---
title: "T1389 Rules and standards to enable autonomous movement of inspection technologies"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-058493"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-058493"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-058493.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-058493.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Tender"
buyer: "RAIL SAFETY STANDARDS BOARD (RSSB)"
published: "2025-08-08"
---

# T1389 Rules and standards to enable autonomous movement of inspection technologies

Buyer: RAIL SAFETY STANDARDS BOARD (RSSB)  
Current stage: Tender  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-058493

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## Summary

The Rail Safety Standards Board (RSSB), based in London, has initiated a tender process titled "T1389 Rules and standards to enable autonomous movement of inspection technologies". This procurement is classified under research services, and it falls under the public undertaking category. The tender, valued at £100,000, is at the tender stage with an open procurement method allowing below-threshold competition. Key dates for this process include an enquiry period ending on 5th September 2025 and a submission deadline for tenders on 19th September 2025. The contract is expected to commence on 6th October 2025 and end on 6th April 2026.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in autonomous or semi-autonomous ground-based inspection technologies. Companies with expertise in modern inspection systems and experience in navigating regulatory systems will find this tender particularly relevant. The open competition makes it a viable opportunity for SMEs and VCSEs aiming to expand their influence in the research services sector, particularly in innovations that push the boundaries of traditional rail inspection methods. The focus on unlocking regulatory barriers could lead to advancements in the industry's operational efficiency and capability.

## Notice

While systems capable of autonomous or semi-autonomous movement have demonstrated operational readiness, their use remains constrained by existing rules and definitions that do not reflect their modern capabilities. While aerial inspection platforms such as drones are increasingly used across the rail industry, this research focuses solely on "systems capable of autonomous or semi-autonomous movement" for inspection operations, defined here as ground-based technologies operating on or near the track. This research aims to unlock their potential by identifying regulatory blockers and enablers. For more information about this opportunity, please visit the Delta eSourcing portal at: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-London:-Research-services./66S353C8J2 To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/66S353C8J2

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/047428-2025 |
| Notice type | UK4 - Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Below threshold - open competition |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Tender |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 8 Aug 2025 |
| Submission deadline | 19 Sep 2025 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 5 Oct 2025 - 6 Apr 2026 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £100,000 |
| Lots value | £100,000 |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | RAIL SAFETY STANDARDS BOARD (RSSB) |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Post town | Central London |
| Postcode | EC3M 5AD |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West |
| ITL 3 | TLI35 Westminster and City of London |
| Local authority | City of London |
| Electoral ward | Aldgate |
| Westminster constituency | Cities of London and Westminster |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73110000 - Research services

## Release History

- 8 Aug 2025 at 15:51 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/047428-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/047428-2025
  8th August 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.delta-esourcing.com/
- https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/66S353C8J2
- https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-London:-Research-services./66S353C8J2
- 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-058493. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-058493.json.