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Speed Management Programme - Speed Database Development

NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

18 Aug 2026 at 11:57

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Network Rail Infrastructure Limited intends to procure services to develop and deliver the National Speed Database, a central authoritative source for railway speed restriction information. The database is intended to provide warranted, real-time data covering permanent, junction, blanket, emergency and temporary speed restrictions through a nationally standardised interface. It will support in-cab speed information for railway stakeholders, improve protection against train overspeeding, strengthen safety and operational efficiency, and support network management. Railway undertakings will install and maintain their own speed display systems, such as driver advisory or train control management systems, so the supplier’s solution must interoperate with those systems and future European Train Control System deployment. The work is database software development services and is to be delivered for the rail industry under Network Rail’s Speed Management Programme.

This procurement is at the planning stage and is currently a preliminary market engagement exercise, not an invitation to tender. Network Rail expects to use the responses to assess supplier capability and shape its procurement strategy, requirements and future tender approach. Suppliers are expected to register interest by 21 September 2026, after which Network Rail plans an online briefing and a questionnaire-based consultation. The planned contract period is 13 December 2027 to 18 December 2028. The current recorded value is £0 gross in GBP; Network Rail states that it will confirm the estimated value when the tender process begins. There is one planned lot, and the procurement is treated as an above-threshold utilities services requirement.

This engagement will suit suppliers that can design, build and deliver authoritative, resilient databases for safety-critical or operational environments. Relevant capability includes managing real-time data, maintaining a single trusted source of information, developing nationally standardised interfaces and integrating with existing railway systems, including driver advisory systems, train control management systems and future European Train Control System deployments. Suppliers should be able to understand and model permanent, junction, blanket, emergency and temporary speed restrictions, and explain how their solution would reduce overspeed risk while supporting operational efficiency and network management. The lot is identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community and social enterprises. Interested suppliers should prepare for market engagement rather than a tender submission.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Speed Management Programme - Speed Database Development

Notice Description

To address the rail industry problem of train over speeding and the resulting risks, Network Rail has set up a Speed Management Programme with industry collaboration and oversight. The SMP aims to develop a Speed Management System (SMS) that enables real-time, in-cab information for Permanent (including junction speeds), Blanket, Emergency and Temporary Speed Restrictions (PSR, BSR, ESR, TSR), thereby reducing the risk of overspeed incidents, improving safety, operational efficiency, and supporting network management. To enable that, the SMS proposes a creation of the National Speed Database (SDB) which is the single version of the speed restrictions truth providing real-time warranted data to the industry. As per predefined boundaries of the programme, the Railway Undertakings (RU) will install and maintain their own Speed Display System (SDS), be it an existing Driver Advisory System (DAS), Train Control Management System or another device. The broadcast of speed restriction information will conform to a national standard to ensure interoperability with the RUs chosen system and any future deployment of ETCS. As part of the Speed Management Programme, Network Rail intends to procure a supplier to develop and deliver the National Speed Database (SDB). The SDB will act as the industry's authoritative source for speed restriction information and will support the provision of real-time speed restriction data to railway stakeholders through a nationally standardised interface. This exercise is intended to gather market insight, assess supplier capability and inform Network Rail's procurement strategy, requirements development and future tender approach for the delivery of this solution. We will confirm the Estimated Value when we start the Tender process.

Planning Information

Suppliers wishing to participate should register their interest by emailing on MWESourcing@networkrail.co.uk. Following receipt of an expression of interest, suppliers will be provided with a detailed project overview together with a set of initial market engagement questions. Network Rail will then hold an online market briefing session via Microsoft Teams. The purpose of this session is to provide additional information regarding the project, explain the objectives of the engagement exercise, and allow suppliers to ask questions. The date and time of the session will be confirmed in due course, and a Microsoft Teams invitation will be issued to all interested suppliers. Following the market briefing, suppliers will receive a Microsoft Forms questionnaire containing a series of questions relating to the proposed requirement. Suppliers will be invited to submit their responses electronically through Microsoft Forms within the timeframe specified in the invitation.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e672
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078487-2026
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

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

CPV Codes

72212610 - Database software development services

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
18 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
21 Sep 20264 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
13 Dec 2027 - 18 Dec 2028 1-2 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
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
Postcode Area
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

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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