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AwardedFind a Tender · award
BuyerNetwork Rail Infrastructure Ltd
StatusAwarded
DeadlineNot published
ValueValue not published
Published11 Jun 2025

What is being bought

This is a voluntary ex ante transparency (VEAT) notice. This notice is to indicate that Network Rail intends to contract with Aptitude Software Limited, for the Software licencing + support & maintenance services.

Delivery location

UK

Categories

IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support 72000000

Lot details

Lot 1

This requirement is for a three year renewal for the Microgen Aptitude Software Licence, Maintenance and Support Agreement with Aptitude Software Limited via a Single Tender Action (STA) commencing on 23/06/2025. The “Track access billing programme” has been established within Route Services IT to deliver a consolidated software application, database and infrastructure for the recording of Track Access, Compensation Payments (Planned and Unplanned) and the maintenance of reference data. The Billing programme is a strategic programme to improve the way in which the billing function for Network Rail (NR) is carried out and managed by the organisation. As a longstanding client of Aptitude since 2008, Network Rail has leveraged Aptitude Software Limited platform to support critical internal operations through a customised application built and maintained using the Aptitude Platform. Key Areas of Support: • Web Application Development Network Rail uses the Aptitude Platform’s web application generator to develop and operate an internal application. Uniquely, they run their environment on Microsoft Windows, utilising IIS (Internet Information Services) and .NET technologies, rather than the more common Linux-based setup. • Calculation Capability The platform supports core business calculations - specifically, those used to model and determine the fees other companies must pay to access and use railway infrastructure. These financial models are essential to Network Rail’s operations. • Ongoing Upgrades and Technical Support Aptitude has supported several platform upgrades over the years, with the most recent migration to version 24.4.1. We assisted in resolving issues during this process, particularly compatibility concerns with Windows Server 2022. • Testing and Migration Status Network Rail is in the final phase of testing their newly upgraded application. Most system tests have been completed successfully, with a few final validations currently underway. • Continued Engagement While direct development work has been minimal since 2019, Aptitude continues to provide proactive technical support, version upgrades, and assistance with troubleshooting to ensure continued platform stability.

What is included

ItemCategoryQuantity
1Not publishedNot published

Comparable-procurement analytics

Benchmarked against retained Find a Tender procedures with CPV division 72. The category anchor is IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support (72000000); this is a deliberately broad market comparator. The comparison is shown at several levels rather than pretending one company or region is always the best benchmark.

Comparison setProceduresReported bids per procedureNamed award suppliersPrice evidence
Market: CPV division 7210,5392 median · 15.4 average (4,163 of 10,539 with a bid count)2 average (5,054 of 10,539 with named award suppliers)Not published
Same buyer236 median · 22.7 average (3 of 23 with a bid count)4 average (3 of 23 with named award suppliers)Not published
Delivery region: UK3,3252 median · 33.8 average (1,172 of 3,325 with a bid count)2.8 average (1,501 of 3,325 with named award suppliers)Not published

“Reported bids” is an official aggregate, sometimes reported per lot; it is the closest available competition measure. “Named award suppliers” are winners, not all applicants.

Price-outcome signal

Not enough comparable procedures currently publish both a GBP tender value and a usable lowest-valid-bid value to calculate a responsible price-reduction benchmark. Tenderline deliberately does not infer a saving from named award suppliers or from missing award values.

Procurement strategy & market signals

Framework agreementNot published
Dynamic purchasing systemNot published
Competitive procurementNot published
Recurring requirementNot published
Procurement method rationaleThis award is compliant with the New Procurement Act 2023 under section 41 referencing I7 Sch. 5 para. 4 and para. 5 ; competition is absent for technical reasons and NR’s C&P Policy. The Rationale is as follows: • Due to a particular supplier having intellectual property rights or other exclusive rights, only that supplier can supply the goods, services or works required, and • There are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works. • due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only a particular supplier can supply the goods, services or works required, and • There are no other suppliers in the marketplace that are able to replace NR’s legacy billing systems with a single solution that could manage changes to the billing rules more effectively and to more efficiently manage the workload and improve the accuracy of revenue collection. The Contract Award Notice also noted that the estimated total value was based on Network Rail’s current forecast of future spend under the frameworks. The Contract Award Notice noted that the values are Network Rail’s best estimate based on currently available information, and in particular that any third party spend is not certain at the stage the Contract Award Notice was published. Please note that this is a voluntary transparency notice and the contracts have not yet been awarded.
Rationale classificationsThe works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator due to protection of exclusive rights, including intellectual property rights
Special regimeNot published
Covered byGPA
Submission policyNot published
Selection criteriaNot published
Risk detailsNot published

