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Pre-Market Engagement - Provision of 24/7 Emergency Overhead Line Equipment (OLE) Response and Repair Services for Midland Metro Limited (MML)

West Midlands Combined Authority

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

26 Aug 2026 at 20:13

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

West Midlands Combined Authority is exploring a service for Midland Metro Limited to provide continuous 24/7 emergency response and repair for overhead line equipment (OLE). The work covers urgent attendance, fault response and repairs to the electrical infrastructure supporting the Midland Metro network, combining overhead line construction, railway engineering, electrical services, and repair and maintenance. It is a utilities-related service delivered in the United Kingdom. The requirement is intended for organisations able to support railway electrification assets and emergency infrastructure incidents, rather than suppliers of general building works or routine non-rail maintenance. The Authority is seeking market views before finalising the specification, commercial model and route to market.

This is a planning-stage pre-market engagement exercise, not an invitation to tender. The Authority expects suppliers to complete a voluntary questionnaire covering market capability, innovation, capacity and possible delivery approaches; responses are requested through the Proactis e-tendering portal by 18 September 2026 at 12 noon. The future service is planned as one lot, with a contract period from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2028 and renewal provision extending the maximum contract period to 31 March 2030. The estimated value is £600,000 excluding VAT, or £720,000 including VAT. The requirement is above the applicable threshold. Any formal procurement will be advertised separately, with its procedure and evaluation arrangements set out then.

This engagement is most relevant to specialist rail infrastructure, railway electrification and electrical engineering contractors that can provide a dependable emergency response service at all times. It should suit small and medium-sized enterprises, including firms with established OLE maintenance, overhead line construction, fault diagnosis, repair and railway engineering capability. The buyer is specifically seeking evidence of market capacity, innovative approaches and practical delivery models, so suppliers should be prepared to explain their resources, response arrangements, technical competence and ability to support the Midland Metro network. Organisations with experience coordinating urgent infrastructure repairs and maintaining safety-critical electrical assets will be well placed to contribute useful information before the future procurement is designed.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Pre-Market Engagement - Provision of 24/7 Emergency Overhead Line Equipment (OLE) Response and Repair Services for Midland Metro Limited (MML)

Notice Description

Pre-Market Engagement - Provision of 24/7 Emergency Overhead Line Equipment (OLE) Response and Repair Services for Midland Metro Limited (MML) Purpose of Engagement The Authority is undertaking a pre-market engagement exercise for Midland Metro Limited to inform the development of its procurement strategy and future requirements. Interested organisations are invited to complete the accompanying Pre-Market Engagement (PME) Questionnaire to provide information on market capability, innovation, capacity, and potential delivery approaches. Participation in this exercise is entirely voluntary and is being conducted in accordance with the principles of transparency, equal treatment and non-discrimination. Important Information * This questionnaire is issued for information gathering purposes only and does not form part of any formal procurement process. * Participation in this pre-market engagement exercise will not confer any advantage or disadvantage in any subsequent procurement procedure. * The Authority reserves the right to use the information obtained to help shape its future requirements, specification, procurement strategy, commercial model, and route to market. * Any future procurement opportunity will be advertised separately and interested suppliers will need to register and submit responses in accordance with the requirements of that procurement process. * Responses should be submitted via the e-tendering portal by Friday 18th September 2026 12 noon. Confidentiality The Authority will treat responses in confidence and use the information solely for the purposes of informing its market analysis and procurement planning. Suppliers should clearly identify any information they consider commercially sensitive. How to Participate Suppliers wishing to participate should download and complete the Pre-Market Engagement Questionnaire and return it through Proactis (e-tendering portal) by the stated deadline. Please ensure you have completed the registration process for Proactis, the WMCA's e-tendering portal (https://procontract.due-north.com/). Proactis Project Reference: DN824087.

Planning Information

Provision of 24/7 Emergency Overhead Line Equipment (OLE) Response and Repair Services for Midland Metro Limited (MML) Purpose of Engagement The Authority is undertaking a pre-market engagement exercise for Midland Metro Limited to inform the development of its procurement strategy and future requirements. Interested organisations are invited to complete the accompanying Pre-Market Engagement (PME) Questionnaire to provide information on market capability, innovation, capacity, and potential delivery approaches. Participation in this exercise is entirely voluntary and is being conducted in accordance with the principles of transparency, equal treatment and non-discrimination. Important Information • This questionnaire is issued for information gathering purposes only and does not form part of any formal procurement process. • Participation in this pre-market engagement exercise will not confer any advantage or disadvantage in any subsequent procurement procedure. • The Authority reserves the right to use the information obtained to help shape its future requirements, specification, procurement strategy, commercial model, and route to market. • Any future procurement opportunity will be advertised separately and interested suppliers will need to register and submit responses in accordance with the requirements of that procurement process. • Responses should be submitted via the e-tendering portal by Friday 18th September 2026 12 noon. Confidentiality The Authority will treat responses in confidence and use the information solely for the purposes of informing its market analysis and procurement planning. Suppliers should clearly identify any information they consider commercially sensitive. How to Participate Suppliers wishing to participate should download and complete the Pre-Market Engagement Questionnaire and return it through Proactis (e-tendering portal) by the stated deadline. Please ensure you have completed the registration process for Proactis, the WMCA's e-tendering portal (https://procontract.due-north.com/). Proactis Project Reference: DN824087.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06ed11
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/081544-2026
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
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

45 - Construction work

50 - Repair and maintenance services

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

CPV Codes

45232210 - Overhead line construction

50000000 - Repair and maintenance services

71311230 - Railway engineering services

71314100 - Electrical services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£600,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
26 Aug 2026Today
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
18 Sep 20264 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2027 - 31 Mar 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
West Midlands Combined Authority
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BIRMINGHAM
Postcode
B19 3SD
Postcode Area
Birmingham
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLG West Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLG3 West Midlands
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLG31 Birmingham
Delivery Location
TLG West Midlands (England)
Local Authority
Birmingham
Electoral Ward
Newtown
Westminster Constituency
Birmingham Ladywood

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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