---
title: "#41208 - Preliminary market engagement exercise for de-icer product for third rail applications"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0510a0"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0510a0"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0510a0.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0510a0.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED"
published: "2025-05-12"
---

# #41208 - Preliminary market engagement exercise for de-icer product for third rail applications

Buyer: NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0510a0

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## Summary

Network Rail Infrastructure Limited, a central government public authority, is spearheading a preliminary market engagement exercise for de-icing products tailored for third rail applications, aiming to solve operational challenges during icy conditions. The procurement is aligned with the goods category and is currently in the planning stage, targeting industry participants well-versed in de-icing agents. The engagement milestone is set for 16th June 2025, at which point potential solutions will be evaluated. Located in London, the project encompasses Northern and Southern UK regions with the contract period slated from 1st September 2025 to 31st August 2028. Notably, applications are encouraged from small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary community social enterprises (VCSES), as indicated in the procurement document available via Network Rail's sourcing platform.

This procurement presents a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in de-icing solutions, particularly those with innovative products that can enhance the efficiency of third-rail systems under winter conditions. Firms operating within the chemical manufacturing or railway maintenance sectors would find this tender particularly compelling. Participating in this process not only offers the potential for substantial business growth, backed by a budget of GBP 300,000, but also provides a platform to establish long-term partnerships with Network Rail, a key player in the UK's rail infrastructure sector. This engagement fosters collaboration aimed at introducing reliable, high-performance de-icer solutions crucial for mitigating winter disruptions in railway operations.

## Notice

The purpose of this preliminary market engagement exercise is to identify de-icing products that might assist Network Rail in overcoming operational difficulties associated with the operation of third-rail traction systems during icy conditions. Electric railway vehicles that obtain their power through a DC third rail system rely on the quality of the electrical connection between the conductor rail and the train's pick-up shoe. In winter conditions, ice can form on the conductor rail degrading the quality of the electrical connection to such an extent that the trains are unable to function properly. Network Rail operates a winter treatment program on Southern, and North West and Central, Regions where anti-ice products are deployed on the conductor rail to help prevent ice build-up, thereby maintaining the required electrical connection. At present, Network Rail does not have a suitable de-icing product that can be deployed in the event of ice forming on the conductor rail and it is undertaking this preliminary market engagement exercise to identify products that might serve that purpose. The Procurement Documents can be downloaded from Network Rail's BravoNR sourcing platform via this link. https://networkrail.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html From the welcome screen, access the 'Current Opportunities' link and select #41208 - Preliminary market engagement exercise for de-icer product for third rail applications

### Planning Information

The purpose of this Procurement Event is to identify de-icing products that might assist Network Rail in overcoming operational difficulties associated with the operation of third-rail traction systems during icy conditions.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/020377-2025 |
| Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| 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 | 12 May 2025 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 1 Aug 2025 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 31 Aug 2025 - 31 Aug 2028 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £300,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Planning |
| Lots status | Planning |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Post town | South East London |
| Postcode | SE1 8SW |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI4 Inner London - East |
| ITL 3 | TLI45 Lambeth |
| Local authority | Lambeth |
| Electoral ward | Waterloo & South Bank |
| Westminster constituency | Vauxhall and Camberwell Green |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 24 - Chemical products

### Codes

- 24951310 - De-icing agents

## Release History

- 12 May 2025 at 10:27 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/020377-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/020377-2025
  12th May 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://networkrail.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- 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-0510a0. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0510a0.json.