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Insulated Rail Joints & Rail Ancillaries

NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Planning

19 Aug 2026 at 11:39

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Planning

24 Feb 2026 at 13:57

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Network Rail Infrastructure Limited plans to procure the manufacture and supply of insulated rail joints (IRJs) and rail ancillaries, including closure rails. Products will be made to specified rail profiles, joint types, lengths and configurations, then supplied across the United Kingdom for planned maintenance and emergency operational requirements. The scope covers glued insulated rail joints and twisted or profiled closure rails, supported by relevant technical specifications, drawings and track design standards. The buying organisation is Network Rail Infrastructure Limited, and the work concerns nationwide delivery rather than a single site. This is a goods procurement in the utilities sector, covering rails and rail accessories, including track rails. The planned requirement is organised as one lot and is identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community or social enterprises.

This process is at the planning stage and the market engagement is for information gathering, not a call for competition. Network Rail expected suppliers to complete its questionnaire by 17:00 on 17 March 2026, with clarification questions due during the engagement window. The buyer expected the next notice on 16 February 2027. One planned lot has an estimated gross value of £24,000,000, or £20,000,000 excluding tax. The intended contract period is 1 November 2028 to 31 October 2033, with a possible extension to 31 March 2034 and a renewal option. The procurement is above the applicable threshold. Responses to the engagement will inform a future procurement strategy, and participation will not determine eligibility for any later competition.

The work is suited to established rail-component manufacturers, specialist track-product suppliers, innovators and potential new entrants with credible manufacturing and supply-chain capability. Suppliers will need to demonstrate production capacity for anticipated monthly and annual demand, the ability to provide different rail joint and closure-rail configurations, and lead times that support both planned orders and short-notice emergency call-offs. Technical readiness is important: Product Acceptance must be obtained before delivery, and suppliers will need to provide technical documentation, compliance evidence and sample materials to support that process. Relevant experience with Network Rail standards, drawings, rail profiles, manufacturing processes and track-design requirements will be valuable. A site and logistics model capable of supporting nationwide delivery, including same-day requirements, is also likely to be important.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Insulated Rail Joints & Rail Ancillaries

Notice Description

Network Rail is undertaking market research to assess the current level of industry interest, capability and capacity for the manufacture and supply of Insulated Rail Joints (IRJs) and Rail Ancillaries (Closure Rails). These goods will be required to be manufactured to specified standards, supplied in varying lengths and configurations, and delivered to meet both planned and emergency operational requirements. The Information Document available via Bravo provides full details of the requirement, including: * Background to the requirement and the operational context * Technical specifications for all IRJ and Closure Rail types * Applicable rail profiles, joint configurations and manufacturing processes * Anticipated monthly and annual volumes based on historic demand * Expected lead times, including short-notice and emergency supply requirements * Compliance obligations, including relevant Network Rail standards, drawings and Product Acceptance requirements * Preferred site location considerations to support same-day and nationwide delivery capability The following supporting documents will be made available as part of the engagement: * Network Rail Technical Specification for the Design, Assembly and Testing of Glued Insulated Rail Joints (November 2025) * Standards: - RT/CE/S/023 Insulated Rail Joints - RT/CE/S/050 Process for Cold-Expanding New Fishbolt Holes by the Split Sleeve Method (NR/SP/TRK/050) - NR/L3/TRK/4004 Switch and Crossing Assemblies * RE/PW Drawings: - RE/PW/624 (Twisted Closure Rails) - RE/PW/549 (95RBH) - RE/PW/792 (CEN56E1) - RE/PW/979 (CEN60E2) * NR/L2/TRK/2049 Track Design Handbook Product Acceptance (PA) is required before supply may commence. PA activities may form part of mobilisation, and the contract will not move into delivery until PA is fully approved by Network Rail. Suppliers will be expected to support the PA process by providing the necessary technical documentation, evidence and sample materials as required. Suppliers are invited to review the Information Document and complete the questionnaire within the PQQ. The information gathered will help Network Rail understand current market capability, production capacity, compliance readiness and the ability to meet the supply requirements for IRJs and Closure Rails. This market engagement is issued for information-gathering purposes only and does not constitute a call for competition, nor does participation or non-participation affect eligibility for any future procurement opportunity.

Planning Information

Network Rail is undertaking a market engagement exercise to understand current market interest, capability, and capacity for the manufacture and supply of Insulated Rail Joints (IRJs) and Rail Ancillaries (Closure Rails). These goods will be required to be manufactured to specified standards, supplied in varying lengths and configurations, and delivered to meet both planned and emergency operational requirements. This engagement aims to gather information from suppliers who have the technical capability, production capacity, and supply-chain readiness to support Network Rail’s ongoing operational and maintenance requirements. The Information Document provides detailed information regarding: • Background to the requirement • Technical specifications for IRJs and Closure Rails • Applicable rail types, joint types, and manufacturing processes • Anticipated monthly and annual volumes • Lead time expectations, including emergency call‑off requirements • Compliance obligations, standards, drawings and Product Acceptance processes • Preferred site location considerations to support nationwide delivery The following supporting documents will be made available as part of the engagement: • Network Rail Technical Specification for the Design, Assembly and Testing of Glued Insulated Rail Joints (November 2025) • Standards: – RT/CE/S/023 Insulated Rail Joints – RT/CE/S/050 Process for Cold‑Expanding New Fishbolt Holes by the Split Sleeve Method (NR/SP/TRK/050) – NR/L3/TRK/4004 Switch and Crossing Assemblies • RE/PW Drawings: – RE/PW/624 (Twisted Closure Rails) – RE/PW/549 (95RBH) – RE/PW/792 (CEN56E1) – RE/PW/979 (CEN60E2) • NR/L2/TRK/2049 Track Design Handbook Product Acceptance (PA) is required before supply may commence. PA activities may form part of mobilisation, and the contract will not move into delivery until PA is fully approved by Network Rail. Suppliers will be expected to support the PA process by providing the necessary technical documentation, evidence and sample materials as required. Suppliers are invited to review the Information Document and complete the questionnaire available within the PQQ. Responses will be used for information‑gathering purposes only and will help Network Rail assess market maturity, capability and potential capacity ahead of any future procurement activity. This engagement does not constitute a call for competition. During the engagement window, suppliers may submit clarification questions using the correspondence function within Bravo. All clarification responses will be issued through the portal to ensure fairness and transparency. There are currently no scheduled in‑person or virtual engagement events. However, Network Rail may hold additional sessions depending on supplier interest or the need for further technical discussion. Instructions for suppliers: - Access, download and review the Information Document and Questionnaire via the Bravo portal: https://networkrail.bravosolution.co.uk under ‘Current Opportunities’. - Submit clarification questions through the Bravo correspondence function before the clarification deadline. - Complete and return the questionnaire by 17:00 on the engagement deadline date. - Ensure responses provide accurate information relating to capability, capacity, compliance status and delivery feasibility. Network Rail welcomes participation from all interested suppliers, including established manufacturers, innovators and potential new entrants to the market. Responses received will inform future strategy and ensure the supply chain is well positioned for potential forthcoming opportunities. Non‑participation in this market engagement will not preclude any organisation from taking part in future procurement processes. Should a formal procurement exercise be launched, Network Rail will publish a tender notice as a call for competition.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-065b10
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078899-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation

CPV Codes

34941000 - Rails and accessories

34941200 - Track rails

34946110 - Rails

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£20,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
19 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
16 Feb 20276 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Nov 2028 - 31 Oct 2033 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE 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
LONDON
Postcode
SE1 8SW
Postcode Area
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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