Planning & early market engagement

BudgetNot published
No-engagement rationaleNot published
Planning documents0
Planning milestones0

No planning milestones published.

Related procurements

No linked framework, prior procurement or reprocurement published.

Awards

Contracts

Aptitude Software Limited, Tabs -Software licencing + support & maintenance

Statusactive

Documents & submission route

No documents are published in the current source record.

Source data inventory

Diagnostic view. “Not published” means this current release does not provide a value.

OCIDocds-h6vhtk-0546ef
Latest release ID031626-2025
Latest release timestampWed Jun 11 2025 14:57:25 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Sourcefind-a-tender
Official notice URLNot published
Tender statuscomplete
Procurement methodlimited
Procurement method detailsNegotiated without publication of a contract notice
Main procurement categoryservices
Above thresholdNot published
Legal basis32014L0025
Tender period: startNot published
Tender period: endNot published
Expression of interest deadlineNot published
Enquiry deadlineNot published
Award period: startNot published
Award period: endNot published
Submission method detailsNot published
Submission languagesNot published
Electronic catalogue policyNot published
Total tender valueNot published
Tender lots in source1
Tender items in source1
Tender documents in source0
Awards in latest release1
Contracts in latest release1
Parties in latest release3

Notice history

DateEventReference
11 Jun 2025award, contract031626-2025

All source data

Unmodified official OCDS data retained by Tenderline for this procurement process.

