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Rail Vehicle Electronics

Transport for London

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

12 Aug 2026 at 08:53

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Transport for London, on behalf of London Underground Limited, is preparing a flexible framework for rail vehicle electronics used across the TfL Network. The requirement covers electronic goods and services, including printed circuit boards, electronic component assemblies, integrated circuits, microelectronics and software. It is intended to support prototype development and replacement of obsolete systems, display and human-machine-interface components, rail vehicle modifications, reverse engineering, obsolescence analysis, condition assessment, repair, refurbishment, overhaul, testing and technical support. Associated work includes documentation, verification and validation, preservation, storage and transport, and services required by the Quality and Safety Plan. Delivery is across the United Kingdom, with work involving TfL engineering teams and London Underground’s Railway Engineering Works Electronics Workshop.

This procurement is at planning stage and is conducting early market engagement to help develop the framework; it is not an invitation to tender. Transport for London expects to issue a Market Sounding Questionnaire, with requests due by 16:00 GMT on 9 September 2026. The planned procedure is a framework agreement for utilities-related services, with one lot. The anticipated contract period is 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2030. The intended scope includes vehicle electronics repair, maintenance, modification and associated engineering services. The market engagement will test suppliers’ capability, capacity and viable delivery approaches. The eventual framework is expected to provide pre-approved suppliers for a range of electronic goods and services.

The work is suited to suppliers combining rail electronics engineering with manufacturing, repair, overhaul and lifecycle-management capability. Relevant experience includes developing replacement assemblies compatible with existing rail infrastructure; surveying and investigating legacy systems; reverse engineering; obsolescence reporting; component substitution and functional-equivalency analysis; and designing modifications, test rigs and overhaul packages. Suppliers should be able to undertake functional validation, conformity assessment and type testing, including electromagnetic compatibility, environmental, shock and vibration testing where applicable. TfL expects evidence of training and working procedures aligned with IPC quality standards, together with robust assurance for obsolete or grey-market components through counterfeit inspection, independent bench testing and validation. The framework may also suit businesses able to support documentation, preservation, storage, transport and collaborative delivery with TfL and London Underground engineering teams.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Rail Vehicle Electronics

Notice Description

Transport for London (TfL), on behalf of its subsidiary London Underground Limited (LUL), is undertaking early market engagement to support the development of a comprehensive and flexible Rail Vehicle Electronics Framework Agreement. TfL will subsequently issue a Market Sounding Questionnaire (MSQ) document which details the scope of work required. TfL seeks to engage with the supply market to understand capability, capacity, and viable delivery approaches for the Rail Vehicle Electronics Framework Agreement. The scope includes all electronics assemblies on rail vehicles that operate on the TfL Network, including but not limited to the following: * Printed circuits and boards (ICS code 31.180) * Electronic component assemblies (ICS code 31.190) * Integrated circuits and microelectronics (ICS code 31.200) * Software (ICS code 35.080) Note "ICS" means the International Classification for Standards. The framework will enable TfL to engage pre-approved suppliers for a range of Goods and Services including but not limited to: Goods: * Development and provision of prototype electronic assemblies to replace obsolete systems, ensuring compatibility with existing infrastructure. All replacement components must undergo functional validation and certification of compliance to relevant Railway standards, including but not limited to: * EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility) o Electronics environmental standards * Shock & vibration testing (where significant design changes occur) * IPC quality standards - supplier must demonstrate training and adherence to IPC standards in their working procedures * Supply of display units and Human Machine Interface (HMI) components. Services: * Surveying * Investigation * Design and provision of rail vehicles modifications required to support the integration and operation of replacement electronic assemblies, undertaken in close collaboration with TfL engineering teams to ensure compatibility and avoid duplication of work. * Reverse engineering of legacy rail vehicles electronic systems. * Obsolescence reporting and lifecycle analysis. * Condition Assessment * Repairs and refurbishments of electronic assemblies. * Overhauling & Testing including collaborative overhaul package undertaken in partnership with London Underground's Railway Engineering Works (REW) Electronics Workshop. Such package may include: * Reverse engineering of components to be overhauled. * Production of schematics to support overhaul activities * Identification of components requiring replacement and obsolescence solutions * Development of mechanisms to overcome onboard software barriers * Design and build of suitable test rigs to confirm correct functional operation after overhaul. * Creation of overhaul documentation to enable in-house capability building * Non-routine sourcing of obsolete components, including grey market sourcing with ap-propriate assurance mechanisms such as counterfeit inspection, independent bench testing and validation. * Approaches to component substitution, functional equivalency analysis, and obsolescence avoidance strategies, including grey market sourcing with appropriate assurance mechanisms such as counterfeit inspection, independent bench testing and validation of components. * Documentation preparation * Document review * Verification and validation, including type testing of the rail vehicle modification in accordance with the conformity assessment plan. * Technical support * Any other engineering services * Document management of the Contractual Documentation until delivery to the Company. * Preservation, including storage and transport, of the Goods, Contractual Documentation and supporting items until delivery to the company. * Services required by the Quality and Safety Plan

Planning Information

All relevant information will be contained in the MSQ document. To request the MSQ please contact Kim Bish (kimbish@tfl.gov.uk) before 16:00 GMT 9th September 2026. Late responses will not be considered. Non-responses to this expression of interest will be deemed as not interested. If bidders do not choose to participate in the Early Market Engagement process, this will not affect the ability to participate in the tender if Expressions of Interest to participate in the tender is received by the closing date. Your answers will be treated as TfL restricted in accordance with TfL standard S1782, Information security classification. This means that your answers will only be visible to people authorised by TfL, typically only the TfL staff involved in the procurement.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e1f2
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/076481-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

50 - Repair and maintenance services

CPV Codes

50100000 - Repair, maintenance and associated services of vehicles and related equipment

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
12 Aug 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
9 Sep 20262 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Jan 2027 - 31 Dec 2030 4-5 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
Postcode Area
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
TLI London
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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