---
title: "Economic analysis of access applications"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-078d4a"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-078d4a"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078d4a.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078d4a.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Tender"
buyer: "OFFICE OF RAIL AND ROAD"
published: "2026-10-23"
---

# Economic analysis of access applications

Buyer: OFFICE OF RAIL AND ROAD  
Current stage: Tender  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-078d4a

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-078d4a)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078d4a.json)

## Summary

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) is seeking consultancy services to carry out economic analysis supporting its assessment of four applications for track access rights on the national rail network. Train operators need ORR approval for track access contracts; where parties cannot agree terms, an operator can apply to ORR for a decision. The analysis will inform ORR’s consideration of matters including network capacity, performance and safety, competition, and effects on government funding. The work supports ORR’s rail-access regulatory decisions rather than the operation of train services itself. Delivery is in the United Kingdom.

ORR invited tenders through an open competition below the relevant procurement threshold. The procurement is divided into one lot, with a stated gross value of £114,000 ( £95,000 excluding VAT). The deadline for clarification questions and tender submissions was 9 November 2026 at 17:00. The contract period is 16 November 2026 to 15 November 2027. Award is weighted equally across four areas: methodology, delivery, experience, and cost/value for money, each at 25%. Participation is limited to UK suppliers. The amendment extended both the clarification-question and proposal deadlines to 9 November 2026 at 17:00; it also gave the expected contract award as the week commencing 9 November and the project inception meeting as 16 November 2026.

This opportunity is suited to UK consultancies, including SMEs, with the ability to undertake robust economic analysis in a rail-regulatory context. Suppliers should be able to develop and explain a credible methodology, deliver the work effectively, and demonstrate relevant experience: these are assessed alongside value for money, with all four carrying equal weight. Understanding the economics of rail access decisions would be relevant, particularly analysis that can help assess network capacity, performance and safety, competition, and impacts on government funding. The work covers four applications, so bidders should be able to organise analysis across multiple cases and provide clear evidence to support regulatory decision-making. The requirement is consultancy and research work, not the provision of rail transport services.

## Notice

This invitation to tender sets out ORR's requirement for consultants to carry out economic analysis in support of ORR's assessment of track access rights decisions for four access applications. ORR is responsible for regulating access to the national rail network. A train operator seeking rights to operate services on Network Rail infrastructure must enter into a track access contract, which requires ORR approval under the Railways Act 1993. ORR is required to approve contracts where the parties have reached agreement. Where the parties are unable to agree, an operator may apply to ORR for a determination. In reaching track access decisions, ORR weighs all its relevant duties under the Railways Act 1993. This is done by exploring a range of considerations, such as availability of capacity, impact on performance and safety, competition and the impact on Secretary of State's funds. ORR is assessing four applications on which we are seeking consultancy support for economic analysis

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/100732-2026 |
| Notice type | UK4 - Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Below threshold - open competition |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Tender |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 23 Oct 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 9 Nov 2026 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 16 Nov 2026 - 15 Nov 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £95,000 |
| Lots value | £95,000 |
| 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 | OFFICE OF RAIL AND ROAD |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Postcode area | East London |
| Postcode | E14 4QZ |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI4 Inner London - East |
| ITL 3 | TLI42 Tower Hamlets |
| Local authority | Tower Hamlets |
| Electoral ward | Canary Wharf |
| Westminster constituency | Poplar and Limehouse |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

## Release History

- 23 Oct 2026 at 16:50 - TenderUpdate - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/100732-2026
- 21 Oct 2026 at 16:42 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/099679-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/100732-2026
  23rd October 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/099679-2026
  21st October 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.orr.gov.uk/about/procuring-goods-and-services/e-tendering
  E-portal - You must register on the e-tendering portal to access the ITT and submit a tender by visiting and registering via this link
- https://orr.ukp.app.jaggaer.com/go/6599246301A159C4B14C
  ITT can be accessed via this link, if you have registered to the e-portal.
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-24408
  Template Contract
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-24476
  ITT Document

## 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-078d4a. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078d4a.json.