This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

10 Jun 2026 at 13:11

Award

13 Mar 2026 at 10:24

Award

12 Mar 2026 at 14:16

Summary of the contracting process

Network Rail Infrastructure Limited has completed a direct award procurement process to establish a framework agreement with Resonate Group Ltd for a digital access management solution. The contract is focused on the integration and operational support of Resonate's Initiate software with existing signalling control systems and management frameworks. The contract, aligned with the Procurement Act 2023, was signed on 27th March 2026 and covers services encompassing testing, system configuration, and ongoing maintenance over eight years. The procurement, operating under the Utilities Special Regime and valued at £47.8 million, covers services at a national level within the United Kingdom, with no provision for extension. The contractor, Resonate, is headquartered in Derby, and they hold proprietary rights necessary for system compatibility, necessitating a sole source award.

This tender presents substantial growth opportunities for businesses specialising in software-related services, specifically those with expertise in digital access management solutions. Such businesses, especially SMEs like Resonate Group, can leverage their specialised knowledge and proprietary technology to secure lucrative government contracts. The absence of competition in this procurement underscores a significant market gap that companies with innovative, compatible solutions could fill in the future. Furthermore, being part of a major framework agreement with a central government authority like Network Rail positions businesses to gain recognition and establish a foothold for future public infrastructure projects.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Digital access management solution

Notice Description

Network Rail intends to establish a framework agreement with Resonate for the supply of the Initaite software along with associated implementation services, ongoing maintenance, support and operational services. The Inititate software is a digital access management solution, which is an additional system which works with our existing Scalable signalling control systems and Luminate traffic managmeent system, both of which are manufactured by Resonate. The requirement includes delivery of the new software module; integration with existing Network Rail architecture; system configuration; testing and acceptance activities; and provision of service levels, maintenance, and operational support following implementation. The award will be a zero value framework, with a total maximum forecasted spend of PS47.8m over its 8 year duration. No extension options are allowed.The framework will enable regional call-off contracts, including performance management through three call-off-level KPIs. All notices associated with framework and call-off activity--including transparency, contract award, contract details, performance and change notices--will be issued in line with Procurement Act 2023 requirements. The goods and services will be delivered by Resonate under the NR(IT)02 framework contract structure, using updated schedules aligned to existing Luminate licence terms and Network Rail responsibilities.

Procurement Information

Resonate holds exclusive intellectual property rights over the Initiate system, including proprietary source code, data schemas, integration interfaces and system architecture components. As a result, only Resonate can deliver a solution that is fully compatible with Network Rail's current deployed systems of Luminate and Scalable platforms. A review of market options confirms that no alternative supplier can provide an equivalent level of functionality, interoperability or readiness within the required timescales, and procuring from another supplier would necessitate redevelopment of core components, introduce significant delay and prevent realisation of the intended operational benefits. These constraints arise from the inherent technical architecture rather than procurement preference, and no reasonable alternatives exist. A market scan and technical assessment further confirm that, for technical reasons, Resonate is the only supplier able to provide a system compatible with the existing Luminate and Scalable environments while delivering the required capability. Any alternative supplier would face prohibitive re-engineering requirements due to Resonate's proprietary architecture, integration protocols and data models. Consequently, there is an absence of viable competition and no reasonable alternative solutions currently available. The zero-value structure of the framework ensures proportionality by preserving Network Rail's ability to consider emerging technological alternatives in future and prevents unnecessary supplier lock-in. The requirement also constitutes an extension to the existing Luminate and Scalable systems. The proposed solution relies on the same proprietary architecture, interfaces, data structures and operational workflows. Changing supplier at this point would result in incompatible or non-uniform system components, requiring substantial re-engineering of underlying systems and altering operational processes in a way that would create disproportionate technical difficulties in operation and maintenance, including increased risk to system stability, additional support complexity and duplicated development effort. Procuring the extension of the existing systems from Resonate is therefore necessary to maintain system integrity. The zero-value contract structure again ensures proportionality and maintains future flexibility should compatible bolt-on solutions become available from the wider market.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-066873
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/054771-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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


CPV Codes

72260000 - Software-related services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£47,800,000 £10M-£100M
Contracts Value
£47,800,000 £10M-£100M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
10 Jun 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
11 Mar 20264 months ago
Contract Period
30 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2034 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active, Pending
Contracts Status
Active

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
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
Not specified

Local Authority
Lambeth
Electoral Ward
Waterloo & South Bank
Westminster Constituency
Vauxhall and Camberwell Green

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

RESONATE GROUP

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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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