This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

31 Jul 2026 at 14:23

Award

24 Jul 2026 at 14:37

Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process initiated by Transport UK East Midlands Limited involves the provision of support and maintenance for Automatic Passenger Gate Systems across East Midlands Railway's stations. The key contract was awarded directly to Cubic Transportation Systems Limited, due to the proprietary nature of the system which involves supplier-specific hardware and software, thus justifying the direct award under UK regulations. The procurement falls under the category of services with a substantial contract value of £6,726,140.40. The industries covered include access control systems, and maintenance services related to railway and computer equipment. The contract is handled as a special regime for utilities, with the procurement stage currently at completion. The contract period extends from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2031, covering multiple regions across the United Kingdom.

This direct and strategically justified appointment of the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) presents limited opportunities for new entrants due to its reliance on proprietary technology. However, businesses collaborating with or having similar niche capabilities might explore potential collaboration or subcontracting opportunities with the supplier to engage indirectly. Large scale companies with expertise in proprietary systems or technical collaborations in the railway services may align their business strategy to similar tenders in future where collaboration with OEMs is paramount. While this award limits competition, the necessity of maintaining specialised proprietary systems ensures operational continuity for East Midlands Railway, providing an avenue for businesses involved in ancillary services or system integration to look for opportunities in similar high-stakes, proprietary technology-driven procurements.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Provision of Support and Maintenance of Automatic Passenger Gate Systems

Notice Description

Provision of support and maintenance of Automatic Passenger Gate Systems across East Midlands Railway's stations.

Procurement Information

This direct award is justified under Section 41 and Schedule 5, Paragraph 5 (Protection of intellectual property rights or other exclusive rights) and Schedule 5, Paragraph 6 (Absence of competition for technical reasons). 1. Single Supplier due to IP and Technical Restrictions (Para 5(a) & Para 6(a)): Support and Maintenance of the Automatic Passenger Gate Systems can only be delivered by the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), Cubic Transportation Systems, due to the proprietary nature of the system architecture, including supplier-specific hardware, core software and technical systems. The OEM has confirmed that the core software, technical systems and core components of the gateline equipment are proprietary to Cubic and protected by intellectual property rights. The OEM has confirmed that: - Access to Cubic diagnostic software or fault management systems is not available to third-party maintenance providers; - Maintenance manuals or technical documentation for Cubic gateline equipment are not provided to third-party maintenance providers; - Hardware or calibrated spare parts are not provided to third-party maintenance providers; and - No formal certification or accreditation scheme exists that would allow a non-Cubic engineer to maintain the Cubic-supplied equipment. As such, EMR is not aware of any alternative supplier capable of delivering the requirement that possesses the necessary legal rights, technical documentation, software access, spare parts and technical capability to maintain the existing systems. 2. Absence of Reasonable Alternatives (Para 5(b) & Para 6(b)): The existing gateline infrastructure is operational and has not reached end-of-life. A competitive tender for maintenance only is not feasible because access to the proprietary software, diagnostic systems, technical documentation, calibrated spare parts and maintenance accreditation required to support the assets is restricted to the OEM. Sourcing an alternative supplier would require a full removal and replacement of the live asset base across stations. Full system replacement would result in substantial duplication of cost, significant technical and operational complexity, and disproportionate disruption to live station operations. Replacing functional, non-obsolete assets solely to facilitate a competitive maintenance procurement would not represent a reasonable alternative. Competition is therefore absent, and a direct award to the OEM is justified under Schedule 5, Paragraphs 5 and 6.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06d388
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/072831-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

42 - Industrial machinery

50 - Repair and maintenance services


CPV Codes

42961100 - Access control system

50220000 - Repair, maintenance and associated services related to railways and other equipment

50312000 - Maintenance and repair of computer equipment

50317000 - Maintenance and repair of ticket-validation machinery

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£6,726,140 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
31 Jul 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
24 Jul 20261 weeks ago
Contract Period
31 Aug 2026 - 31 Aug 2031 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
TRANSPORT UK EAST MIDLANDS 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
EC4A 3AG
Post Town
Central London
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
City of London
Electoral Ward
Castle Baynard
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

CUBIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS

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.

