Planning

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

Trackside Acoustic Detection System (TADS)

Chiltern Rail Limited

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

06 Oct 2026 at 10:11

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Chiltern Rail Limited plans to replace its Trackside Acoustic Detection System, which monitors axle bearings and other rotating parts mounted on train bogies. Microphones capture the sound from passing trains, and software analyses it to identify defective bearings before they fail; the results inform safety, operational and business decisions. The current system has become unreliable and has experienced outages. The replacement may cover system design and Network Rail approval, safe removal of existing equipment, civil engineering where needed, installation, software and user interface, and ongoing maintenance and support. The work is for train monitoring services and is intended for use on Chiltern Railways’ network in the United Kingdom. The buyer is Chiltern Rail Limited, a public undertaking operating in the rail sector.

This is at the planning stage: Chiltern is gathering market information to shape its requirements and procurement strategy, not inviting tenders. The planned engagement is an electronic request for information, with possible further discussions or solution demonstrations. The buyer expected engagement to begin on 6 October 2026, with clarification questions by 13 October and completed responses by 30 October; consolidated answers were intended by 16 October. A future procurement notice was anticipated on 9 December 2026. The stated estimated value is £1.2 million excluding VAT (£1.44 million including VAT), but the buyer says the contract value, duration and final structure remain undetermined. The current plan shows one lot, with small-business suitability, and a potential contract period from 1 May 2027 to 30 April 2037; these arrangements are still subject to market feedback.

The engagement is relevant to suppliers able to provide trackside acoustic monitoring for rail bearings or other rotating train components, including the associated detection software. Chiltern is seeking market views on available solutions, delivery models, commercial approaches, implementation timescales, dependencies and risks, as well as indicative pricing. The possible scope spans equipment design, Network Rail approval, decommissioning, site safety, civil engineering, installation, software and user support, so suppliers with integrated railway systems capability may be well placed to contribute. Businesses specialising in one part of the scope can help the buyer assess whether the eventual procurement should be divided into lots or separate procurements. This is a preparation opportunity to inform the future specification and buying strategy; it is not a request for bids. No particular accreditation or minimum supplier capacity is set out.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Trackside Acoustic Detection System (TADS)

Notice Description

Chiltern Rail Limited (Chiltern) is undertaking preliminary market engagement to support the planned replacement of its existing Trackside Acoustic Detection System (TADS). TADS has been used by Chiltern since 2015 to monitor the health and condition of axle bearings and other bogie mounted rotating components. TADS is a wayside system developed by "Transportation Technology Centre Inc" (TTCI) for the purpose of detecting defective railroad bearing prior to failure. This system uses microphone-based technology to collect the acoustic signature of each bearing on a passing train. This data is processed thorough a collection of algorithms to identify defective bearings. The resulting information is used to drive critical safety, business and operational decisions. TADS is becoming unreliable and has suffered several outages more recently therefore Chiltern is seeking information from the market regarding potential solutions and delivery approaches for its replacement. The scope of requirement may include: * System design and Network Rail approval. * Decommissioning existing equipment and making the site safe. * Civil engineering where required for the new equipment. * Instillation of new equipment. * User interface/software package. * Ongoing maintenance and support. Further requirements are detailed within the draft specifications included within the documents provided. The purpose of this RFI is to: * Understand the solutions and delivery models currently available in the market; * Determine whether the requirement is best delivered through lots or separate procurements; * Test and refine the draft functional and non-functional requirements; * Understand implementation; * Obtain indicative pricing and commercial information; * Identify likely implementation timescales, dependencies and risks. The estimated contract value, contract duration and final procurement structure have not yet been determined. Suppliers are therefore being asked to provide information on available commercial models, indicative pricing, implementation timescales and the main factors affecting cost. This is preliminary market engagement only and does not constitute an invitation to tender or a commitment by Chiltern Railways to commence a future procurement. The purpose is to help Chiltern understand market capability and develop its requirements, commercial approach and procurement strategy, which is consistent with the intended function of preliminary market engagement under the Procurement Act 2023.

Planning Information

This preliminary market engagement will be conducted electronically through Market Dojo. No physical supplier events are currently planned. The engagement will commence on Tuesday 6 October 2026. Suppliers will be provided with access to the Request for Information questionnaire, the draft requirements spreadsheet and the relevant background information through Market Dojo. Suppliers wishing to participate should register with Market Dojo at the following URL: https://marketdojo.com/market-dojo-sign-up/ and once registered, use invitation code: 4AF903D4B4 to access the event. Once access has been gained, all communications relating to the engagement must take place through Market Dojo. This includes the submission of clarification questions, Chiltern Railways' responses to those questions and the submission of completed RFI responses. Clarification questions must be submitted through Market Dojo by 14:00 on Tuesday 13 October 2026. Chiltern Railways intends to issue consolidated responses to clarification questions through Market Dojo by Friday 16 October 2026. Completed responses must be submitted through Market Dojo by 14:00 on Friay 30 October 2026. Following review of the responses, Chiltern Railways may invite suppliers to participate in further market engagement discussions or solution demonstrations. Any further sessions will be arranged separately and will remain part of the preliminary market engagement process.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-078156
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/094107-2026
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

63 - Supporting and auxiliary transport services; travel agencies services

CPV Codes

63711100 - Train monitoring services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,200,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
6 Oct 2026Today
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
9 Dec 20263 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 May 2027 - 1 May 2037 Over 5 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
Chiltern Rail Limited
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

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...