Complete current OCDS release JSON
{
  "id": "031626-2025",
  "tag": [
    "award",
    "contract"
  ],
  "bids": {
    "statistics": [
      {
        "id": "1",
        "value": 992638,
        "measure": "lowestValidBidValue",
        "currency": "GBP"
      },
      {
        "id": "2",
        "value": 992638,
        "measure": "highestValidBidValue",
        "currency": "GBP"
      }
    ]
  },
  "date": "2025-06-11T15:57:25+01:00",
  "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-0546ef",
  "buyer": {
    "id": "GB-FTS-79855",
    "name": "Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd"
  },
  "awards": [
    {
      "id": "031626-2025-1",
      "title": "Aptitude Software Limited, Tabs -Software licencing + support & maintenance",
      "status": "active",
      "suppliers": [
        {
          "id": "GB-FTS-151030",
          "name": "Aptitude Software Limited"
        }
      ],
      "relatedLots": [
        "1"
      ],
      "hasSubcontracting": true
    }
  ],
  "tender": {
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-0546ef",
    "lots": [
      {
        "id": "1",
        "hasOptions": false,
        "description": "This requirement is for a three year renewal for the Microgen Aptitude Software Licence, Maintenance and Support Agreement with Aptitude Software Limited via a Single Tender Action (STA) commencing on 23/06/2025.  \nThe “Track access billing programme” has been established within Route Services IT to deliver a consolidated software application, database and infrastructure for the recording of Track Access, Compensation Payments (Planned and Unplanned) and the maintenance of reference data. The Billing programme is a strategic programme to improve the way in which the billing function for Network Rail (NR) is carried out and managed by the organisation.\nAs a longstanding client of Aptitude since 2008, Network Rail has leveraged Aptitude  \nSoftware Limited platform to support critical internal operations through a customised application built \nand maintained using the Aptitude Platform.\nKey Areas of Support:\n• Web Application Development\nNetwork Rail uses the Aptitude Platform’s web application generator to develop \nand operate an internal application. Uniquely, they run their environment on \nMicrosoft Windows, utilising IIS (Internet Information Services) and .NET \ntechnologies, rather than the more common Linux-based setup.\n• Calculation Capability\nThe platform supports core business calculations - specifically, those used to \nmodel and determine the fees other companies must pay to access and use \nrailway infrastructure. These financial models are essential to Network Rail’s \noperations. \n• Ongoing Upgrades and Technical Support \nAptitude has supported several platform upgrades over the years, with the most \nrecent migration to version 24.4.1. We assisted in resolving issues during this \nprocess, particularly compatibility concerns with Windows Server 2022. \n• Testing and Migration Status \nNetwork Rail is in the final phase of testing their newly upgraded application. \nMost system tests have been completed successfully, with a few final validations \ncurrently underway. \n• Continued Engagement \nWhile direct development work has been minimal since 2019, Aptitude \ncontinues to provide proactive technical support, version upgrades, and \nassistance with troubleshooting to ensure continued platform stability."
      }
    ],
    "items": [
      {
        "id": "1",
        "relatedLot": "1",
        "deliveryAddresses": [
          {
            "region": "UK"
          }
        ]
      }
    ],
    "title": "992,638",
    "status": "complete",
    "coveredBy": [
      "GPA"
    ],
    "legalBasis": {
      "id": "32014L0025",
      "scheme": "CELEX"
    },
    "description": "This is a voluntary ex ante transparency (VEAT) notice. This notice is to indicate that Network Rail intends to contract with Aptitude Software Limited, for the Software licencing + support & maintenance services.",
    "classification": {
      "id": "72000000",
      "scheme": "CPV",
      "description": "IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support"
    },
    "procurementMethod": "limited",
    "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
    "procurementMethodDetails": "Negotiated without publication of a contract notice",
    "procurementMethodRationale": "This award is compliant with the New Procurement Act 2023 under section 41 referencing I7\tSch. 5 para. 4 and para. 5  ; competition is absent for technical reasons and NR’s C&P Policy. The Rationale is as follows:  \n•\tDue to a particular supplier having intellectual property rights or other exclusive rights, only that supplier can supply the goods, services or works required, and\n•\tThere are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works.\n•\tdue to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only a particular supplier can supply the goods, services or works required, and\n•\tThere are no other suppliers in the marketplace that are able to replace NR’s legacy billing systems with a single solution that could manage changes to the billing rules more effectively and to more efficiently manage the workload and improve the accuracy of revenue collection. \nThe Contract Award Notice also noted that the estimated total value was based on Network Rail’s current forecast of future spend under the frameworks. The Contract Award Notice noted that the values are Network Rail’s best estimate based on currently available information, and in particular that any third party spend is not certain at the stage the Contract Award Notice was published.\nPlease note that this is a voluntary transparency notice and the contracts have not yet been awarded.",
