Award

AES 2026-28

NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

31 Mar 2026 at 12:17

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

31 Mar 2026 at 11:49

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Network Rail Infrastructure Limited has conducted a procurement process titled "AES 2026-28" focusing on the provision of licences and support for the AES system to facilitate the examination of ancillary assets visually by the line of route. The procurement falls under the utilities industry category and pertains to industry-specific software packages. Located in London, the procurement used a direct award method, justified by reason of the supplier's intellectual property rights, which prevents reasonable alternatives. The contract's status is complete, with awards pending as of 31 March 2026, and key dates include the start of the contract period on 14 April 2026, concluding on 31 March 2028.

The procurement process presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in software solutions catering to the utilities sector, particularly those focusing on asset examination systems. As the procurement method involved a direct award to Pole Star EAM Limited due to intellectual property exclusivity, businesses with similar patented solutions could find growth through partnerships or future engagements with Network Rail. This tender, valued at £1,028,849, sets the stage for companies, especially SMEs, to showcase innovative approaches to similar industry demands, thus positioning themselves for potential collaborations or expansions in the public utilities domain.

Find more tenders on our Open Data Platform.
How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

AES 2026-28

Notice Description

Licences and support for the AES system which supports the exam of Ancillary Assets for which a 'Visual examination by Line of Route' (LoR) type of examination is acceptable.

Procurement Information

This particular supplier has intellectual property rights meaning only that supplier can supply the goods and services or works. There are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-067902
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/029639-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

48 - Software package and information systems

CPV Codes

48100000 - Industry specific software package

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£1,028,849 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
31 Mar 20263 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
18 Mar 20262 weeks ago
Contract Period
13 Apr 2026 - 31 Mar 2028 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Pending
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
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

POLE STAR EAM

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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. 

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-067902-2026-03-31T13:17:43+01:00",
    "date": "2026-03-31T13:17:43+01:00",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-067902",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PNZN-9524-VCQJ",
            "name": "NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PNZN-9524-VCQJ"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Waterloo General Office",
                "locality": "London",
                "postalCode": "SE1 8SW",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKI45"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "joseph.newton@networkrail.co.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "publicAuthorityCentralGovernment",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Public authority - central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-COH-11047806",
            "name": "POLE STAR EAM LIMITED",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-COH",
                "id": "11047806"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Pole Star, Dominion House",
                "locality": "Guildford",
                "postalCode": "GU1 4PU",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKJ25"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "sales@polestar-eam.com"
            },
            "roles": [
                "supplier"
            ],
            "details": {
                "scale": "sme",
                "vcse": false,
                "publicServiceMissionOrganization": false,
                "shelteredWorkshop": false
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PNZN-9524-VCQJ",
        "name": "NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED"
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-067902",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "AES 2026-28",
        "description": "Licences and support for the AES system which supports the exam of Ancillary Assets for which a 'Visual examination by Line of Route' (LoR) type of examination is acceptable.",
        "status": "complete",
        "procurementMethod": "direct",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Direct award",
        "procurementMethodRationale": "This particular supplier has intellectual property rights meaning only that supplier can supply the goods and services or works. There are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works.",
        "specialRegime": [
            "utilities"
        ],
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "status": "complete",
                "suitability": {
                    "sme": true
                }
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "conflictOfInterest",
                "documentType": "conflictOfInterest",
                "description": "Not published"
            }
        ],
        "procurementMethodRationaleClassifications": [
            {
                "id": "singleSuppliersIntellectualPropertyExclusiveRights"
            }
        ]
    },
    "awards": [
        {
            "id": "1",
            "title": "AES 2026-28",
            "status": "pending",
            "value": {
                "amountGross": 1234618.8,
                "amount": 1028849,
                "currency": "GBP"
            },
            "mainProcurementCategory": "goods",
            "aboveThreshold": true,
            "suppliers": [
                {
                    "id": "GB-COH-11047806",
                    "name": "POLE STAR EAM LIMITED"
                }
            ],
            "items": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "additionalClassifications": [
                        {
                            "scheme": "CPV",
                            "id": "48100000",
                            "description": "Industry specific software package"
                        }
                    ],
                    "deliveryAddresses": [
                        {
                            "region": "UK",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UK",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        }
                    ],
                    "relatedLot": "1"
                }
            ],
            "contractPeriod": {
                "startDate": "2026-04-14T00:00:00+01:00",
                "endDate": "2028-03-31T23:59:59+01:00"
            },
            "relatedLots": [
                "1"
            ],
            "documents": [
                {
                    "id": "029611-2026",
                    "documentType": "awardNotice",
                    "noticeType": "UK5",
                    "description": "Transparency notice on Find a Tender",
                    "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/029611-2026",
                    "datePublished": "2026-03-31T12:49:34+01:00",
                    "format": "text/html"
                },
                {
                    "id": "029639-2026",
                    "documentType": "awardNotice",
                    "noticeType": "UK6",
                    "description": "Contract award notice on Find a Tender",
                    "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/029639-2026",
                    "datePublished": "2026-03-31T13:17:43+01:00",
                    "format": "text/html"
                }
            ],
            "milestones": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "type": "futureSignatureDate",
                    "dueDate": "2026-04-14T23:59:59+01:00",
                    "status": "scheduled"
                }
            ],
            "date": "2026-03-18T00:00:00+00:00",
            "standstillPeriod": {
                "endDate": "2026-04-13T23:59:59+01:00"
            }
        }
    ],
    "language": "en"
}