---
title: "Framework for Inspection and Maintenance of Underground Infrastructure"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06a8e2"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06a8e2"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06a8e2.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06a8e2.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "DFI TRANSPORT AND ROAD ASSET MANAGEMENT (TRAM)"
published: "2026-06-01"
---

# Framework for Inspection and Maintenance of Underground Infrastructure

Buyer: DFI TRANSPORT AND ROAD ASSET MANAGEMENT (TRAM)  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06a8e2

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## Summary

The procurement process initiated by DfI Transport and Road Asset Management (TRAM) focuses on the "Framework for Inspection and Maintenance of Underground Infrastructure". This tender falls under the works industry category, specifically targeting construction and civil engineering works. The project covers several regions including the Greater Belfast Area, Coleraine, Omagh and Fermanagh, and Armagh & Lisburn Areas in Northern Ireland. The process is currently in the planning stage with a key milestone being an online information session scheduled for Friday, 12 June 2026. Businesses interested in attending need to register by 5:00 pm on Thursday, 11 June 2026. The procurement method involves a framework agreement, allowing for structured engagements over the contract period from 19 April 2027 to 18 April 2031.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses experienced in civil engineering and maintenance of underground infrastructure. Companies capable of delivering a range of services such as CCTV surveys, desilting of culverts, trenchless repairs, and associated civil works are well-suited to compete. The tender accommodates small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), suggesting a broad competitive field. The contractual work will require flexibility, as the winning bidder must handle multiple locations simultaneously, adapting to inevitable peaks and troughs in workload and maintaining a standardised level of work. The financial scope for individual works under this contract will generally range from £1 to £300,000, offering substantial prospects for business growth in Northern Ireland's infrastructure sector.

## Notice

The Framework for Inspection and Maintenance of Underground Infrastructure will encompass three Measured Term Contracts to deliver underground inspection and maintenance in the following Contract Areas: IMU1 - Greater Belfast Area IMU2 - Coleraine, Omagh and Fermanagh Areas IMU3 - Armagh & Lisburn Areas Within each Contract Area, the works to be undertaken under this Contract may include, but not be limited to, the following Principal Work Activities which are provided by way of example: A) Desilting of Culverts B) CCTV and Fly-through Surveys of Culverts C) Trenchless / Specialist Repairs of Culverts D) Traffic Management, Gaining Access to Culverts, Associated Civil Works E) Small Scale Civil Works F) Underground Man Entry Repairs Within each Contract Area, the successful Supplier will be required to carry out any such works instructed by a Works Order, issued under the provisions of the Contract. Such works will require a standard of works delivery consistent with that defined in the Procurement Documents. Reimbursement to the successful Supplier for such works will be paid generally on the basis of an applicable Schedule of Rates and Prices (SoRP), adjusted in line with permitted price-fluctuation-factor provisions. For each Contract Area, it is likely that the successful Supplier will be required to work at more than one location at any one time in order to meet the requirements of the programme of work for each Contract Area. Successful Suppliers will be expected to have sufficiently skilled and available resources necessary to meet the requirements of such a programme and will be required to include in its rates and prices for the inevitable peaks and troughs that will be inherent in any such programme. Such peaks and troughs may result from a variety of circumstances, not all within the control of the Department. The financial limits for individual Works Orders under this Contract shall generally be between PS1 - PS300,000 GBP.

### Planning Information

DfI seeks to engage with the market to gather early insight from the market to help inform the development of our proposed requirements and future procurement approach. 
An online information session will be held on Friday 12 June 2026 at 11:00am. 
During this session, DfI will outline the proposed procurement approach, work scope and indicative delivery timelines for each framework. 
How to Register: 
To register your interest in attending, please email TRAMprocurement@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk by 5:00pm on Thursday 11 June 2026, including: 
The name(s) of attendee(s) 
Contact email address(es) 
Following receipt of expressions of interest, DfI will issue further details and instructions on how to join the PME briefing. 
Please note that the procurement description, estimated contract dates, publication timeline, and contract value are indicative only and should not be considered a final representation of DfI’s proposals or requirements. 
The PME pertains to a future contract opportunity which will be advertised in its own right in due course. This notice is not a call for competition to procure any works or services. 
Interested parties will not be prejudiced by any response, or lack thereof, to this notice. Nor shall a response to this notice guarantee an opportunity to participate in this market engagement exercise or any future procurement process that DfI may conduct. 
DfI is not liable for any costs, fees or expenses incurred by any party responding to this notice or any party who may participate in the market engagement exercise.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/051370-2026 |
| Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice |
| Procurement type | Framework |
| Procurement category | Works |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Not specified |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 1 Jun 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 12 Jun 2026 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 18 Apr 2027 - 18 Apr 2031 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| 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 | DFI TRANSPORT AND ROAD ASSET MANAGEMENT (TRAM) |
| Locality | BELFAST |
| Post town | Northern Ireland |
| Postcode | BT7 2JA |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| ITL 1 | TLN Northern Ireland |
| ITL 2 | TLN0 Northern Ireland |
| ITL 3 | TLN06 Belfast |
| Local authority | Belfast |
| Electoral ward | Central |
| Westminster constituency | Belfast South and Mid Down |
| Delivery location | TLN Northern Ireland |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 45 - Construction work
- 90 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services

### Codes

- 45200000 - Works for complete or part construction and civil engineering work
- 45230000 - Construction work for pipelines, communication and power lines, for highways, roads, airfields and railways; flatwork
- 45232130 - Storm-water piping construction work
- 45232452 - Drainage works
- 45240000 - Construction work for water projects
- 45246000 - River regulation and flood control works
- 45246410 - Flood-defences maintenance works
- 45247000 - Construction work for dams, canals, irrigation channels and aqueducts
- 45247100 - Construction work for waterways
- 90491000 - Sewer survey services

## Release History

- 1 Jun 2026 at 12:00 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/051370-2026
- 29 May 2026 at 12:19 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/050837-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/051370-2026
  1st June 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/050837-2026
  29th May 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- 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-06a8e2. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06a8e2.json.