--- title: "1073434028 T1427 Strategy for Harmonising Automatic Current Limitation Across Electric Rolling Stock in GB" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-078687" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-078687" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078687.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078687.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "RSSB" published: "2026-10-13" --- # 1073434028 T1427 Strategy for Harmonising Automatic Current Limitation Across Electric Rolling Stock in GB Buyer: RSSB Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-078687 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-078687) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078687.json) ## Summary Rail Safety Standards Board (RSSB) is commissioning research services to develop the evidence needed to harmonise automatic current limitation (ACL) across electric rolling stock operating on the Great Britain rail network. The work must confirm and refine the proposed target state, based on BS EN 50388-1:2022 without the UK-specific Umin2 requirement, while assessing technical feasibility and economic viability. It must also examine wider system effects and quantify benefits, costs and risks. The research is to define a route from current arrangements to the target state, covering achievable and justified changes to existing trains, ACL requirements for future trains, the role and deployment of dual trains, and the phasing of the transition. Delivery is for the GB network; the buyer is RSSB. The buyer invited offers through an open procedure. The procurement is a single lot, with an estimated value of £180,000 excluding VAT (£216,000 including VAT). The buyer set 30 October 2026 at 12:00 for enquiries and 16 November 2026 at 12:00 for submissions. The contract period is 14 December 2026 to 18 May 2027, with an award decision scheduled by 30 November 2026. Evaluation allocates 30% to understanding and methodology, 30% to expertise and planning, 20% to risks, opportunities and engagement, and 20% to project cost. Submissions are in English and may be made electronically. The research specification calls for a detailed assessment of the target state and a practicable transition pathway, including technical, economic and wider system considerations. This opportunity suits research consultancies and specialist teams with strong expertise in railway electrification, electric rolling stock and automatic current limitation. Suppliers will need to assess how changes to ACL characteristics affect both existing and future trains, and understand the technical and economic constraints on implementation across a rail network. Relevant experience in railway standards, system-level impact assessment, cost-benefit analysis, risk assessment and transition planning would support a credible response. The scope also calls for consideration of dual trains and phased deployment, so bidders should be able to connect engineering analysis with operational planning and engagement. RSSB marks the opportunity as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community or social enterprises. The assessment places equal emphasis on understanding and method, and on expertise and planning, alongside risk and engagement. ## Notice This research seeks to develop the evidence base required to inform the transition towards harmonised ACL characteristics across rolling stock operating on the GB network. It will confirm and refine the previously proposed target state for ACL harmonisation (that is BS EN 50388-1:2022 without UKSNC (Umin2 = 17.5 kV)), fully accounting for technical feasibility and economic viability, and develop a detailed pathway from current to target state for existing and future rolling stock. Specifically, the research will address the following objectives: 1.Confirm and detail the target state for ACL harmonisation and the rationale for its adoption: this includes accounting for wider system consequences and trade-offs, quantified associated benefits, costs and risks. 2.Define a transition pathway from current to target state: this includes specifying the ACL changes that are technically achievable and economically justified for existing rolling stock, the ACL requirements for future rolling stock, the role and deployment of dual trains, and the phasing required to reach the target state. For more information about this opportunity, please visit the eSourcing portal at: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-London:-Research-services./E6E28TZ9KW To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/E6E28TZ9KW ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/096546-2026 | | Notice type | UK4 - Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 13 Oct 2026 | | Submission deadline | 16 Nov 2026 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 14 Dec 2026 - 18 May 2027 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £180,000 | | Lots value | £180,000 | | 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 | RSSB | | Locality | LONDON | | Postcode area | 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 - 13 Oct 2026 at 13:28 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/096546-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/096546-2026 13th October 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/E6E28TZ9KW - https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-London:-Research-services./E6E28TZ9KW - 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-078687. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078687.json.