---
title: "Rail Management Software"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-05278d"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05278d"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05278d.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05278d.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "DIRECT RAIL SERVICES LIMITED"
published: "2025-05-28"
---

# Rail Management Software

Buyer: DIRECT RAIL SERVICES LIMITED  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-05278d

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## Summary

Direct Rail Services Limited (DRS), a sub-central government public authority located in Carlisle, UK, is in the planning stage to procure an off-the-shelf Rail Management Software solution. This procurement covers locomotives, wagons, maintenance, and traincrew planning to facilitate dynamic asset planning across DRS's value chain. Potential suppliers are invited to participate in a virtual Supplier Engagement Day on 9th June 2025, from 2 PM to 5 PM BST via Microsoft Teams, with registration required by 2nd June. The procurement category falls under goods, with the software package being the main focus. The anticipated start and end dates for the contract are 2nd February 2026 and 1st February 2031, respectively, with the procurement method operating under the Procurement Act 2023 principles.

This tender represents an excellent opportunity for businesses specialising in IT solutions and software packages to engage with the rail industry, especially those that can provide innovative solutions for integrated rail management. The project is particularly suitable for small to medium enterprises (SMEs) that offer dynamic, cost-effective IT solutions aimed at optimising transport and maintenance planning. Participating in the engagement day provides a platform to understand DRS’s requirements, market capabilities, and indicative costs, potentially leading to further demonstration opportunities. By addressing DRS's objectives for long and short-term planning and real-time management, businesses can align their offerings to meet these strategic goals, thereby supporting growth and collaboration within the rail sector.

## Notice

Rail Management Software DRS are seeking to procure an off-the-shelf IT solution, covering : 1. Locomotives; 2. Wagons; 3. Maintenance; and 4. Traincrew planning along our value chain. to enable a dynamic planning process across all assets (drivers, locomotives, wagons), train paths, and maintenance to deliver optimised plans in long-term, short-term-planning and in real-time management.

### Planning Information

Supplier Engagement Day Invitation – Rail Management Software Direct Rail Services (DRS) invites interested suppliers to attend a virtual Supplier Engagement Day for an upcoming procurement of an Integrated Rail Management Planning Software solution. Event Details • Date: 9th June 2025 • Time: Start: 2pm BST (British Summer Time) / 13:00 UTC End: 5pm BST / 16:00 UTC Location: Virtual via Microsoft Teams – link to be provided upon registration Purpose of the Event The purpose of this engagement is to: • Present the project and DRS’s objectives • Hold a Q&A session • Provide an overview of the anticipated procurement process and use the engagement session to inform the procurement process, conditions of participation and award criteria • Engage with suppliers to generate interest and prime their resources for the upcoming Tender opportunity. • Understand market capabilities to refine the scope • Understand indicative costs It is intended that the sessions will be recorded to assist with disseminating relevant information from the event to suppliers participating in the procurement process and to suppliers unable to attend the Engagement Day. Please note that the responses to this notice will be used for information purposes and will not be deemed as forming part of any proposed bid now, or any future tender. Project Scope Overview We are seeking to procure an off-the-shelf IT solution, covering : 1. Locomotives; 2. Wagons; 3. Maintenance; and 4. Traincrew planning along our value chain. to enable a dynamic planning process across all assets (drivers, locomotives, wagons), train paths, and maintenance to deliver optimised plans in long-term, short-term-planning and in real-time management. How to Register Responding to this Notice is an excellent opportunity to engage, share relevant information and provide feedback. Should you wish to participate, please complete the registration form via the following link by COB Monday 2nd June: https://forms.office.com/e/dniJRFFmiz Thank you for your interest and we look forward to meeting with you virtually on the 9th June. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please reach out to Paula Smith (Senior Buyer) by emailing paula.smith@ntsglobal.uk. NEXT STEPS One-to-One Demonstration Sessions If, following the engagement day, you believe your solution is able to meet our vision and requirements, there may be the opportunity for you to demonstrate your solution to us. We will share more information about this on the 9th June. These sessions will: • Be guided by clearly defined expectations — a scope will be provided in advance. • Last up to two hours per supplier • Be conducted virtually Important Notes • Participation in the Supplier Engagement Day does not guarantee inclusion in the formal procurement process. Likewise, non-participation in the Supplier Engagement Day does not preclude suppliers from participating in the procurement process. • DRS is, on a voluntary basis, operating under the Procurement Act 2023 (PA23) for this procurement and is therefore advertising this opportunity on the Central Digital Platform. By doing so, it does not become a public authority and DRS reserve the right to deviate from the PA23 at its discretion but will preserve the principles of fairness and transparency. • DRS reserves the right to revise its procurement approach prior to issuing the formal Tender Notice. • Please note that should demonstrations be conducted at pre-market engagement stage, these will be used for information purposes only and will not be assessed or evaluated.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/027970-2025 |
| 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 |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 28 May 2025 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 1 Sep 2025 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 2 Feb 2026 - 1 Feb 2031 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £210,000 |
| 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 | DIRECT RAIL SERVICES LIMITED |
| Locality | CARLISLE |
| Post town | Carlisle |
| Postcode | CA6 4SJ |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLD North West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLD1 Cumbria |
| ITL 3 | TLD13 Cumberland |
| Local authority | Cumberland |
| Electoral ward | Dalston and Burgh |
| Westminster constituency | Carlisle |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 48 - Software package and information systems

### Codes

- 48000000 - Software package and information systems

## Release History

- 28 May 2025 at 09:26 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/027970-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/027970-2025
  28th May 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://forms.office.com/e/dniJRFFmiz
- https://www.directrailservices.com/
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## 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-05278d. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05278d.json.