provide feedback. Interested suppliers are invited to: -Express interest by email referencing this Procurement Notice title and sending your name, organisation details, and key contact information to: EMLD@cp.catapult.org.uk -Complete a questionnaire, which will be issued following your expression of interest -Attend any upcoming engagement sessions you are invited to; further details will be shared in due course. The deadline for responses is close of play (COP) on Monday 16 March 2026. Any questions or clarifications in respect of this notice, should only be addressed to EMLD@cp.catapult.org.uk This notice can be found on https://cimple.uk/detail/504747
Notice Details
Publication & Lifecycle
- Open Contracting ID
- ocds-h6vhtk-065567
- Publication Source
- Find A Tender Service
- Latest Notice
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/014263-2026
- 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
- Awardee Scale
- Not specified
Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)
- CPV Divisions
34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation
35 - Security, fire-fighting, police and defence equipment
38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)
48 - Software package and information systems
71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services
72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
-
- CPV Codes
34940000 - Railway equipment
35125100 - Sensors
38112100 - Global navigation and positioning systems (GPS or equivalent)
48140000 - Railway traffic control software package
48150000 - Industrial control software package
48614000 - Data-acquisition system
71700000 - Monitoring and control services
72212100 - Industry specific software development services
72212900 - Miscellaneous software development services and computer systems
72227000 - Software integration consultancy services
72243000 - Programming services
72263000 - Software implementation services
72300000 - Data services
Notice Value(s)
- Tender Value
- Not specified
- Lots Value
- Not specified
- Awards Value
- Not specified
- Contracts Value
- Not specified
Notice Dates
- Publication Date
- 17 Feb 20265 days ago
- Submission Deadline
- Not specified
- Future Notice Date
- 4 Jun 20264 months to go
- Award Date
- Not specified
- Contract Period
- 30 Sep 2026 - 1 Oct 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
- CONNECTED PLACES CATAPULT
- Contact Name
- Not specified
- Contact Email
- procurement@cp.catapult.org.uk
- Contact Phone
- Not specified
Buyer Location
- Locality
- LONDON
- Postcode
- EC1R 0BE
- Post Town
- Central London
- Country
- England
-
- Major Region (ITL 1)
- TLI London
- Basic Region (ITL 2)
- TLI4 Inner London - East
- Small Region (ITL 3)
- TLI43 Haringey and Islington
- Delivery Location
- Not specified
-
- Local Authority
- Islington
- Electoral Ward
- Clerkenwell
- Westminster Constituency
- Islington South and Finsbury
Further Information
Notice Documents
-
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/014263-2026
17th February 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender -
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/014043-2026
16th 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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