--- title: "Inspections and surveys of dry open voids-Prometheus R&D" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0322f5" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0322f5" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0322f5.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0322f5.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LTD" published: "2022-03-16" --- # Inspections and surveys of dry open voids-Prometheus R&D Buyer: NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LTD Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0322f5 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0322f5) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0322f5.json) ## Summary The procurement process, initiated by Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd, seeks to engage suppliers for the "Inspections and surveys of dry open voids-Prometheus R&D" project. This initiative falls within the research and development services sector, specifically aimed at ensuring railway safety by addressing risks posed by shallow mine workings. The opportunity is currently in the planning stage, with a key deadline for submissions set for 14th April 2022. Responses can be directed to Network Rail's contact email and must demonstrate potential solutions along with indicative costings for a product trial. This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in research, development, and consultancy services, particularly those with expertise in innovative inspection technologies and geophysical methods. Small to medium-sized enterprises and research institutions that can contribute to advancing safer and more automated surveying solutions without requiring human-entry would be well-suited to compete. Collaborating within a consortium, as seen in the first phase of the project, could further enhance competitiveness in delivering the required outcomes for this essential railway safety initiative. ## Notice There are over 5000 recorded and numerous other unrecorded locations across the network where shallow mine workings may constitute a risk to the operation of the railway. The primary risk relates to the collapse of shallow workings causing subsidence at the surface that has the potential to damage railway assets including track possibly resulting in derailment. To manage the risks posed by shallow mine workings it is necessary to understand both the extent and condition of the workings. Only a small percentage of the shallow mine workings can be accessed, inspected and surveyed by suitably qualified engineers, the remainder are inaccessible or too dangerous. There are a limited number of techniques available to investigate those mine workings that cannot be accessed including geophysical methods and the drilling of multiple boreholes at each location, these have the following disadvantages: 1. Geophysical techniques rarely give reliable results in a railway environment, gaining access to track requires expensive possessions 2. The drilling of boreholes has the following challenges; * The process can be expensive, labour intensive and time consuming; * There can be difficulties gaining access near or on the operational railway; * The drilling of boreholes can initiate the collapse of mine workings; * The data obtained is limited to the borehole location and not the wider workings; * Interpretation of results can be very subjective. The first phase of the project saw Network Rail work with a consortium of small-to-medium sized enterprises and universities to develop the Prometheus drone to Rail Industry Readiness Level (RIRL) 3. The key motivation for this second-phase project is to develop a solution to RIRL6 that enables for these challenging sites to be inspected and surveyed through safer and more automated methods, by eliminating the need for human-entry. Network Rail would like to invite prospective suppliers to submit a Request for Information (RFI) Submission Template, which addresses this challenge statement. Network Rail would also like to understand indicative costs in delivering a product trial. Network Rail reserves the rights to hold discussions with Suppliers, following a response to this RFI. ### Lot Information Lot 1 There are over 5000 recorded and numerous other unrecorded locations across the network where shallow mine workings may constitute a risk to the operation of the railway. The primary risk relates to the collapse of shallow workings causing subsidence at the surface that has the potential to damage railway assets including track possibly resulting in derailment. To manage the risks posed by shallow mine workings it is necessary to understand both the extent and condition of the workings. Only a small percentage of the shallow mine workings can be accessed, inspected and surveyed by suitably qualified engineers, the remainder are inaccessible or too dangerous. There are a limited number of techniques available to investigate those mine workings that cannot be accessed including geophysical methods and the drilling of multiple boreholes at each location, these have the following disadvantages: 1. Geophysical techniques rarely give reliable results in a railway environment, gaining access to track requires expensive possessions 2. The drilling of boreholes has the following challenges; * The process can be expensive, labour intensive and time consuming; * There can be difficulties gaining access near or on the operational railway; * The drilling of boreholes can initiate the collapse of mine workings; * The data obtained is limited to the borehole location and not the wider workings; * Interpretation of results can be very subjective. The first phase of the project saw Network Rail work with a consortium of small-to-medium sized enterprises and universities to develop the Prometheus drone to Rail Industry Readiness Level (RIRL) 3. The key motivation for this second-phase project is to develop a solution to RIRL6 that enables for these challenging sites to be inspected and surveyed through safer and more automated methods, by eliminating the need for human-entry. Network Rail would like to invite prospective suppliers to submit a Request for Information (RFI) Submission Template, which addresses this challenge statement. Network Rail would also like to understand indicative costs in delivering a product trial. Network Rail reserves the rights to hold discussions with Suppliers, following a response to this RFI. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/007259-2022 | | Notice type | Planning Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 16 Mar 2022 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 28 Feb 2023 | | 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 | Planned | | Lots status | Planned | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LTD | | Locality | LONDON | | Post town | North West London | | Postcode | NW1 2DN | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLI London | | ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West | | ITL 3 | TLI36 Camden | | Local authority | Camden | | Electoral ward | Regent's Park | | Westminster constituency | Holborn and St Pancras | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services ### Codes - 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services ## Release History - 16 Mar 2022 at 22:45 - Planning - Planning Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/007259-2022 ## Notice URLs - https://networkrail.bravosolution.co.uk/esop/guest/go/opportunity/detail?opportunityId=53682 - https://www.networkrail.co.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-h6vhtk-0322f5. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0322f5.json.