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Provision of Contingent Labour Services for Transport for Wales Infrastructure Maintenance Activities (Future Operating Model)

Transport for Wales

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

22 Sep 2026 at 17:02

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Transport for Wales is developing a multi-lot framework for contingent labour to support its infrastructure maintenance obligations on the Core Valley Lines network. The service will supplement TfW’s directly employed workforce for routine and planned maintenance, with occasional reactive and emergency work, including short-notice and out-of-hours requirements. The anticipated specialisms cover on-track operatives and protection staff; on-track plant operators and machine or crane controllers; electrification and isolation staff; civils, construction and general trades; plant operators supplied on a labour-only basis; and vegetation management and lineside clearance. This is a labour and railway-maintenance services requirement, with related construction, engineering, plant-operation and tree-maintenance activities. TfW is the buying organisation, and delivery is across the Core Valley Lines in Wales.

This procurement is at the planning stage: TfW intends to run a formal competition after supply-chain engagement, and there is no invitation to tender yet. The expected route is a multi-lot framework agreement under the utilities regime, with the proposed lot structure subject to change following market feedback. TfW expects the framework to start on 1 September 2027 and run to 31 August 2030, with renewal provisions allowing an extension to 31 August 2031. The estimated value is £4.6 million excluding VAT, or £5.5 million including VAT. TfW expects to publish the next notice by 30 January 2027. A market-engagement event is planned for the morning of 5 October 2026 at TfW’s head office in Pontypridd; organisations must register interest by 1 October 2026, with a maximum of two attendees per organisation.

The planned framework should suit labour providers and specialist rail-maintenance contractors able to supply reliable, competent and appropriately assured temporary personnel at the volumes and response times required for infrastructure maintenance. Relevant businesses may include providers of safety-critical on-track staff, protection personnel, on-track plant and crane operators, electrification and isolation workers, civil engineering and construction trades, labour-only plant operators, and vegetation or lineside-clearance teams. Suppliers should be prepared to support both planned and unplanned work, including short-notice and out-of-hours requirements, across a rail network. TfW is seeking market feedback on supplier appetite, proposed lots, delivery capability, operational requirements and commercial viability, so interested businesses can help shape the eventual framework while preparing their capacity and assurance arrangements.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of Contingent Labour Services for Transport for Wales Infrastructure Maintenance Activities (Future Operating Model)

Notice Description

Transport for Wales (TfW) is developing a new multi-lot Framework agreement for the provision of Contingent Labour to support Transport for Wales (TfW) in fulfilling their Infrastructure Maintenance (IM) obligations on the Core Valley Lines (CVL). To support in fulfilling the Infrastructure Maintenance (IM) obligations, TfW require a compliant and efficient route to market to secure Contingent Labour to supplement its directly employed workforce to support the delivery of routine, planned maintenance activity for safety critical and off-track requirements across the CVL network with occasion reactive and emergency maintenance activity. Transport for Wales (TfW) is scheduled to assume the role of Infrastructure Manager (IM) in February 2028. This Framework will commence in September 2027 to support TfW's mobilisation activities and ensure operational readiness from Day One (February 2028) of the Infrastructure Manager (IM) transition. The Framework is intended to provide TfW with access to approved and compliant, temporary maintenance labour providers who can provide reliable, competent and appropriately assured labour in line with the volumes and response times required to meet maintenance demands, including short-notice and out-of-hours labour requirements. The multi-lot Framework will be structured to reflect requirements for Contingent Labour specialisms utilising on-track (safety critical) and off-track labour requirements to reflect market specialisms, delivery capability, and the range of requirements required to support the TfW Infrastructure Maintenance (IM) programme. The Framework is expected to comprise of a multi-lot structure, potentially including: Lot 1 - On-Track Operatives & Protection Staff Lot 2 - On-Track Plant (OTP) Operators & Machine / Crane Controllers Lot 3 - Electrification (OLE/OHLE) Operatives & Isolation Staff Lot 4 - Civils, Construction & General Trade Operatives Lot 5 - Plant Operators (Labour only) Lot 6 - Vegetation Management & Lineside Clearance Operatives Lot structure is subject to change following market engagement. The proposed framework structure, scope, and lotting structure is currently under development and will be presented to the market through a supply-chain engagement workshop to support the finalisation of the scope and procurement strategy to ensure it aligns to industry knowledge and capability, emerging trends, and customer needs. Transport for Wales intends to undertake a formal procurement exercise following completion of its supply chain market engagement activities.

Planning Information

The Authority is inviting the market to participate in a pre-procurement supply chain engagement event to support the development of a new Framework agreement for the provision of Contingent Labour to support Transport for Wales (TfW) in fulfilling its Infrastructure Maintenance (IM) obligations on the Core Valley Lines (CVL). The engagement will provide an opportunity for Transport for Wales (TfW) to present its draft Framework strategy and seek feedback on the proposed scope, lot structure and procurement approach. Through this process, Transport for Wales (TfW) aims to ensure the Framework is attractive to the market, supports operational requirements, is commercially viable and capable of meeting the future needs of the transport sector. Transport for Wales (TfW) is particularly interested in understanding market appetite, anticipated participation across the proposed lots, and any factors that may influence supplier involvement in the future procurement. Feedback received during the engagement may be used to inform the final Framework design, including its scope, lot structure and procurement documentation. Participation in this engagement will not confer any advantage or disadvantage in any subsequent procurement process. Event Objectives Transport for Wales (TfW) will use this engagement event to: - Present its draft Framework strategy and procurement approach. - Explain the proposed Framework lotting model and structure. - Test the level of market interest and supplier appetite. - Present the proposed procurement programme and timescales. - Gather market intelligence to refine the final procurement strategy. - Ensure the Framework is structured to maximise competition, innovation, value for money, and operational effectiveness across the rail transport sector. This engagement forms an important part of Transport for Wales (TfW) procurement planning process and will help ensure the framework is designed to meet both customer requirements and market capability over its intended term. Transport for Wales (TfW) will be hosting a market engagement event on the morning of Monday 5th October 2026 in TfW’s Head Office in Pontypridd. Organisations wishing to attend are invited to register their interest by emailing Procurement@tfw.wales. Registrations should include the name and contact email address of each attendee and the name of their organisation. Please note, there will be a maximum of 2 attendees per organisation. Further information on the event will follow via email to registered suppliers.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0777f7
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/089839-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
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

77 - Agricultural, forestry, horticultural, aquacultural and apicultural services

CPV Codes

45100000 - Site preparation work

45210000 - Building construction work

45220000 - Engineering works and construction works

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

45300000 - Building installation work

45400000 - Building completion work

45500000 - Hire of construction and civil engineering machinery and equipment with operator

50225000 - Railway-track maintenance services

77211400 - Tree-cutting services

77211500 - Tree-maintenance services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£4,600,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 Sep 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
30 Jan 20274 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Sep 2027 - 31 Aug 2030 3-4 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
Transport for Wales
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
PONTYPRIDD
Postcode
CF37 4TH
Postcode Area
Cardiff
Country
Wales
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLL Wales
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLL5 South East Wales
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLL51 Central Valleys and Bridgend
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Rhondda Cynon Taf
Electoral Ward
Pontypridd Town
Westminster Constituency
Pontypridd

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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