Official UK procurement notice
Establishment of a Framework for the Provision of a Revenue Management System
Authority: DFT Operator Limited 'DFTO' (Central government)·On behalf of: NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionDFTO is issuing this notice to establish a framework agreement with two (2) suppliers for the provision of a Revenue Management System.
The system must be capable of optimising rail fares through advanced forecasting, dynamic pricing, business rules, and inventory management. It should leverage artificial intelligence, machine learning, and both historical and real-time data to dynamically align pricing with demand and maximise revenue generation.
The solution must be scalable and modular, and capable of supporting a range of business operating models through a flexible combination of forecast-driven and rules-based revenue management approaches.
It is anticipated that the aggregate value of call-off contracts awarded under the Framework Agreement will not exceed £50 million (excluding VAT) over its duration.
- How the procedure runs: DfT Operator Limited ("DFTO") is running this procurement to establish a Framework Agreement for the Provision of a Revenue Management System under the competitive flexible procedure pursuant to sections 19 and 20 of the Procurement Act 2023. This process consists of two stages, the Invitation to Participate (ITP) and the Invitation to Negotiate (ITN). Stage One - ITP: The PSQ and the conditions of participation within are designed to assess responses and down select the most suitable Candidates. Supplier selection shall focus on compliance, financial capacity, legal capacity, modern slavery, conflict of interest, security and data protection compliance and technical ability. The top five (5) scoring Candidates who pass all other conditions within the PSQ, including conditions of participation will be shortlisted to participate in the ITN Stage. Where the 5th and 6th Candidates achieve the same score, the 6th Candidate will also be shortlisted to participate in the ITN Stage. Additionally, where the scores of the 5th, 6th and 7th Candidates are identical, the 7th Candidate will also be shortlisted to participate in the ITN Stage and so forth. Stage Two- ITN: The ITN stage shall evaluate suppliers technical solution (quality) submission, social value commitments and pricing submission. Negotiation may be made on technical, pricing and contract, with further details to be found within the ITP and ITN Part 1- instructions. Best and Final Offers shall be assessed utilising a comprehensive evaluation process to determine the Most Advantageous Tender (MAT). Additional information: Where used throughout this notice, the meaning of Train Operating Companies includes all and any of those train operating companies who, currently or in the future, provide services for the carriage of passengers by railway: a) under a franchise agreement with the Secretary of State within the meaning of section 23(3) of the Railways Act 1993 or b) under, or secured under, the Secretary of State's duty in section 30(1) of the Railways Act 1993; or c) in accordance with legislation which supersedes or amends the powers referred to in a) and b), including where such powers are transferred from the Secretary of State to another body. A list of some of the current providers of services for the carriage of passengers by railway under these provisions can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/public-register-of-rail-passenger-contracts. Novation or Assignment: The Framework Agreement may be novated or assigned by DFTO to Train Operating Companies, or any successor parent company to DFTO or to a Train Operating Company, following a corporate restructuring or similar circumstance.
CPV: IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
How this framework works
From the published notice- Type
- Open framework
- Call-offs
- every call-off is a further competition among the appointed suppliers
- Places
- up to 2 suppliers
- Framework period
- 4 yrs from 8 Jan 2027
Who may buy through it
Contracting Authorities:
The Contracting Authorities (as more particularly defined below) are permitted to use the framework via subsequent call-offs in accordance with section 1(3)(b) of the Procurement Act 2023. However, DFTO is responsible for the conduct of the procurement throughout and all correspondence and communication from suppliers is to be solely with DFTO. In addition to DFTO, the Contracting Authorities who may call-off under this framework are Train Operating Companies, GBR (once set up) and the SoS, each of them is referred to as a Buyer (and collectively they are the Buyers).
Published description of the framework
Buyers may award a Call-Off Contract under the Framework through a further competition, or a simplified further competition.
In each case, the Buyer will provide a specification for its requirements, and the Call-Off Contract terms and conditions will be in the form provided for in the Framework (with such refinement and alignment to its specification as the Buyer may require).
