Planning

Operational Communications Platform (OCP)

TRANSPORT FOR LONDON

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

09 Mar 2026 at 14:01

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Transport for London is inviting market participation in the planning stage for its "Operational Communications Platform" initiative, aimed at enhancing incident communication efficiency across its operational control centres. This procurement, classified under IT software and services, seeks input on the technological framework to establish a unified communication portal for stakeholders, leveraging both existing enterprise systems and potential third-party integrations. Located in London, TfL has scheduled the engagement milestone with a due date for expressions of interest on 23rd March 2026. Interested parties can contact TfL at OCP@tfl.gov.uk to participate in the preliminary engagement questionnaire.

The tender offers lucrative opportunities for IT software developers, system integrators, and businesses skilled in data security and railway traffic control software development. SMEs and VCSEs are notably encouraged to participate, with the procurement process offering suitability for concession contracts above regulatory thresholds. The contract promises significant business growth potential by collaborating with TfL to design a robust operational communications tool that will standardise message distribution and enhance the resilience and security of TfL's communication processes. Prospective partners will contribute to modernising TfL's operational infrastructure and meet governance standards required by central government public authorities.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Operational Communications Platform (OCP)

Notice Description

Transport for London is conducting a preliminary engagement to establish the availability and appetite of the market to improve efficiency and consistency of TfL incident communications. The Operational Communications Platform (OCP) will provide a single portal for sending out bulk communications around ongoing incidents to relevant stakeholders across multiple channels (such as email, SMS and potentially Teams messages). Primary users will be the Surface Control Centre (SCC) and Rail Control Centre (RCC). The platform will provide auditable logging of (and reporting on) communications, and facilitate message creation and distribution (including the use of pre-defined templates, distributions lists, etc.). It is envisioned that the solution will reuse existing enterprise capabilities (including TfL's Azure tenancy for sending emails and teams messages) and potentially integrate with other third-party services for SMS delivery via API (for example, gov.notify). This initiative is essential to simplify and standardise communication across TfL's operational control centres, replacing fragmented and outdated methods with a unified, modern platform. By moving away from a heavy reliance on SMS-based messaging and adopting app-based delivery, the organisation can significantly reduce ongoing communication costs while improving message traceability and user experience. The proposed solution will also enhance operational resilience by supporting full failover capability and off-network access, ensuring continuity of communication during system outages or emergencies. Additionally, the platform will incorporate identity and access management features, including integration with TfL's Directory Management Lifecycle (DML) processes to effectively manage user provisioning, movers, and leavers. This will strengthen security, streamline user administration, and ensure compliance with governance standards. The total estimated contract value is to be confirmed. We are seeking input on initial upfront capital investment and the operational/subscription cost for the first year, and potential future year extensions.

Planning Information

For more information, and the opportunity to complete a Market Sounding Questionnaire (MSQ), contact OCP@tfl.gov.uk to express your organisation's interest.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06656e
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/020922-2026
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, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

48 - Software package and information systems

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

CPV Codes

48517000 - IT software package

72211000 - Programming services of systems and user software

72212140 - Railway traffic control software development services

72212211 - Platform interconnectivity software development services

72212517 - IT software development services

72212710 - Backup or recovery software development services

72212732 - Data security software development services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
9 Mar 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
23 Mar 20262 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
27 Mar 2027 - 26 Mar 2028 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
TRANSPORT FOR LONDON
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
E20 1JN
Post Town
East London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI4 Inner London - East
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI41 Hackney and Newham
Delivery Location
TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLE Yorkshire and The Humber, TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLI London, TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England)
Local Authority
Newham
Electoral Ward
Stratford Olympic Park
Westminster Constituency
Stratford and Bow

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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