---
title: "Wales and Western Region Research & Development Engagement Event"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0564ac"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0564ac"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0564ac.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0564ac.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED"
published: "2025-07-23"
---

# Wales and Western Region Research & Development Engagement Event

Buyer: NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0564ac

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## Summary

Network Rail Infrastructure Limited is initiating a public procurement process titled "Wales and Western Region Research & Development Engagement Event." This tender falls under the planning stage with an emphasis on goods and services designed to improve railway operations and safety. The project seeks collaboration with suppliers for innovative solutions to challenges affecting infrastructure, such as track maintenance, freight operations, and safety systems. This tender targets stakeholders in the UK's Wales and Western regions, such as Bristol or Cardiff, with an overall projected value of £500,000. Interested parties are anticipated to express interest by 7th August 2025, with engagement sessions scheduled between September and October 2025.

This tender presents a substantial business growth opportunity for companies in sectors such as railway maintenance, safety, and technical control services. SMEs and VCSEs are encouraged to participate due to the suitability criteria outlined by the buyer. Organizations with capabilities in developing innovative rail solutions, especially those focusing on system maintenance, surveillance technology, and energy systems, will find this tender particularly relevant. Additionally, businesses offering advanced machinery, computer systems, and evaluation instruments that enhance railway safety and efficiency are well-positioned to compete in this lucrative opportunity aimed at transforming the UK's railway infrastructure.

## Notice

Network Rail is exploring future research and development (R&D) opportunities in collaboration with the supply chain to address key operational and safety challenges across our infrastructure. This early engagement aims to identify suppliers, technology providers, and innovators who are capable of supporting the development of innovative solutions in a range of priority areas. The scope of this potential procurement includes, but is not limited to, the following areas of interest: Track - Development of solutions for the detection of pre-1979 rail types to identify defects or high-risk sections that may pose performance or safety concerns. Track - Innovative techniques for cutting and grinding back edge lipping to reduce the need for ultrasonic testing and milling interventions. Freight Operations - Systems or technologies to ensure scrap wagons are loaded safely and correctly, minimising the risk of operational incidents during transit. Infrastructure Maintenance - Automated cleaning systems to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of debris catchment management across the network. Energy Systems - Enhanced secondary cell battery technologies that improve asset reliability, reduce maintenance burdens, and ease manual handling for railway operatives. Safety and Security - New or improved solutions to detect, prevent, and manage trespass incidents on the rail network. Points and Switching - Continuous monitoring technologies that can measure the residual switch opening against the stock rail on RT60 points assets, supporting early fault detection and preventative maintenance. Network Rail seeks to understand the level of market interest and capability in each of these areas to inform potential future procurement strategies and innovation funding routes.

### Planning Information

Supplier Engagement – R&D Innovation Programme
Network Rail Wales & Western Region is pleased to invite you to participate in an upcoming Supplier Engagement Event as part of our Research and Development (R&D) programme. This initiative is designed to foster collaboration with the supply chain on key innovation challenges that support the delivery of a safer, more efficient, and more sustainable railway.
Following regional engagement and operational insights, we have identified several priority areas where we are actively seeking innovative solutions. These challenges are detailed in the accompanying document to this notice and span various parts of our infrastructure and operations, including track, freight, infrastructure maintenance, asset management, and safety systems.
To ensure meaningful and focused discussions, we will be hosting a series of thematic in-person engagement sessions during September and October 2025, at locations within the Wales and Western region — such as our Bristol or Cardiff offices.
Next Steps – Express Your Interest
To help us shape the sessions and allocate places appropriately, please complete the following short form to indicate:
The challenge areas your organisation is interested in
Your capacity or interest in contributing to the development of innovative solutions
Your preferred location (if applicable)
https://forms.office.com/e/GHPzHCBDJA
Please submit your response by Wednesday 7th August 2025.
Important Notes
Due to space limitations, we may need to restrict the number of attendees per supplier organisation.
Additional details, including session dates, times, and exact locations, will be shared shortly after the response deadline.
If you have any questions in the meantime, please contact:
Lily-May Roberts – lily-may.roberts@networkrail.co.uk
Olivia Jones – olivia.jones@networkrail.co.uk
We look forward to your participation and to exploring opportunities to collaborate on innovative solutions that will shape the future of our railway.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/042408-2025 |
| 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 | 23 Jul 2025 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 31 Oct 2025 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £500,000 |
| 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 | TLG3 West Midlands, TLK South West (England), TLL Wales |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 30 - Office and computing machinery, equipment and supplies except furniture and software packages
- 34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation
- 35 - Security, fire-fighting, police and defence equipment
- 38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)
- 42 - Industrial machinery
- 43 - Machinery for mining, quarrying, construction equipment
- 44 - Construction structures and materials; auxiliary products to construction (except electric apparatus)
- 48 - Software package and information systems
- 50 - Repair and maintenance services
- 71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services
- 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

### Codes

- 30200000 - Computer equipment and supplies
- 34140000 - Heavy-duty motor vehicles
- 34144700 - Utility vehicles
- 34621200 - Railway maintenance or service vehicles
- 34946000 - Railway-track construction materials and supplies
- 35120000 - Surveillance and security systems and devices
- 35121000 - Security equipment
- 38900000 - Miscellaneous evaluation or testing instruments
- 42414100 - Cranes
- 42600000 - Machine tools
- 42900000 - Miscellaneous general and special-purpose machinery
- 42997300 - Industrial robots
- 43300000 - Construction machinery and equipment
- 43324000 - Drainage equipment
- 44316000 - Ironmongery
- 48151000 - Computer control system
- 50324100 - System maintenance services
- 71356100 - Technical control services
- 79710000 - Security services

## Release History

- 23 Jul 2025 at 13:30 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/042408-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/042408-2025
  23rd July 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://forms.office.com/e/GHPzHCBDJA
- 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-0564ac. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0564ac.json.