Where the Buyer opts to run a further competition, it will invite both Framework suppliers and, as part of that invitation, will confirm the response requirements, submission timings and award criteria and weightings (including sub-criteria and sub-weightings). The award criteria will include both commercial and technical criteria and will be set by reference to one or more of the award criteria and / or sub-criteria against which tenders were assessed in awarding the Framework.
Where the Buyer opts to run a simplified further competition, it will invite both Framework suppliers and, as part of that invitation, will confirm the response requirements and the submission timings. The award criteria will be either wholly commercial (100%) or wholly technical (100%), which the Buyer will confirm in the invitation, along with any sub-criteria and sub-weightings, which will be set by reference to one or more of the sub-criteria against which tenders were assessed in awarding the Framework.
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1Published value£50,000,000
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).
Published sub-criteria (3)
- Technical Solution: 55%
- Commercial: 35%
- Social Value: 10%
Published award criteria (3)
- Technical Solution
- Social Value
- Commercial
- Price carries 35 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 3.5 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
- “Establishment of a Framework for the Provision of a Revenue…” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, up to 2 suppliers, not a single contract: each call-off is a further competition, so the pricing contest starts after appointment.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Competitive flexible procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Closed
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Framework agreement
- Who may use this agreement
- Contracting Authorities: The Contracting Authorities (as more particularly defined below) are permitted to use the framework via subsequent call-offs in accordance with section 1(3)(b) of the Procurement Act 2023. However, DFTO is responsible for the conduct of the procurement throughout and all correspondence and communication from suppliers is to be solely with DFTO. In addition to DFTO, the Contracting Authorities who may call-off under this framework are Train Operating Companies, GBR (once set up) and the SoS, each of them is referred to as a Buyer (and collectively they are the Buyers).
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 23 Oct 2025, 16:47 BST
- Last source update
- 5 Jun 2026, 15:18 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 18 Dec 2026
- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-053440- Latest notice
- Tender notice (UK4)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-05d2d2Find a Tender
- How it runs
DfT Operator Limited ("DFTO") is running this procurement to establish a Framework Agreement for the Provision of a Revenue Management System under the competitive flexible procedure pursuant to sections 19 and 20 of the Procurement Act 2023.
This process consists of two stages, the Invitation to Participate (ITP) and the Invitation to Negotiate (ITN).
Stage One - ITP:
The PSQ and the conditions of participation within are designed to assess responses and down select the most suitable Candidates. Supplier selection shall focus on compliance, financial capacity, legal capacity, modern slavery, conflict of interest, security and data protection compliance and technical ability.
The top five (5) scoring Candidates who pass all other conditions within the PSQ, including conditions of participation will be shortlisted to participate in the ITN Stage. Where the 5th and 6th Candidates achieve the same score, the 6th Candidate will also be shortlisted to participate in the ITN Stage. Additionally, where the scores of the 5th, 6th and 7th Candidates are identical, the 7th Candidate will also be shortlisted to participate in the ITN Stage and so forth.
Stage Two- ITN:
The ITN stage shall evaluate suppliers technical solution (quality) submission, social value commitments and pricing submission.
Negotiation may be made on technical, pricing and contract, with further details to be found within the ITP and ITN Part 1- instructions. Best and Final Offers shall be assessed utilising a comprehensive evaluation process to determine the Most Advantageous Tender (MAT).
Additional information:
Where used throughout this notice, the meaning of Train Operating Companies includes all and any of those train operating companies who, currently or in the future, provide services for the carriage of passengers by railway:
a) under a franchise agreement with the Secretary of State within the meaning of section 23(3) of the Railways Act 1993 or
b) under, or secured under, the Secretary of State's duty in section 30(1) of the Railways Act 1993; or
c) in accordance with legislation which supersedes or amends the powers referred to in a) and b), including where such powers are transferred from the Secretary of State to another body.
A list of some of the current providers of services for the carriage of passengers by railway under these provisions can be found at www.gov.uk/guidance/public-regi… ↗.
Novation or Assignment:
The Framework Agreement may be novated or assigned by DFTO to Train Operating Companies, or any successor parent company to DFTO or to a Train Operating Company, following a corporate restructuring or similar circumstance.