    "procurementMethodRationaleClassifications": [
      {
        "id": "D_PROTECT_RIGHTS",
        "scheme": "TED_PT_AWARD_CONTRACT_WITHOUT_CALL",
        "description": "The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator due to protection of exclusive rights, including intellectual property rights"
      }
    ]
  },
  "parties": [
    {
      "id": "GB-FTS-79855",
      "name": "Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd",
      "roles": [
        "buyer"
      ],
      "address": {
        "region": "UK",
        "locality": "London",
        "postalCode": "SE1 8SW",
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "streetAddress": "Waterloo General Offices"
      },
      "details": {
        "url": "http://www.networkrail.co.uk",
        "buyerProfile": "http://www.networkrail.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html",
        "classifications": [
          {
            "id": "RAILWAY_SERVICES",
            "scheme": "TED_CE_ACTIVITY",
            "description": "Railway services"
          }
        ]
      },
      "identifier": {
        "legalName": "Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd"
      },
      "contactPoint": {
        "email": "humza.tayyab@networkrail.co.uk",
        "telephone": "+44 1908781000"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "GB-FTS-151030",
      "name": "Aptitude Software Limited",
      "roles": [
        "supplier"
      ],
      "address": {
        "region": "UK",
        "locality": "London",
        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
      },
      "details": {
        "scale": "large"
      },
      "identifier": {
        "legalName": "Aptitude Software Limited"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "GB-FTS-449",
      "name": "The High Court",
      "roles": [
        "reviewBody"
      ],
      "address": {
        "locality": "London",
        "postalCode": "WC2A 1AA",
        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
      },
      "details": {
        "url": "https://www.judiciary.uk/courts-and-tribunals/high-court/"
      },
      "identifier": {
        "legalName": "The High Court"
      }
    }
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "contracts": [
    {
      "id": "031626-2025-1",
      "title": "Aptitude Software Limited, Tabs -Software licencing + support & maintenance",
      "status": "active",
      "awardID": "031626-2025-1",
      "dateSigned": "2025-06-11T00:00:00+01:00"
    }
  ],
  "description": "NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Find a Tender website: Find a Tender (find-tender.service.gov.uk)",
  "initiationType": "tender"
}
Complete JSON history (1 releases)
11 Jun 2025 · 031626-2025 · award, contract
{
  "id": "031626-2025",
  "tag": [
    "award",
    "contract"
  ],
  "bids": {
    "statistics": [
      {
        "id": "1",
        "value": 992638,
        "measure": "lowestValidBidValue",
        "currency": "GBP"
      },
      {
        "id": "2",
        "value": 992638,
        "measure": "highestValidBidValue",
        "currency": "GBP"
      }
    ]
  },
  "date": "2025-06-11T15:57:25+01:00",
  "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-0546ef",
  "buyer": {
    "id": "GB-FTS-79855",
    "name": "Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd"
  },
  "awards": [
    {
      "id": "031626-2025-1",
      "title": "Aptitude Software Limited, Tabs -Software licencing + support & maintenance",
      "status": "active",
      "suppliers": [
        {
          "id": "GB-FTS-151030",
          "name": "Aptitude Software Limited"
        }
      ],
      "relatedLots": [
        "1"
      ],
      "hasSubcontracting": true
    }
  ],
  "tender": {
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-0546ef",
    "lots": [
      {
        "id": "1",
        "hasOptions": false,
        "description": "This requirement is for a three year renewal for the Microgen Aptitude Software Licence, Maintenance and Support Agreement with Aptitude Software Limited via a Single Tender Action (STA) commencing on 23/06/2025.  \nThe “Track access billing programme” has been established within Route Services IT to deliver a consolidated software application, database and infrastructure for the recording of Track Access, Compensation Payments (Planned and Unplanned) and the maintenance of reference data. The Billing programme is a strategic programme to improve the way in which the billing function for Network Rail (NR) is carried out and managed by the organisation.\nAs a longstanding client of Aptitude since 2008, Network Rail has leveraged Aptitude  \nSoftware Limited platform to support critical internal operations through a customised application built \nand maintained using the Aptitude Platform.\nKey Areas of Support:\n• Web Application Development\nNetwork Rail uses the Aptitude Platform’s web application generator to develop \nand operate an internal application. Uniquely, they run their environment on \nMicrosoft Windows, utilising IIS (Internet Information Services) and .NET \ntechnologies, rather than the more common Linux-based setup.\n• Calculation Capability\nThe platform supports core business calculations - specifically, those used to \nmodel and determine the fees other companies must pay to access and use \nrailway infrastructure. These financial models are essential to Network Rail’s \noperations. \n• Ongoing Upgrades and Technical Support \nAptitude has supported several platform upgrades over the years, with the most \nrecent migration to version 24.4.1. We assisted in resolving issues during this \nprocess, particularly compatibility concerns with Windows Server 2022. \n• Testing and Migration Status \nNetwork Rail is in the final phase of testing their newly upgraded application. \nMost system tests have been completed successfully, with a few final validations \ncurrently underway. \n• Continued Engagement \nWhile direct development work has been minimal since 2019, Aptitude \ncontinues to provide proactive technical support, version upgrades, and \nassistance with troubleshooting to ensure continued platform stability."
