Official UK procurement notice
Civils Examinations Framework Agreement (CEFA) - Southern Region
Authority: NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED (Central government)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionNetwork Rail Southern Region are seeking market engagement to inform the procurement strategy of a framework agreement which will manage civil examinations on the following assets:
- Structures – overline bridges, underline bridges, tunnels, footbridges, side of line, intersections, culverts, retaining walls, ancillary assets;
- Earthworks – embankments, soil cuttings, rock cuttings and mixed soil and rock cuttings; and
- Buildings - lineside buildings, operational buildings (e.g. stations, depots, signal boxes, ROCS etc.), medium to high voltage sites.
Civil examinations within Network Rail refer to the inspection, examination and reporting of structural assets to ensure the safety, reliability, and longevity of railway infrastructure. These examinations help identify defects, monitor structural integrity, and determine necessary maintenance or repair works to prevent failures and ensure continued safe operation of the rail network.
It should be noted within the estimated Contract Start Date (currently set at 01/04/2028) that there is an expected 6-8 months mobilisation prior to contract go live.
CPV: Building surveying services
How this framework works
From the published notice- Framework period
- 5 yrs · up to 8 yrs from 1 Apr 2028
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · no lot value publishedLot #1PlannedRenewal
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
- “Civils Examinations Framework Agreement (CEFA) - Southern Region” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, not a single contract.
Pipeline intelligence · planning stage: how this market runs before the tender is published
How NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED buys Consultative engineering and construction services (CPV 7131), and who usually turns up
NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED’s own published record, next to the published market for the same work. This notice is a framework or DPS, so only frameworks and DPS are compared. Whole-market view: Consultative engineering and construction services (CPV 7131) →
How the contest usually goes
Winner shares use published awards; bid and price charts use contested lots.
i
How often small and medium firms win.
Share of awards where the winner’s size is known.
The counts under this question show how many awards have a known supplier size.
Small firms have won here. Neither number says whether you qualify; it describes who has been winning.
i
How often local firms win similar work.
Winners with a registered address in the delivery region, out of awards with a known address.
A local branch does not count if the registered address is elsewhere.
Most of this buyer’s recorded winners are registered outside the delivery region.
i
How long buyers here take to decide after bids close.
Middle value in days from the deadline to the first award notice, on competitions that published both dates.
Only decided tenders count, so slow ones still waiting are not in.
Half of these awards were announced within 156 days of the bid deadline.
i
How often work is awarded with no recorded rival.
Direct awards and tenders where every published lot count shows one bid.
Thin markets produce this too; it is not proof of a tailored specification.
Missing bid counts may hide more single-bid awards. This share is a minimum.
How many bids did past lots attract?
i
How many bids past lots received.
Each colour is a bid-count range. Only competed lots with a published count are included.
Past bids do not predict this tender.
1 bid8%
2–325%
4–667%
7+0%
How did awards compare with estimates?
i
Where winning prices landed against estimates.
Each colour shows awards below, close to or above the published estimate, one lot at a time.
On a framework or DPS, prices are agreed when work is called off.
Past prices are a guide, not a bid price.
Not comparable on a framework or DPS. The notice sets up a supplier panel and a ceiling value; what the work actually costs is agreed later, on each call-off or mini-competition, and those publish as contract notices of their own. The award-vs-estimate record of this market therefore sits on the call-offs; this page shows it on the contracts, not on the panel that frames them.
Assess each lot i
What past awards tell you about each lot.
See the forecast, this buyer’s earlier suppliers and firms with relevant wins.
No supplier is confirmed as a bidder.
i
What past awards tell you about each lot.
See the forecast, this buyer’s earlier suppliers and firms with relevant wins.
No supplier is confirmed as a bidder.
Open a lot for its forecast, this buyer’s previous supplier and possible competitors, from published award history, not a bid list
Lot #1CPV 7131Published estimate£360m
i
How many bids this lot may attract.
The forecast uses similar past competitions. The bar shows either that forecast or past bid counts; the line below says which.
Each lot shows its own forecast based on its own category; forecasts for different lots of the same notice are not comparative. The bar shows 311 past lots.
A forecast, not a list of bidders.
1 bid3%
2–310%
4–625%
7+63%
i
Where the award price may land.
The forecast uses similar awards and the buyer’s estimate. The band covers the middle half of likely prices.
No comparable awards for this lot yet.
A statistical guide from past awards, not a price to bid.
