--- title: "Design, Removal, and Re-Livery of Locomotives" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-05dec4" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05dec4" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05dec4.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05dec4.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Award" buyer: "DIRECT RAIL SERVICES LIMITED" published: "2026-03-13" --- # Design, Removal, and Re-Livery of Locomotives Buyer: DIRECT RAIL SERVICES LIMITED Current stage: Award OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-05dec4 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05dec4) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05dec4.json) ## Summary Direct Rail Services Limited (DRS), located in Carlisle, is overseeing a project entitled "Design, Removal, and Re-Livery of Locomotives" within the rail industry. The procurement initiative has progressed to the award stage as of 13 March 2026, following the completion of the tender process. The contract is valued at £540,000 gross, with AST Signs Ltd from Penrith named as the supplier. DRS is employing an open procedure for this procurement, which, although voluntarily aligned with the flexible procedures of the Procurement Act 2023, is not bound by it. This contract, commencing on 1 April 2026 and running until 31 March 2030, encompasses services addressing the repair and maintenance of locomotives, and will be executed in the region of UKD12. This tender presents significant growth opportunities for businesses specialising in the maintenance and enhancement of railway equipment, particularly those offering high-quality workmanship and efficient resource management. It is particularly suitable for large enterprises with established abilities in varied phases of mobilisation, re-livery, and quality assurance, including health and safety management. The project's multi-year scope promises sustainable expansion avenues for capable suppliers in locomotive services, placing a strong emphasis on quality and cost management, thereby appealing to companies that can deliver comprehensive solutions in these areas. The procurement process promises an equitable competitive environment, fostering long-term partnerships and economic impact within the rail services sector. ## Notice Design, removal and re-livery of Locomotives DRS does not consider itself bound by the Procurement Act 2023 (PA23) and associated procurement legislation (together the "UK procurement legislation") on the basis that, operating commercially, it is not a public authority, nor does it carry out any utility activities. Accordingly, this Procurement is not, and does not purport to be, subject to UK procurement legislation. For the avoidance of doubt, Tenderers are put on notice that the publication of this document and any other document that relates to this Procurement (including the relevant tender notice) is published voluntarily and nothing in this document, or any other document that DRS publishes in relation to this Procurement, should be construed as purporting to give rise to rights or obligations under UK procurement legislation. That said, DRS intends to operate a fair process which broadly aligns with certain key aspects of the competitive flexible procedure under the PA23 and which aligns with the objectives of section 12(1)-(3) of the PA23. ### Planning Information RFI for livery issued on Atamis ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/023080-2026 | | Notice type | UK6 - Contract Award Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Large | | All stages | Planning, Tender, Award | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 13 Mar 2026 | | Submission deadline | 6 Feb 2026 | | Future notice date | 1 Dec 2025 | | Award date | 9 Mar 2026 | | Contract period | 31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2030 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £420,000 | | Lots value | £420,000 | | Awards value | £450,000 | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Complete | | Lots status | Complete | | Awards status | Pending | | 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 | ## Supplier | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Number of suppliers | 1 | | Supplier names | AST SIGNS | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 50 - Repair and maintenance services ### Codes - 50221000 - Repair and maintenance services of locomotives ## Release History - 13 Mar 2026 at 14:51 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/023080-2026 - 7 Jan 2026 at 10:31 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/000943-2026 - 12 Nov 2025 at 14:33 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/073235-2025 - 11 Nov 2025 at 14:21 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/072835-2025 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/023080-2026 13th March 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/000943-2026 7th January 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/073235-2025 12th November 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/072835-2025 11th November 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - https://atamis-2464.my.site.com/s/Welcome - 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-05dec4. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05dec4.json.