This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Planning

07 Jul 2026 at 09:54

Planning

21 May 2026 at 15:11

Summary of the contracting process

Network Rail Infrastructure Limited, working through GBRX, is in the planning stage of establishing a Utilities Dynamic Market (UDM) for rail innovation and technology requirements, aiming to foster supplier engagement. The programme, titled "GBRX UDM Innovation and Technology", is focused on services for the IT and research and development sectors. It is intended to be available for use by Network Rail Infrastructure Limited, GBRX, and other related authorities in the United Kingdom. The establishment process is currently in a preliminary market engagement phase, with an online supplier engagement session scheduled for 29 July 2026 and feedback collected through a Market Sounding Questionnaire due by 30 September 2026. The UDM is expected to commence operations on 30 September 2026. The planned commencement for broader procurement activities is from 11 October 2026 through 10 October 2034.

This tender offers significant opportunities for business growth, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs), and established industry players who are involved in IT services, research and development, and related consultancy services. By participating in this dynamic market, businesses can engage in innovation, research and development, trials, pilots, and scalable deployment opportunities, reducing barriers to innovation with a transparent and continuous entry point. This initiative encourages consortium working and supplier collaboration, aiming to support the adoption of technologies that enhance railway performance, safety, passenger experience, and efficiency. Suitable businesses will find the UDM beneficial for accessing a wider range of procurement opportunities and engaging with a network seeking collaborative innovation in the rail sector.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

GBRX UDM Innovation and Technology

Notice Description

Network Rail Infrastructure Limited through its division GBRX ('GBRX'), intends to establish a dynamic market for rail innovation and technology. The X platform (the shop window) will provide a compliant, transparent and continuously open route to market for suppliers to participate in future innovation, research development, trials, pilots and scalable deployment opportunities. It is intended that the Utilities Dynamic Market (UDM) will be made available for use by Network Rail Infrastructure Limited, GBRX, the Department for Transport, DfT Operator Limited and other contracting authorities within the Network Rail group, including any subsidiaries or successor bodies, where their requirements fall within the scope of the UDM. The UDM, provided through the X platform, supports the identification, development, testing and adoption of technologies and solutions that improve railway performance, safety, efficiency, passenger experience, sustainability and value for money. The UDM will allow suppliers to join by meeting proportionate Conditions of Membership and compete for future requirements issued through tender notices against defined problem statements. Scope of opportunities under the UDM may include data integration & advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, computer vision, train-borne asset management technology, network & asset system modelling, network planning, predictability & passenger communications, advanced computation & data science, train control and positioning technologies, and energy generation and management. The UDM will be operated under the Procurement Act 2023. Future opportunities may may include the following stages: market engagement, R&D, trials, pilots, demonstrations, phased delivery, down-selection and contract awards where solutions are suitable for wider adoption, when funding and business need are confirmed. The UDM is intended to reduce barriers to innovation by creating a single, accessible and transparent entry point for suppliers, including SMEs, VCSEs, new entrants and established industry partners. It will support supplier collaboration, consortium working where appropriate, and a repeatable pathway from problem identification through to trial, evaluation and potential deployment. Please note, the contract start and contract end date stated in this notice are the anticipated end date of the market engagement being undertaken.

Planning Information

This notice does not relate to preliminary market engagement linked to the publication of a tender notice, in accordance with section 16 of the Procurement Act 2023. This preliminary market engagement notice is intended to intimate to suppliers that Network Rail Infrastructure Limited, through GBRX, intends to establish a Utilities Dynamic Market (UDM) for rail innovation and technology requirements, and wishes to engage with suppliers in order to develop its requirements and approach to establish the UDM. It is intended that the Utilities Dynamic Market will be made available for use by Network Rail Infrastructure Limited, GBRX, the Department for Transport, DfT Operator Limited and other contracting authorities within the Network Rail group, including any subsidiaries or successor bodies, where their requirements fall within the scope of the UDM. GBRX intends to establish a UDM for rail innovation and technology requirements. The UDM is intended to provide a compliant, transparent and continuously open route to market for suppliers to participate in future innovation, research and development, trials, pilots and scalable deployment opportunities. GBRX is conducting Preliminary Market Engagement to raise awareness of the proposed X-Platform, and in particular to seek engagement to achieve the following: - Help GBRX shape the proposed UDM structure, including possible division into Parts / categories; - Take account of suppliers' views on proposed conditions for membership and other suggestions to ensure these are appropriate and proportionate for the opportunities under the UDM; - Highlight risks or barriers, and provide feedback before the X platform goes live. 1. Supplier Engagement Event GBRX will hold an online supplier engagement session for interested suppliers on 29 July 2026, between 11-12 via Microsoft Teams Webinar. GBRX is seeking supplier feedback on the clarity, accessibility and practicality of a proposed approach, and any barriers to participation. To register for the event please follow the instructions below: A. Follow the link https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/d14fe0ed-e72a-4ad1-96bb-b361096cb456@c22cc3e1-5d7f-4f4d-be03-d5a158cc9409 If you have any difficulties in registering for the event or would like to pre-submit a question for the upcoming webinar please email xplatform@networkrail.co.uk 2. Market Sounding Questionnaire (MSQ) After the webinar we will be providing a questionnaire for further feedback. 3. Supplier Clarification Question process Please feel free to email any questions to xplatform@networkrail.co.uk. If your email contains commercially sensitive information please make us aware. GBRX request that should anything be considered a USP and IPR to your organisation that this is marked (CONFIDENTIAL & COMMERCIALLY SENSITIVE) on the clarification or email at the very top of the clarification or email, so that NR can consider ensuring protection of the same. Feedback from the webinar, and the subsequent Market Sounding Questionnaire will help inform the design of the X platform before any future tender notices are issued.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-069fd1
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/063523-2026
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

30 - Office and computing machinery, equipment and supplies except furniture and software packages

32 - Radio, television, communication, telecommunication and related equipment

48 - Software package and information systems

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

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services


CPV Codes

30200000 - Computer equipment and supplies

32000000 - Radio, television, communication, telecommunication and related equipment

48000000 - Software package and information systems

72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

72200000 - Software programming and consultancy services

72230000 - Custom software development services

72260000 - Software-related services

72262000 - Software development services

72300000 - Data services

72316000 - Data analysis services

72322000 - Data management services

73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

73100000 - Research and experimental development services

73200000 - Research and development consultancy services

73300000 - Design and execution of research and development

73420000 - Pre-feasibility study and technological demonstration

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£200,000,000 £100M-£1B
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
7 Jul 20264 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
30 Aug 20264 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
29 Sep 2026 - 30 Sep 2026 24 hours
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

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

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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