--- title: "Rail Adhesion MSQ" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-9beb10dc-ecae-49af-82b2-1cd2172833e3" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-9beb10dc-ecae-49af-82b2-1cd2172833e3" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-9beb10dc-ecae-49af-82b2-1cd2172833e3.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-9beb10dc-ecae-49af-82b2-1cd2172833e3.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "TRANSPORT FOR LONDON" published: "2024-10-03" --- # Rail Adhesion MSQ Buyer: TRANSPORT FOR LONDON Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-b5fd17-9beb10dc-ecae-49af-82b2-1cd2172833e3 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-9beb10dc-ecae-49af-82b2-1cd2172833e3) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-9beb10dc-ecae-49af-82b2-1cd2172833e3.json) ## Summary Transport for London (TfL) has initiated the procurement process for "Rail Adhesion MSQ," classified under the public transport services by railways (CPV: 60210000). Currently in the planning stage, this tender falls within the transport industry category and focuses on enhancing rail adhesion management. The opportunity caters to suppliers within the United Kingdom and is particularly inclusive of SMEs. The pre-procurement activity involves market engagement to request feedback and innovative solutions for rail adhesion challenges. Key dates include the submission deadline for the Market Sounding Questionnaire (MSQ) by 12:00 midday on Monday, 23rd September 2024. This tender represents a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in rail solutions to collaborate with TfL and contribute to improving rail safety and service reliability. Companies adept in offering innovative, cost-effective, and efficient solutions for railhead contamination management are well-suited to compete. Given the diverse infrastructure of TfL’s network, solutions must account for a variety of conditions, including different station designs and rolling stock. This engagement provides a platform for potential suppliers to showcase their capabilities and influence future competitive procurement processes, fostering growth and establishing long-term business relationships with TfL. ## Notice Transport for London's Open Innovation Team works with market innovators of all sizes to help solve some of the challenges that TfL faces where there is a need for more innovative solutions. Rather than prescribing solutions, we instead look to the market for creative, resourceful and novel approaches to problem solving to create new value for TfL by doing things better, quicker or cheaper. Transport for London (TfL) relies on adhesion management to maintain a safe, reliable, and high-frequency railway system while preserving asset health. Both high and low friction levels at the wheel-rail interface can cause safety issues like delays, derailments, and asset damage. To address these, TfL uses various operational, procedural, and technical solutions. During autumnal months, outdoor sections of the network (55% of the London Underground) face low adhesion due to fallen leaves mixing with iron oxides on rails. This can lead to delays, cancellations, wheel flats, and even collisions or derailments. TfL's current solutions include vegetation management, rail adhesion trains, Traction Gel Applicators, seasonal timetables, and reduced brake rates. Any new solution must consider the diverse infrastructure of TfL's network, which includes a mix of above-ground and underground stations with varying platform dimensions and designs. The network also features different rolling stock and signalling systems, some automated and others manually driven. Service intervals range from 22 to 36 trains per hour. Any proposed solution should ensure safety across these varied conditions without compromising service frequency or asset longevity. Problem statement: How might we target railhead contamination such that we retain optimal (or as near as feasible) levels of friction on the railhead; allowing us to run a high-frequency service year-round regardless of the weather? Additional information: TfL wishes to engage the market to seek feedback on emerging approaches and solutions for rail adhesion management. Interested respondents are required to email MSQinnovation@tfl.gov.uk to request the Rail Adhesion - Market Sounding Questionnaire (MSQ) for completion by 12:00 (midday) on Monday 23 September 2024 in order to receive the MSQ. This is a pre-procurement activity and does not imply any commitment to any future procurement process. The purpose is to seek feedback on TfL's approach, appetite from industry and information on alternative solutions that are being developed in the marketplace for similar schemes. Participation in the PIN and subsequent MSQ is not a prerequisite to, and will not prejudice, participation in any future competitive process. The information contained in this PIN or in any communication made between TfL and any supplier in connection with this should not be relied upon as constituting a contract, agreement, or representation that any contract will be offered as a result of this PIN and MSQ. If TfL decides to progress with any procurement exercise , TfL will publish a separate contract notice. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/6f685bd2-6d06-4a89-86f2-6c3a3627cfa9 | | Notice type | Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Not specified | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 3 Oct 2024 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 4 Oct 2024 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planning | | Lots status | Not specified | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | TRANSPORT FOR LONDON | | Locality | LONDON | | Post town | East London | | Postcode | E20 1JN | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLI London | | ITL 2 | TLI4 Inner London - East | | ITL 3 | TLI41 Hackney and Newham | | Local authority | Newham | | Electoral ward | Stratford Olympic Park | | Westminster constituency | Stratford and Bow | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport) ### Codes - 60210000 - Public transport services by railways ## Release History - 3 Oct 2024 at 09:21 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/6f685bd2-6d06-4a89-86f2-6c3a3627cfa9 - 3 Oct 2024 at 09:14 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/6f685bd2-6d06-4a89-86f2-6c3a3627cfa9 - 18 Sep 2024 at 10:40 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/6f685bd2-6d06-4a89-86f2-6c3a3627cfa9 - 12 Aug 2024 at 12:56 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/6f685bd2-6d06-4a89-86f2-6c3a3627cfa9 ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/6f685bd2-6d06-4a89-86f2-6c3a3627cfa9 3rd October 2024 - Early engagement notice on Contracts Finder ## Notice URLs - https://tfl.gov.uk/ ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-9beb10dc-ecae-49af-82b2-1cd2172833e3. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-9beb10dc-ecae-49af-82b2-1cd2172833e3.json.