---
title: "Rail-based ultrasonic testing capability"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06f368"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06f368"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f368.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f368.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd"
published: "2026-09-07"
---

# Rail-based ultrasonic testing capability

Buyer: Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06f368

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## Summary

Network Rail Infrastructure Limited is planning to procure a rail-based ultrasonic testing capability. The service will supplement the organisation’s existing Ultrasonic Testing Units (UTUs), providing additional capacity for rail inspection and testing. It will be deployed across Network Rail’s routes and regions according to local demand and operational planning. This is a railway-track maintenance service, classified under CPV 50225000, rather than a supply-only purchase of testing equipment. The requirement is relevant to businesses that provide rail-based ultrasonic inspection services and can support testing activity across a geographically distributed railway network. The contracting authority is Network Rail Infrastructure Limited, a central government public authority operating in the utilities sector.

This procurement is at the planning stage: Network Rail has set out an intention to procure, but this record does not invite tenders. The tender is planned as a services procurement under the utilities regime, with one planned requirement covering the testing capability. The buyer’s indicative expectation is that the next notice will be published on 1 October 2026. The anticipated contract period is from 15 November 2026 to 10 November 2029. The service will be called on across routes and regions according to local demand and planning. The process is not yet at the bidding stage, and suppliers should treat the dates as the buyer’s current expectations rather than response deadlines.

The requirement should suit suppliers with an established rail-based ultrasonic testing capability, particularly those able to provide inspection services that complement existing Ultrasonic Testing Units. Businesses will need to understand the practical demands of railway-track testing and be able to deploy services across multiple routes and regions as demand arises. The requirement may suit both small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community or social enterprises, as the buyer has identified both as suitable categories of supplier. Providers with operational reach, flexible mobilisation arrangements and experience delivering testing services in a railway environment are likely to be well placed to prepare for the later market opportunity.

## Notice

The requirement is for a rail-based ultrasonic testing capability designed to supplement existing Ultrasonic Testing Units (UTUs). The service will be deployed across all Routes and Regions, based on local demand and planning.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/084372-2026 |
| Notice type | UK1 - Pipeline Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| 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 | 7 Sep 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 1 Oct 2026 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 15 Nov 2026 - 10 Nov 2029 |
| 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 | Planned |
| Lots status | Planned |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Postcode area | 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 |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 50 - Repair and maintenance services

### Codes

- 50225000 - Railway-track maintenance services

## Release History

- 7 Sep 2026 at 12:48 - Planning - UK1 - Pipeline Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/084372-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/084372-2026
  7th September 2026 - Pipeline 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-06f368. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f368.json.