How it was run
Official notice- Requests to participate (first stage)
- 2 Jul 2026, 12:00 BST
- Appointment period ends
- 2 Jul 2026, 12:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
To respond to this opportunity, please click here: www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/8T7APBVD7Y ↗
Timeline
23 Oct 2025 → 8 Jan 2027 · 6 dates- Planning notice published370 days ago23 Oct 2025, 16:47 BST
- Market engagement355 days ago7 Nov 2025, 23:59 GMT
- Purpose of Engagement
DFTO and contributing Train Operating Companies (TOC's) are conducting preliminary market engagement to inform the development of our procurement strategy for a forthcoming Revenue Management System Retender. This engagement aims to:
- Inform suppliers of the high-level requirements and receive feedback on the feasibility of them.
- Explain to suppliers the concept of the Project and how it aligns to strategic objectives of future GBR.
- Shape supplier's expectations of how future tenders of this scale will be delivered.
- Understand beyond the known suppliers who else could provide a Rail RMS.
- Help to develop the Procurement Strategy for the future tender.
- Promote transparency and attract a diverse supplier base.
________________________________________
- Format of Engagement
The engagement will take place via:
- In-person presentation:
- Location: The Memoir Club, 12 Upper Woburn Place, London WC1H 0HX
- Time / Date: 18 November 2025, 1000 - 1500.
If required, DFTO may conduct follow up 1-1 meetings with parties who have expressed an interest prior to 7th of November. These meetings shall be held after the in-person presentation has taken place. The purpose of these shall be to capture any information not discussed during the workshop or to allow interested suppliers who couldn't attend the in-person workshop to discuss our requirements.
Key information and outcomes following the Pre-Markets Engagement will be communicated to all parties who have expressed an interest in the engagement. This shall include the material questions and answers asked within the presentation session.
________________________________________
- Supplier Participation
Interested suppliers are invited to express interest by 7 November 2025 via email to the [email protected] and [email protected] . Please include:
- Company Name
- Contact Details of all attending including email address (Max 3x Personnel per Supplier)
- Brief overview of relevant experience
- Any specific areas of interest or questions
If expressions of interest exceed capacity, selection will be based on relevance to scope and sector expertise, and representation across supplier types (including SMEs). All insights from the engagement will be shared equally with all potential bidders to ensure fairness and transparency.
________________________________________
- Supplier Questionnaire
A short administrative questionnaire is included at the below link for suppliers to complete. The completion of the questionnaire alongside the email outlined in section 3 is the formal acknowledgement of attendance at the Pre-Markets Engagement Day.
forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx ↗
________________________________________
- Communication
All shared materials, insights, and any material questions and answers throughout this process will be documented and made available to ensure that no supplier gains an unfair advantage. Supplier points of contacts are to ensure the email addresses of all those personnel who require access to documents are included in the supplier questionnaire.
Any Project related questions should be directed to the Project team and not the associated Business Owners from each TOC.
- Tender notice published145 days ago5 Jun 2026, 15:18 BST
- Admission / appointment period ends118 days ago · period end, not a bid countdown2 Jul 2026, 12:00 BST
- Today29 Oct 2026
- Award decision expected byin 50 days18 Dec 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Contract startsin 70 days8 Jan 2027
Notice history
5 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 23 Oct 2025- Preliminary market engagement notice published23 Oct 2025, 16:47 BSTUK2
- Tender notice published5 Jun 2026, 15:18 BSTUK4
- Published value published: £50,000,0005 Jun 2026, 15:18 BST
- Status changed to active5 Jun 2026, 15:18 BST
- Procurement method changed5 Jun 2026, 15:18 BST
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
7 public bodies on the noticeOther public bodies
- GA TRAINS LIMITEDProcuring entityEvaluator
- LONDON NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY LIMITEDProcuring entityEvaluator
- NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITEDProcuring entityEvaluator
- NORTHERN TRAINS LIMITEDProcuring entityEvaluator
- SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY LIMITEDProcuring entityEvaluator
- TRANSPENNINE TRAINS LIMITEDProcuring entityEvaluator
Official documents & specifications (3)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Bidding documents and specifications The Invitation to Participate procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge. These documents provide guidance on submitting a response and outline the scope and requirements of the subsequent Invitation to Negotiate stage. To respond …
Notices published for this procedure
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender