---
title: "Ultrasonic Rail Testing Sticks"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-05ce18"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05ce18"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05ce18.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05ce18.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED"
published: "2026-01-21"
---

# Ultrasonic Rail Testing Sticks

Buyer: NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-05ce18

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[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05ce18.json)

## Summary

Network Rail Infrastructure Limited, operating from London, has completed a public procurement process to directly award a contract to TrackSYS Non Destructive Testing Limited for the replacement and upgrade of Ultrasonic Rail Testing Sticks. This contract, titled "Ultrasonic Rail Testing Sticks", falls under the goods category and is specifically aimed at maintaining the non-destructive testing strategy crucial for rail safety across the UK, particularly within the Wales and Western regions. The procurement was executed as a direct award due to TrackSYS's intellectual property and technical expertise, with no viable alternatives available. The contract commenced on 1 April 2026 and will run until 31 March 2028, with possibilities for extension depending on service needs. The process adhered to the utilities special regime under UK legislation 2023/54.

This contract represents a valuable opportunity for businesses involved in advanced testing apparatus and related technological innovations. With a contract value of £1,546,000, SMEs with capabilities in developing and supplying non-destructive testing equipment could find prospects for collaboration, especially considering Network Rail’s intent to leverage technological collaborations. Moreover, the contract’s option for further purchases and possible extensions offers future engagement opportunities for innovative business solutions aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of existing products, making it an attractive prospect for companies specialising in technical rail safety equipment.

## Notice

Network Rail (Wales & Western) intends to award a contract via direct award under the Procurement Act (2023) to TrackSYS Non Destructive Testing (NDT) Limited to replace and upgrade the existing fleet of Ultrasonic Testing Sticks. Network Rail uses Ultrasonic Rail Testing Sticks, also known as Pedestrian Rail Detection Systems, to detect internal flaws in rail infrastructure. These devices are critical to the broader non-destructive testing (NDT) strategy aimed at maintaining rail safety and reliability. Due to the specific standards required for non-destructive testing, and the current fleet of products entering an End-of-Life phase, Product Acceptance was achieved on the TrackSYS UT Lite Pedestrian Ultrasonic Rail Tester in collaboration with TrackSYS NDT Ltd and Network Rail's Technical Authority. Not proceeding with this procurement could put the Network Rail Wales Route at significant risk of not being able to equip inspection teams with functioning, compliant equipment.

### Procurement Information

To meet regulatory standards, Network Rail requires Product Acceptance through out Technical Authority to utilise products of this nature. This is a lengthy, collaborative process, the result of which being that TRACKSYS had the most effective product. Schedule 5, Paragraph 5: "The following conditions are met in relation to the public contract - (a) due to a particular supplier having intellectual property rights or other exclusive rights, only that supplier can supply the goods, services, or works required; and (b) there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services, works." Schedule 5, Paragraph 6: "The following conditions are met in relation to the public contract - (a) due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only a particular supplier can supply the goods, services or works required; and (b) there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works."

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/005290-2026 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Direct award |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 21 Jan 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 16 Oct 2025 |
| Contract period | 31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2028 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £1,547,000 |
| Contracts value | £1,547,000 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## 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 |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | TRACKSYS NON DESTRUCTIVE TESTING |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

### Codes

- 38500000 - Checking and testing apparatus

## Release History

- 21 Jan 2026 at 13:25 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/005290-2026
- 29 Oct 2025 at 10:56 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/069267-2025
- 16 Oct 2025 at 14:03 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/065967-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/005290-2026
  21st January 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/069267-2025
  29th October 2025 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/065967-2025
  16th October 2025 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- 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-05ce18. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05ce18.json.