Award

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

Kent to Gatwick Strategic Statement

East Sussex County Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

04 Sep 2026 at 10:23

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Summary of the contracting process

East Sussex County Council commissioned early development work for the Kent to Gatwick Strategic Statement. The work assesses the feasibility of reinstating direct passenger rail services between Kent and Gatwick Airport, building on findings from Network Rail’s Kent to Gatwick Strategic Advice report. This is a rail transport services requirement involving strategic assessment and feasibility development rather than routine passenger operations or construction. The work is being delivered in East Sussex for the council, with Network Rail Infrastructure Limited identified as the supplier. Businesses relevant to this requirement include rail infrastructure organisations, passenger rail specialists, transport planners and consultancies able to investigate service reinstatement, assess operational feasibility and develop evidence to support strategic transport decisions. The requirement relates specifically to improving potential rail connectivity between Kent and Gatwick Airport.

The procurement has been awarded and the tender is complete. East Sussex County Council used a direct award below the applicable threshold, without competition, under the Procurement Act 2023. Network Rail Infrastructure Limited was selected for the single lot. The contract was signed on 24 July 2026 and runs from 24 July 2026 to 31 October 2026. Its value is £65,267 excluding VAT, or £78,320 including VAT. The award is active and the contract is active. The requirement was evaluated through the direct-award route rather than competitive bids, with Network Rail appointed to undertake the early development and feasibility work. This outcome shows the council’s chosen delivery route and supplier for the Kent-to-Gatwick strategic rail assessment.

For a supplier that did not win this requirement, the procurement provides evidence of demand for specialist early-stage rail development work from East Sussex County Council. A credible future competitor would need expertise in assessing whether passenger rail services can be reinstated, including operational feasibility, infrastructure considerations, service planning and the preparation of strategic evidence. Knowledge of the Kent to Gatwick corridor and its transport needs would be directly relevant. The requirement also favours organisations able to build on earlier strategic advice, work with public-sector stakeholders and turn technical rail analysis into clear recommendations for investment or service decisions. Rail infrastructure companies, transport consultancies and passenger-rail specialists with comparable feasibility and strategic planning capability would be the most relevant potential providers when this type of work returns.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Kent to Gatwick Strategic Statement

Notice Description

Network Rail will undertake early development work to assess the feasibility of reinstating direct passenger rail services between Kent and Gatwick Airport, building on the findings of the Kent to Gatwick Strategic Advice (2024) report by Network Rail.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f1fd
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083781-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - without competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

CPV Codes

60200000 - Railway transport services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£65,267 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
4 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
24 Jul 2026 - 31 Oct 2026 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
East Sussex County Council
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LEWES
Postcode
BN7 1UE
Postcode Area
Brighton
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ2 Surrey, East and West Sussex
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ22 East Sussex CC
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Lewes
Electoral Ward
Lewes Priory
Westminster Constituency
Lewes

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED

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.

Loading OCDS record...