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-06d388-2026-07-31T15:23:02+01:00",
    "date": "2026-07-31T15:23:02+01:00",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-06d388",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-COH-09860485",
            "name": "TRANSPORT UK EAST MIDLANDS LIMITED",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-COH",
                "id": "09860485"
            },
            "additionalIdentifiers": [
                {
                    "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                    "id": "PYJP-8287-BJGL"
                }
            ],
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "2nd Floor St Andrew's House",
                "locality": "London",
                "postalCode": "EC4A 3AG",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKI31"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "Procurement@eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "privateUtility",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Private utility"
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-COH-01381707",
            "name": "CUBIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS LIMITED",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-COH",
                "id": "01381707"
            },
            "additionalIdentifiers": [
                {
                    "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                    "id": "PJPP-2848-LRTL"
                }
            ],
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Afc House",
                "locality": "Salfords Redhill",
                "postalCode": "RH1 5LA",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKJ26"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "Ronn.Fraser@cubic.com"
            },
            "roles": [
                "supplier"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "http://www.cubic.com",
                "scale": "large",
                "vcse": false,
                "publicServiceMissionOrganization": false,
                "shelteredWorkshop": false
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-COH-09860485",
        "name": "TRANSPORT UK EAST MIDLANDS LIMITED"
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-06d388",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "Provision of Support and Maintenance of Automatic Passenger Gate Systems",
        "description": "Provision of support and maintenance of Automatic Passenger Gate Systems across East Midlands Railway's stations.",
        "status": "complete",
        "procurementMethod": "direct",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Direct award",
        "procurementMethodRationale": "This direct award is justified under Section 41 and Schedule 5, Paragraph 5 (Protection of intellectual property rights or other exclusive rights) and Schedule 5, Paragraph 6 (Absence of competition for technical reasons). 1. Single Supplier due to IP and Technical Restrictions (Para 5(a) & Para 6(a)): Support and Maintenance of the Automatic Passenger Gate Systems can only be delivered by the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), Cubic Transportation Systems, due to the proprietary nature of the system architecture, including supplier-specific hardware, core software and technical systems. The OEM has confirmed that the core software, technical systems and core components of the gateline equipment are proprietary to Cubic and protected by intellectual property rights. The OEM has confirmed that: - Access to Cubic diagnostic software or fault management systems is not available to third-party maintenance providers; - Maintenance manuals or technical documentation for Cubic gateline equipment are not provided to third-party maintenance providers; - Hardware or calibrated spare parts are not provided to third-party maintenance providers; and - No formal certification or accreditation scheme exists that would allow a non-Cubic engineer to maintain the Cubic-supplied equipment. As such, EMR is not aware of any alternative supplier capable of delivering the requirement that possesses the necessary legal rights, technical documentation, software access, spare parts and technical capability to maintain the existing systems. 2. Absence of Reasonable Alternatives (Para 5(b) & Para 6(b)): The existing gateline infrastructure is operational and has not reached end-of-life. A competitive tender for maintenance only is not feasible because access to the proprietary software, diagnostic systems, technical documentation, calibrated spare parts and maintenance accreditation required to support the assets is restricted to the OEM. Sourcing an alternative supplier would require a full removal and replacement of the live asset base across stations. Full system replacement would result in substantial duplication of cost, significant technical and operational complexity, and disproportionate disruption to live station operations. Replacing functional, non-obsolete assets solely to facilitate a competitive maintenance procurement would not represent a reasonable alternative. Competition is therefore absent, and a direct award to the OEM is justified under Schedule 5, Paragraphs 5 and 6.",
        "procurementMethodRationaleClassifications": [
            {
                "id": "singleSuppliersIntellectualPropertyExclusiveRights"
            },
            {
                "id": "singleSuppliersTechnicalReasons"
            }
        ],
        "specialRegime": [
            "utilities"
        ],
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "status": "complete"
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "conflictOfInterest",
                "documentType": "conflictOfInterest",
                "description": "Not published"
            }
        ]
    },
    "awards": [
        {
            "id": "1",
            "status": "active",
            "value": {
                "amountGross": 6726140.4,
                "currency": "GBP"
            },
            "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
            "aboveThreshold": true,
            "suppliers": [
                {
                    "id": "GB-COH-01381707",
                    "name": "CUBIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS LIMITED"
                }
            ],
            "items": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "additionalClassifications": [
                        {
                            "scheme": "CPV",
                            "id": "42961100",
                            "description": "Access control system"
                        },
                        {
                            "scheme": "CPV",
                            "id": "50220000",
                            "description": "Repair, maintenance and associated services related to railways and other equipment"
                        },
                        {
                            "scheme": "CPV",
                            "id": "50312000",
                            "description": "Maintenance and repair of computer equipment"
                        },
                        {
                            "scheme": "CPV",
                            "id": "50317000",
                            "description": "Maintenance and repair of ticket-validation machinery"
                        }
                    ],
                    "deliveryAddresses": [
                        {
                            "region": "UKC",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKD",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKE",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKF",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKG",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKH",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKI",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKJ",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKK",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKC",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKD",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKE",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKF",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKG",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKH",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKI",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKJ",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKK",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        }
                    ],
                    "relatedLot": "1"
                }
            ],
            "contractPeriod": {
                "startDate": "2026-09-01T00:00:00+01:00",
                "endDate": "2031-08-31T23:59:59+01:00"
            },
            "relatedLots": [
                "1"
            ],
            "documents": [
                {
                    "id": "070415-2026",
                    "documentType": "awardNotice",
                    "noticeType": "UK5",
                    "description": "Transparency notice on Find a Tender",
                    "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/070415-2026",
                    "datePublished": "2026-07-24T15:37:51+01:00",
                    "format": "text/html"
                },
                {
                    "id": "072831-2026",
                    "documentType": "awardNotice",
                    "noticeType": "UK6",
                    "description": "Contract award notice on Find a Tender",
                    "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/072831-2026",
                    "datePublished": "2026-07-31T15:23:02+01:00",
                    "format": "text/html"
                }
            ],
            "milestones": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "type": "futureSignatureDate",
                    "dueDate": "2026-08-12T23:59:59+01:00",
                    "status": "scheduled"
                }
            ],
            "date": "2026-07-31T00:00:00+01:00"
        }
    ],
    "language": "en"
}