Who has supplied this buyer on similar work? i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
| Supplier | This buyer’s earlier contract | Lot | Award value | Why listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XEIAD LimitedLive contract | Civils Examination Framework Agreement - Structures - Wales and Westernruns to Jun 2031 | Lot 2 - CEFA Structures Examination Framework | — | Matched as the earlier contract |
| Ground Control LimitedLive contract | Civils Examination Framework Agreement - Structures - Wales and Westernruns to Jun 2031 | Lot 2 - CEFA Structures Examination Framework | — | Matched as the earlier contract |
| Inspire (Structures) LtdLive contract | Civils Examination Framework Agreement - Structures - Wales and Westernruns to Jun 2031 | W&W Tunnels Civils Examinations Framework | — | Matched as the earlier contract |
| Amey Rail LimitedEarlier contract | Civils Examinations Framework Agreement (CEFA) - Scotland Regionnotice published Aug 2021 | — | — | Matched as the earlier contract |
Who could compete for this lot? i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
Candidate suppliers for this notice have not been worked out yet, so this is not a verdict that nobody fits.
About this data
- Source. Official UK public procurement notices (Find a Tender), reused under the Open Government Licence v3.0. New notices arrive through the day; the figures are rebuilt nightly.
- Two views, kept apart. The authority’s own track record and the wider market for the same kind of work sit side by side and are never mixed. Where the local picture is too thin, a figure widens to a broader market and says which one it used.
- Forecasts are labelled. The price forecast and its range, possible competitors and the earlier-work matches are our estimates from past awards: not published facts, not win chances and not price advice. Official notices do not say who is bidding.
- Every figure shows what it rests on. Not every notice publishes a bid count, a value or a delivery region, so each figure carries the number of records behind it, and one built on few records is marked as such. The on a figure explains it; the counting rules are in the methodology. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.
What this replaces i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
51% title match.
A past supplier may not bid again.
i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
51% title match.
A past supplier may not bid again.
The prior contract this notice most likely re-tenders · matched by title and category (51% title match), the holder is not guaranteed to re-bid
Civils Examination Framework Agreement - Structures - Wales and Western — held by Inspire (Structures) Ltd; the published contract ends 30 Jun 2031.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Planned procurement
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Utilities
- Commercial structure
- Framework agreement
- Who may use this agreement
- Not stated in the notice; call-off rights may be limited to the establishing authority
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 29 Oct 2025, 16:26 GMT
- Last source update
- 29 Oct 2025, 16:26 GMT
- Authority reference
Project_44507- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-069527- Latest notice
- Preliminary market engagement notice (UK2)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-05d69cFind a Tender
How it was run
Official notice- Appointment period ends
- —
Timeline
29 Oct 2025 → 1 Apr 2028 · 4 dates- Planning notice published358 days ago29 Oct 2025, 16:26 GMT
- Market engagement337 days ago19 Nov 2025, 23:59 GMT
We are pleased to invite you to our upcoming Supplier Pre-Market Engagement Event as we prepare for the renewal of the Network Rail Southern Region Civils Examination Framework Agreement (CEFA). This engagement session is a key opportunity for suppliers to gain insight into the framework's scope, which will cover critical infrastructure within buildings, structures and earthworks. As we shape the next iteration of the framework, we are keen to engage with the market, understand supplier capabilities, and explore innovations that can drive efficiency, resilience, and sustainability.
Join us virtually to learn more about the procurement approach and how you can be part of this essential framework supporting the UK's infrastructure.
Civils examinations within Network Rail refer to the inspection, examination and reporting of structural assets to ensure the safety, reliability, and longevity of railway infrastructure. These examinations help identify defects, monitor structural integrity, and determine necessary maintenance or repair works to prevent failures and ensure continued safe operation of the rail network.
Registration
To register for the event - please complete the Microsoft Form below by 17:00 on 19/11/2025, which also includes some survey questions to help us understand the market better. Please note that submissions after the deadline will not be accepted. The form will request for a point of contact, a link to the virtual meeting will be sent to this email address no later than 2 working days prior to the event.
*** forms.office.com/e/Rmar8thi4G ↗ ***
Virtual Meeting
The virtual meeting will take place on 26/11/2025 at 13:00 - 15:00. A link will be sent to those who successfully register for the event using the form provided above. To manage the number of attendees, we ask that no more than 2 persons join from your organisation.
Any issues in the meantime, please do not hesitate to email: [email protected]
Please note that this is not a call for competition, it is solely a market engagement exercise and no direct business will be awarded as a result of participating in this exercise. Further responding to this engagement will not in any way advantage or disadvantage any supplier in a future procurement exercise. All information contained within this notice and subsequent enagagement event is indicative at this stage and subject to change.
- Tender notice expected174 days ago1 May 2026, 23:59 BST
- Today22 Oct 2026
- Contract starts1 Apr 2028, 00:00 BST
Notice history
1 event · 1 release on Find a Tender- Preliminary market engagement notice published29 Oct 2025, 16:26 GMTUK2
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Pipeline notice- Awards (0)
- No award published
- Contracts (0)
- No contract published
- Bid statistics
- No aggregate bid statistics published
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (1)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender