--- title: "Request for Information (RFI) Robotics for Rail" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-2f7bee99-f785-4953-826a-95fa47cc7ea6" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-2f7bee99-f785-4953-826a-95fa47cc7ea6" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-2f7bee99-f785-4953-826a-95fa47cc7ea6.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-2f7bee99-f785-4953-826a-95fa47cc7ea6.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "CONNECTED PLACES CATAPULT" published: "2020-07-24" --- # Request for Information (RFI) Robotics for Rail Buyer: CONNECTED PLACES CATAPULT Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-b5fd17-2f7bee99-f785-4953-826a-95fa47cc7ea6 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-2f7bee99-f785-4953-826a-95fa47cc7ea6) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-2f7bee99-f785-4953-826a-95fa47cc7ea6.json) ## Summary The procurement process titled "Request for Information (RFI) Robotics for Rail" is initiated by the Connected Places Catapult, aimed at enhancing safety and efficiency in maintenance work through robotics. This process falls within the planning stage, with a budget of £1 for the financial year 2020/2021. The key dates include the closing date for interest submissions on 17th August 2020 at 12 noon, and an industry webinar scheduled for 3rd August 2020. The deliverables are primarily focused on the railway sector, with projects located in London, UK, and classified under various machinery categories including agricultural and railway equipment. This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in robotics, automation technologies, and machinery suitable for rail maintenance. Companies that focus on innovative solutions for lifting, handling, and inspection will find this tender particularly relevant. The engagement strategy includes a market analysis to identify capabilities, which signals a competitive field for SMEs and voluntary community sector enterprises to participate and contribute valuable insights and technologies that align with Network Rail's objectives for incremental robotic functionality and efficiency. ## Notice Network Rail has identified robotics as a potential avenue to improve the safety and efficiency of maintenance work. Personnel safety can be improved through reducing direct exposure to hazardous work by a robotic application, for example by automation of repetitive lifting activities. Additional benefits may include, improved frequency and coverage of maintenance inspections through the creation of autonomous or semi-autonomous tools. A longer-term aspiration is to develop a systems with the capability to conduct various sensing and maintenance tasks completely autonomously, however it is recognised that such a programme will take a long time to deliver. The purpose of the current market engagement is to improve the awareness of market capabilities, such that any subsequent development project and trials can be conducted at pace. Network Rail aims to engage in these trials shortly after the analysis of this RFI. The aim of these trials would be to enable Network Rail to accelerate their capability and learning in this area and enable rapid tests and feedback from end users, such that benefits can be demonstrated through the delivery of incremental functionality. Network Rail have currently prioritised three use cases, in order to drive the development of incremental functionality and demonstration of the benefits of robotic technology. The three identified use cases are: 1. Robotic Assistance for Tubular Stretcher Bars 2. Automated Inspection 3. Robotic Assistance for MMT Wet Bed Treatment The programme will work alongside the system's end users to incrementally deliver value and enable rapid feedback to the product's development and management. Awareness of the longer-term goal, as well as programmes of work such as In2Track2 and In2Smart2 should help inform the design of the system and the requirements that will need to be requested from the market. We will be holding an industry webinar on 3rd August 2020. You can find out more information and register at link which will be published in the Clarification Log Q&A's No 1. Additional information: Please register if not already registered, then "Express an Interest" for this project at link: https://procontract.due-north.com/Register which will then allow you to download the Response template. The project title is: Request for Information (RFI) Robotics for Rail. Once the template is completed, please upload to the same link: https://procontract.due-north.com/Register Closing date is 12noon 17th August 2020 ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/7abade56-b87e-4dc0-bf58-5aab73e00e6c | | Notice type | Planned Procurement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Not specified | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 24 Jul 2020 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 2 Nov 2020 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 31 Mar 2021 - 31 Mar 2022 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £1 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planned | | Lots status | Not specified | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | CONNECTED PLACES CATAPULT | | Locality | MILTON KEYNES | | Post town | Milton Keynes | | Postcode | MK9 1BP | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLJ South East (England) | | ITL 2 | TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire | | ITL 3 | TLJ12 Milton Keynes | | Local authority | Milton Keynes | | Electoral ward | Central Milton Keynes | | Westminster constituency | Milton Keynes Central | | Delivery location | TLI London | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 16 - Agricultural machinery - 34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation - 38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses) - 42 - Industrial machinery - 43 - Machinery for mining, quarrying, construction equipment ### Codes - 16000000 - Agricultural machinery - 34940000 - Railway equipment - 38400000 - Instruments for checking physical characteristics - 42400000 - Lifting and handling equipment and parts - 42900000 - Miscellaneous general and special-purpose machinery - 43200000 - Earthmoving and excavating machinery, and associated parts ## Release History - 24 Jul 2020 at 16:06 - Planning - Planned Procurement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/7abade56-b87e-4dc0-bf58-5aab73e00e6c ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/7abade56-b87e-4dc0-bf58-5aab73e00e6c 24th July 2020 - Future opportunity notice on Contracts Finder ## Notice URLs - http://cp.catapult.org.uk - https://procontract.due-north.com/Register ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. 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