Contract award notice – utilities
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd
Waterloo General Offices
London
SE1 8SW
UK
Telephone: +44 1908781000
E-mail: Josh.McBride@networkrail.co.uk
NUTS: UK
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/
I.6) Main activity
Railway services
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
45,000,000
II.1.2) Main CPV code
71631470
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
Network Rail has awarded national Framework Agreements for the provision of Track Bed Investigations for England & Wales, and for Scotland.
The framework scope includes standard and deep track bed investigations, concrete coring and various drainage surveys, which are used for the design and specification of the trackbed for track renewals.
The framework is specific to the Engineering Services Design Delivery function in Network Rail. The workbank comes from client teams in the Network Rail regions who will call-off from the framework when track bed investigations are required.
Due to the work-related nature of these activities, the framework terms & conditions are based on the NR29 Framework Contract for Network Rail Amended NEC4 Engineering and Construction Short Contract.
The framework will run for an initial period of five years, and Network Rail will have the option to extend for two further one-year periods, providing the flexibility for a five, six or seven year framework duration.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
Yes
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
45 000 000.00
GBP
II.2) Description
Lot No: 1
II.2.1) Title
Track Bed Investigation Framework - England & Wales
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
71631470
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKC
UKD
UKF
UKG
UKH
UKJ
UKK
UKL
Main site or place of performance:
Railway track sites in England & Wales
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The specification for the Track Bed Investigation Framework covers the following track bed investigation and associated works, and site & factual reporting which are to be provided for track sites in England & Wales:
Standard Track Bed Investigation:
• Determining the condition of the existing track bed and sub-grade
• Assessing the condition of the existing lineside drainage.
• Dynamic Cone Penetration (DCP) to determine the soil structural properties.
• Trial trenches to determine drainage paths and lateral variation of track bed materials.
• Categorising of Spent Ballast for disposal
• Measuring structural constraints (clearances) to support the construction phase and compliance with COM Regulations 2015 (Design Risk Register) to determine construction risks and mitigations.
Deep Track Bed Investigation
• Deeper window sampling and Standard Penetration Test (SPT) using heavy probing techniques for investigating Track Bed Stabilisation sites.
Additional Works and Other Investigation Techniques
• Stiffness Measurement surveys using Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD), and Light Weight Deflectometer (LWD).
• Drainage level surveys/topographical surveys to support the design track of drainage systems.
• Concrete coring of slab track or other associated foundations
• Material testing
• Rail and sleeper deflection monitoring using cameras, Geophones or similar.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Lot No: 2
II.2.1) Title
Track Bed Investigation Framework - Scotland's Railway
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
71631470
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM
Main site or place of performance:
Railway track sites in Scotland
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The specification for the Track Bed Investigation Framework covers the following track bed investigation and associated works, and site & factual reporting which are provided in Scotland:
Standard Track Bed Investigation:
• Determining the condition of the existing track bed and sub-grade
• Assessing the condition of the existing lineside drainage.
• Dynamic Cone Penetration (DCP) to determine the soil structural properties.
• Trial trenches to determine drainage paths and lateral variation of track bed materials.
• Categorising of Spent Ballast for disposal
• Measuring structural constraints (clearances) to support the construction phase and compliance with COM Regulations 2015 (Design Risk Register) to determine construction risks and mitigations.
Deep Track Bed Investigation
• Deeper window sampling and Standard Penetration Test (SPT) using heavy probing techniques for investigating Track Bed Stabilisation sites.
Additional Works and Other Investigation Techniques
• Stiffness Measurement surveys using Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD), and Light Weight Deflectometer (LWD).
• Drainage level surveys/topographical surveys to support the design track of drainage systems.
• Concrete coring of slab track or other associated foundations
• Material testing
• Rail and sleeper deflection monitoring using cameras, Geophones or similar.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Negotiated with call for competition
IV.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement with a single operator.
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number in the OJ S:
2024/S 000-022452
Section V: Award of contract
Lot No: 1
Contract No: ecm_48952
Title: TBI NR29 NEC4 Engineering and Construction Short Framework Contract - Lot 1
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
22/10/2025
V.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section V: Award of contract
Lot No: 2
Contract No: ecm_48953
Title: TBI NR29 NEC4 Engineering and Construction Short Framework Contract - Lot 2
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
22/10/2025
V.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
28/01/2026