--- title: "RFI - Resilient Connectivity for Locomotive Operations" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-07913f" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-07913f" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-07913f.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-07913f.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "Direct Rail Services Limited" published: "2026-10-27" --- # RFI - Resilient Connectivity for Locomotive Operations Buyer: Direct Rail Services Limited Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-07913f [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-07913f) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-07913f.json) ## Summary Direct Rail Services Limited is exploring resilient connectivity services to support locomotive operations for Nuclear Transport Solutions (NTS). The work sits across internet connectivity, railway transport support and railway equipment. The engagement is intended to help NTS understand what the supply market can provide and how a future service could be packaged and delivered. It concerns connectivity that can support reliable locomotive operations; suppliers in rail communications, telecommunications and associated railway support services may find the subject relevant. The procurement is being developed by Direct Rail Services Limited, with NTS undertaking the market engagement. The planned service relates to locomotive operations, although no delivery locations are identified in the published scope. This process is at the planning stage: the buyer has stated an intention to procure, but has not issued an invitation to tender. NTS is undertaking preliminary market engagement to inform its procurement strategy, including contracting routes, scope packaging, commercial models, indicative whole-life costs and supplier appetite. The buyer’s stated estimated value is £500,000 excluding VAT (£600,000 including VAT). The anticipated contract period runs from 22 February 2027 to 21 February 2031. A future procurement notice is expected on 1 January 2027. This is a single-lot service requirement, identified as suitable for SMEs. The engagement is seeking market views rather than bids; suppliers are invited to respond to the request for information through the Atamis portal by 17 November 2026. The engagement is a chance for suppliers to shape the future requirement before the procurement strategy is settled. NTS wants input from the market on available contracting routes, how the scope could be packaged, suitable commercial models, indicative whole-life costs and supplier appetite. This is likely to suit businesses with experience delivering resilient connectivity for rail or locomotive operations, including providers able to combine internet services with railway-specific support or equipment. SMEs are explicitly considered suitable for the planned single-lot requirement, so smaller specialist providers may be relevant alongside larger suppliers. The buyer has not set out technical standards, accreditations, capacity thresholds or evaluation criteria at this planning stage; the immediate commercial value is in helping NTS understand market capabilities and inform its future approach. No bid is being sought at this stage. ## Notice Nuclear Transport Solutions (NTS) is undertaking Pre-Market Engagement (PME) to inform its procurement strategy for resilient connectivity supporting locomotive operations. The primary purpose is to understand the supply market, available contracting routes, scope packaging, commercial models, indicative whole-life costs and supplier appetite for a future procurement. Please respond to the RFI via the Atamis portal: https://atamis-2464.my.site.com/s/Welcome ### Planning Information Nuclear Transport Solutions (NTS) is undertaking Pre-Market Engagement (PME) to inform its procurement strategy for resilient connectivity supporting locomotive operations. The primary purpose is to understand the supply market, available contracting routes, scope packaging, commercial models, indicative whole-life costs and supplier appetite for a future procurement. Please respond to the RFI via the Atamis portal: https://atamis-2464.my.site.com/s/Welcome ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/101562-2026 | | Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 27 Oct 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 1 Jan 2027 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 22 Feb 2027 - 21 Feb 2031 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £500,000 | | 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 | Direct Rail Services Limited | | Locality | CARLISLE | | Postcode area | 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 | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation - 63 - Supporting and auxiliary transport services; travel agencies services - 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support ### Codes - 34940000 - Railway equipment - 63711000 - Support services for railway transport - 72400000 - Internet services ## Release History - 27 Oct 2026 at 13:32 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/101562-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/101562-2026 27th October 2026 - 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-07913f. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-07913f.json.