Award

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

Modular Lift, Design, Manufacture, Installation, Testing and Commissioning

Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

08 Sep 2026 at 12:18

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Network Rail Infrastructure Limited is procuring a fully integrated, off-site manufactured modular lift solution, covering design, factory manufacture, delivery, installation, testing, commissioning and associated support services. The work is intended to support accessibility improvements and station enhancement programmes across Network Rail’s estate, while reducing passenger and operational disruption, on-site construction and railway possession requirements. The procurement is classified as works and includes lift installation services (CPV 45313100). Delivery is across the United Kingdom. The requirement is for a complete modular lift system rather than a standalone installation service, so relevant businesses would need capability across lift engineering, modular construction, factory production, logistics, installation, testing and commissioning, with the ability to provide integrated support to a major rail infrastructure operator.

The procurement is complete and the contract has been awarded, with Explore 2050 Engineering Limited, trading as Vertiq, selected as supplier. It covers one lot and uses a direct award under the utilities regime, justified by the claimed absence of competition for technical reasons and reliance on Section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023. The awarded value is £20 million excluding VAT (£24 million including VAT). The contract period runs from 1 December 2026 to 30 June 2028, with a scheduled signature date of 19 November 2026. Network Rail has a break clause exercisable after 12 months, allowing further market research and consideration of a future competitive tender. The award is above the relevant threshold and the lot is identified as suitable for SMEs.

This procurement indicates demand for modular lift systems that can be manufactured away from the railway and installed with limited disruption to passengers and operations. A credible future competitor would need to demonstrate a fully integrated solution spanning design, manufacturing, delivery, installation, testing, commissioning and support, rather than supplying individual lift components alone. Evidence of technical capability, safe delivery in a rail environment, reliable programme performance and standardised solutions for station enhancement would be important. Businesses should also be able to show sufficient production, logistics and installation capacity for a national infrastructure operator, together with the ability to meet accessibility requirements and reduce on-site activity and railway possessions. Lift specialists, modular construction firms and engineering organisations able to combine these capabilities are the most relevant potential suppliers.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Modular Lift, Design, Manufacture, Installation, Testing and Commissioning

Notice Description

Description of the Requirement Network Rail Infrastructure Limited intends to enter into a contract with Explore 2050 (Trading as Vertiq) for the design, manufacture, installation, testing and commissioning of the Vertiq Modular Lift and associated services. The requirement comprises a fully integrated off-site manufactured modular lift solution including factory-based manufacture, delivery, installation, testing, commissioning and associated support services. Justification for Direct Award Network Rail intends to make a direct award under Section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023 relying upon Schedule 5 Paragraph 1 (absence of competition for technical reasons). Network Rail has undertaken a review of currently available market solutions and engaged with suppliers active within the lift and modular construction sectors to assess the availability of alternative solutions capable of meeting its requirements. Network Rail has determined that an off-site manufactured modular lift solution is necessary to minimise passenger and operational disruption, reduce on-site construction activities, reduce railway possession requirements, improve installation certainty and support the efficient delivery of accessibility and station enhancement programmes across its estate. Following market analysis, supplier engagement and technical assessment, Network Rail has concluded that it has not identified any reasonable alternative supplier capable of delivering a fully integrated off-site manufactured modular lift solution that satisfies its operational, safety, installation, programme delivery and standardisation requirements. Network Rail therefore considers that competition is absent for technical reasons and that a direct award is justified. The proposed contract term is limited to 18 months and includes a break clause exercisable by Network Rail after 12 months. The inclusion of the break clause reflects Network Rail's intention to undertake further market testing and assess whether effective competition has emerged for future requirements. Procurement Act 2023 Compliance Statement Network Rail Infrastructure Limited considers that the proposed direct award satisfies the conditions for direct award set out in Section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023 and relies upon the justification contained within Schedule 5 Paragraph 1 (absence of competition for technical reasons). This Transparency Notice is being published in accordance with Section 44 of the Procurement Act 2023 prior to the proposed award of the contract. Evidence supporting the direct award decision, including market analysis, supplier engagement records and technical assessments, is retained within the procurement file. Network Rail will continue to review market developments throughout the contract term and will utilise the contractual break clause and ongoing market testing to inform future procurement decisions. Break Clause Undertake further market analysis Assess emerging modular lift solutions and suppliers Review continued value for money Determine whether future requirements should be subject to a competitive procurement process Transparency Statement This notice is published pursuant to Section 44 of the Procurement Act 2023 and provides advance notification of Network Rail Infrastructure Limited's intention to award a contract to Explore 2050 (Trading as Vertiq) using a direct award ground permitted under the Procurement Act 2023. The publication of this notice is intended to provide transparency regarding the Authority's proposed procurement approach.

Procurement Information

There are no other compliant products in the market at this current time

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f46c
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/084840-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK5 - Transparency Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Works
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

45 - Construction work

CPV Codes

45313100 - Lift installation work

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£20,000,000 £10M-£100M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
8 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Dec 2026 - 30 Jun 2028 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd
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

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

EXPLORE 2050 ENGINEERING 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...