Tender

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

Economic analysis of access applications

OFFICE OF RAIL AND ROAD

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

23 Oct 2026 at 16:50

UK4 - Tender Notice
Tender

21 Oct 2026 at 16:42

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) is seeking consultancy services to carry out economic analysis supporting its assessment of four applications for track access rights on the national rail network. Train operators need ORR approval for track access contracts; where parties cannot agree terms, an operator can apply to ORR for a decision. The analysis will inform ORR’s consideration of matters including network capacity, performance and safety, competition, and effects on government funding. The work supports ORR’s rail-access regulatory decisions rather than the operation of train services itself. Delivery is in the United Kingdom.

ORR invited tenders through an open competition below the relevant procurement threshold. The procurement is divided into one lot, with a stated gross value of £114,000 ( £95,000 excluding VAT). The deadline for clarification questions and tender submissions was 9 November 2026 at 17:00. The contract period is 16 November 2026 to 15 November 2027. Award is weighted equally across four areas: methodology, delivery, experience, and cost/value for money, each at 25%. Participation is limited to UK suppliers. The amendment extended both the clarification-question and proposal deadlines to 9 November 2026 at 17:00; it also gave the expected contract award as the week commencing 9 November and the project inception meeting as 16 November 2026.

This opportunity is suited to UK consultancies, including SMEs, with the ability to undertake robust economic analysis in a rail-regulatory context. Suppliers should be able to develop and explain a credible methodology, deliver the work effectively, and demonstrate relevant experience: these are assessed alongside value for money, with all four carrying equal weight. Understanding the economics of rail access decisions would be relevant, particularly analysis that can help assess network capacity, performance and safety, competition, and impacts on government funding. The work covers four applications, so bidders should be able to organise analysis across multiple cases and provide clear evidence to support regulatory decision-making. The requirement is consultancy and research work, not the provision of rail transport services.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Economic analysis of access applications

Notice Description

This invitation to tender sets out ORR's requirement for consultants to carry out economic analysis in support of ORR's assessment of track access rights decisions for four access applications. ORR is responsible for regulating access to the national rail network. A train operator seeking rights to operate services on Network Rail infrastructure must enter into a track access contract, which requires ORR approval under the Railways Act 1993. ORR is required to approve contracts where the parties have reached agreement. Where the parties are unable to agree, an operator may apply to ORR for a determination. In reaching track access decisions, ORR weighs all its relevant duties under the Railways Act 1993. This is done by exploring a range of considerations, such as availability of capacity, impact on performance and safety, competition and the impact on Secretary of State's funds. ORR is assessing four applications on which we are seeking consultancy support for economic analysis

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-078d4a
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/100732-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - open competition
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

CPV Codes

73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£95,000 Under £100K
Lots Value
£95,000 Under £100K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
23 Oct 20263 days ago
Submission Deadline
9 Nov 20262 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
16 Nov 2026 - 15 Nov 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
OFFICE OF RAIL AND ROAD
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
E14 4QZ
Postcode Area
East London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI4 Inner London - East
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI42 Tower Hamlets
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Tower Hamlets
Electoral Ward
Canary Wharf
Westminster Constituency
Poplar and Limehouse

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...