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BAPA Network Rail

Stockton on Tees Borough Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

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09 Sep 2026 at 12:27

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council procured access arrangements for inspections on Network Rail’s operational rail infrastructure. The requirement is classified as works and covers railway-related construction activity, including work associated with pipelines, communications, power lines, roads and railways. Network Rail controls access to its operational rail network, so the purpose of this procurement was to enable the required inspections to take place safely and lawfully. Delivery is in the Stockton-on-Tees area. The appointed provider is Network Rail Certification Body, a small or medium-sized enterprise associated with Network Rail. This requirement is therefore relevant to businesses involved in rail infrastructure access, inspection support or related railway works, particularly those able to operate within Network Rail’s access and operational arrangements.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded. Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council made a direct award below the applicable threshold and without competition, because Network Rail was identified as the only organisation authorised to grant access to its operational rail infrastructure and the sole provider capable of delivering the necessary access arrangements. One lot was awarded to Network Rail Certification Body. The contract was signed on 7 September 2026 and runs from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027. Its value is £44,326 including tax. The contract is active. The procurement was evaluated on the basis that access could only be provided by Network Rail, rather than through a competitive assessment of alternative suppliers.

For a supplier that did not win this procurement, the requirement demonstrates a narrowly controlled market in which authority to access operational rail infrastructure is decisive. A credible competitor for comparable work would need established rail-sector capability, the operational competence to support infrastructure inspections, and the permissions, relationships or delivery arrangements required to work within Network Rail’s network. Experience of railway environments, safe working practices, inspection coordination and access planning would be commercially relevant. The buyer’s use of a direct award also shows that supplier eligibility may depend on exclusive infrastructure access rights rather than price competition. Businesses without those rights are unlikely to compete for this exact requirement, but specialist rail organisations able to secure authorised access and deliver inspection support would be better placed when similar needs arise.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

BAPA Network Rail

Notice Description

Network Rail is the only organisation authorised to grant access for the undertaking of inspections on its operational rail infrastructure. As access to the rail network can only be provided by Network Rail, there is no viable competitive tender or procurement route available. Accordingly, a direct award is required, as Network Rail is the sole provider capable of delivering the necessary access arrangements to enable the inspections to be undertaken.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f58d
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/085352-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

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

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

45 - Construction work

CPV Codes

45230000 - Construction work for pipelines, communication and power lines, for highways, roads, airfields and railways; flatwork

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£44,326 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
9 Sep 20266 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Oct 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 6-12 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
Stockton on Tees Borough 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
STOCKTON ON TEES
Postcode
TS17 6BJ
Postcode Area
Cleveland
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC3 Tees Valley
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC31 Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Stockton-on-Tees
Electoral Ward
Mandale & Victoria
Westminster Constituency
Middlesbrough and Thornaby East

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Network Rail Certification Body

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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