      }
    ],
    "items": [
      {
        "id": "1",
        "relatedLot": "1",
        "deliveryAddresses": [
          {
            "region": "UK"
          }
        ]
      }
    ],
    "title": "992,638",
    "status": "complete",
    "coveredBy": [
      "GPA"
    ],
    "legalBasis": {
      "id": "32014L0025",
      "scheme": "CELEX"
    },
    "description": "This is a voluntary ex ante transparency (VEAT) notice. This notice is to indicate that Network Rail intends to contract with Aptitude Software Limited, for the Software licencing + support & maintenance services.",
    "classification": {
      "id": "72000000",
      "scheme": "CPV",
      "description": "IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support"
    },
    "procurementMethod": "limited",
    "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
    "procurementMethodDetails": "Negotiated without publication of a contract notice",
    "procurementMethodRationale": "This award is compliant with the New Procurement Act 2023 under section 41 referencing I7\tSch. 5 para. 4 and para. 5  ; competition is absent for technical reasons and NR’s C&P Policy. The Rationale is as follows:  \n•\tDue to a particular supplier having intellectual property rights or other exclusive rights, only that supplier can supply the goods, services or works required, and\n•\tThere are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works.\n•\tdue to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only a particular supplier can supply the goods, services or works required, and\n•\tThere are no other suppliers in the marketplace that are able to replace NR’s legacy billing systems with a single solution that could manage changes to the billing rules more effectively and to more efficiently manage the workload and improve the accuracy of revenue collection. \nThe Contract Award Notice also noted that the estimated total value was based on Network Rail’s current forecast of future spend under the frameworks. The Contract Award Notice noted that the values are Network Rail’s best estimate based on currently available information, and in particular that any third party spend is not certain at the stage the Contract Award Notice was published.\nPlease note that this is a voluntary transparency notice and the contracts have not yet been awarded.",
    "procurementMethodRationaleClassifications": [
      {
        "id": "D_PROTECT_RIGHTS",
        "scheme": "TED_PT_AWARD_CONTRACT_WITHOUT_CALL",
        "description": "The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator due to protection of exclusive rights, including intellectual property rights"
      }
    ]
  },
  "parties": [
    {
      "id": "GB-FTS-79855",
      "name": "Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd",
      "roles": [
        "buyer"
      ],
      "address": {
        "region": "UK",
        "locality": "London",
        "postalCode": "SE1 8SW",
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "streetAddress": "Waterloo General Offices"
      },
      "details": {
        "url": "http://www.networkrail.co.uk",
        "buyerProfile": "http://www.networkrail.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html",
        "classifications": [
          {
            "id": "RAILWAY_SERVICES",
            "scheme": "TED_CE_ACTIVITY",
            "description": "Railway services"
          }
        ]
      },
      "identifier": {
        "legalName": "Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd"
      },
      "contactPoint": {
        "email": "humza.tayyab@networkrail.co.uk",
        "telephone": "+44 1908781000"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "GB-FTS-151030",
      "name": "Aptitude Software Limited",
      "roles": [
        "supplier"
      ],
      "address": {
        "region": "UK",
        "locality": "London",
        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
      },
      "details": {
        "scale": "large"
      },
      "identifier": {
        "legalName": "Aptitude Software Limited"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "GB-FTS-449",
      "name": "The High Court",
      "roles": [
        "reviewBody"
      ],
      "address": {
        "locality": "London",
        "postalCode": "WC2A 1AA",
        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
      },
      "details": {
        "url": "https://www.judiciary.uk/courts-and-tribunals/high-court/"
      },
      "identifier": {
        "legalName": "The High Court"
      }
    }
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "contracts": [
    {
      "id": "031626-2025-1",
      "title": "Aptitude Software Limited, Tabs -Software licencing + support & maintenance",
      "status": "active",
      "awardID": "031626-2025-1",
      "dateSigned": "2025-06-11T00:00:00+01:00"
    }
  ],
  "description": "NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Find a Tender website: Find a Tender (find-tender.service.gov.uk)",
  "initiationType": "tender"
}