ETCS Train Driver Simulation Simulator Infrastructure and Services

• How the procedure runs: The Tender stages will be run as follows: Stage 1: All interested suppliers can apply to be considered for participation in this procurement exercise, through application via https://www.delta-esourcing.com/ Tenderbox Reference: 45S3X532Q7. The Procurement Specific Questionnaire ('PSQ') will be evaluated in two (2) parts: Part 1: Mandatory information to be provided by the suppliers, failure to do so and in an accurate manner may lead to exclusion from the procurement process. Part 2: Questions relating to conditions of participation, including standard & technical questions All suppliers that have passed the submission of mandatory information will then be evaluated in accordance with the evaluation criteria provided within the ITP documentation. The top 4 scoring suppliers for the technical questions and who pass all other conditions within the PSQ, including conditions of participation will be shortlisted to participate in the Invitation to Negotiate ('ITN') stage. Should there not be the maximum number of suppliers capable of meeting the required criteria the number of successful suppliers taken forward to ITN will be reduced accordingly. In the instance where there is a tiebreak for any of the last successful positions, the number of successful suppliers would increase, and include any tied suppliers (set to two decimal places) as additional suppliers for the ITN. Therefore, the maximum number of successful suppliers made may increase where 2 or more suppliers have tied scores in the last successful position. Additionally, Northern Trains Limited ('NTL') reserves the right, but is not obligated to to take forward to any suppliers whose final score is within 2% of the last successful position. All other suppliers (and non-compliant parties) will be notified as unsuccessful from the process at this stage. NTL reserves the right to not score any question response that had not been provided in line with the instructions provided in the ITP. Stage 2: Suppliers taken through from Stage 1 will be invited to submit their Tender Responses. Tender Responses will have three (3) distinct elements: - Technical Quality with a weighting of 60% - Pricing with a weighting of 30% - Social Value with a weighting of 10% NTL will undertake a comprehensive evaluation process to determine the Most Advantageous Tender (MAT). Tender Responses will initially be checked for compliance, including that all required returnables for the response have been submitted. If NTL does not consider a Tender Response compliant, it reserves the right not to carry out any further evaluation and eliminate the supplier from the procurement. At any stage following the submission of a Tender Response, NTL reserves the right (but shall not be obliged) to seek clarification of any aspect of a supplier's Tender Response during the evaluation process. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any stage following the submission of a Tender Response, NTL may require Negotiation Meetings in which the supplier may be required to present their Tender Response for the purposes verifying any aspect of that Tender Response. The supplier will be required to make suitable personnel available to NTL in order to resolve NTL's queries. Any clarification discussed at such clarification meetings will be agreed by NTL and the supplier and documented and submitted by the supplier through the message centre on Delta. Following the response of the ITN, representatives from NTL & TransPennine Trains ('TPT') may visit the supplier's manufacturing site in order to assess the supplier's capability to develop, manufacture and deliver ETCS desktop simulators. NTL therefore requests that the suppliers make their sites available to visit within the 4 week period following ITN submission. The specific dates on which these visits can be made will be agreed with the suppliers via Delta portal during or following the ITN stage. The purpose of any site visits is to assess the supplier's capability to develop, manufacture and deliver ETCS desktop simulators and verify the information that the supplier's provided in ITN Part 3 - Tender Response. Stage 3 (optional): Following evaluation of the ITN, a minimum of the top two (2) highest scoring suppliers for each lot may be invited to submit Best and Final Offers ('BAFO's). NTL strongly encourages all suppliers to submit competitive tender submissions. Whilst NTL may request BAFOs, suppliers should not rely on any potential subsequent opportunities for providing improved commercial offers. Further information on the tender process can be found in CFP ITP Part 1 - Instructions & ITN Part 1 - Instructions.

CPV: Simulators

Type

Open framework

Call-offs

call-offs are awarded directly to appointed suppliers, without further competition

Framework period

8 yrs from 1 May 2026

Procedure method

Competitive flexible procedure

Legal basis

UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023

Procurement category

Goods

Notice status

Closed

Procurement threshold

Above threshold (FTS publication)

Regulatory regime

Utilities

Commercial structure

Framework agreement

Who may use this agreement

The Participating Authorities who may call-off under this framework are: - the Train Operating Companies - Network Rail Infrastructure Limited - Any holders of a passenger licence or a station licence granted pursuant to section 8 of the Railways Act 1993 and/or a passenger licence granted pursuant to regulation 6 of the Railway (Licensing of Railway Undertakings) Regulations 2005

Competition type

Competitive procedure

GPA / WTO covered

Unspecified in notice

Recurring procurement

Unspecified in notice

First published

21 May 2025, 17:12 BST

Last source update

7 Nov 2025, 16:38 GMT

Award evaluation window

Submission end – 24 Apr 2026

FTS notice number

2025/S 000-072190

Latest notice

Tender notice (UK4)

Classification (CPV)

Simulators

Delivery area

UK

Official registry OCID

ocds-h6vhtk-051c0f Find a Tender

How it runs

The Tender stages will be run as follows:

Stage 1:

All interested suppliers can apply to be considered for participation in this procurement exercise, through application via www.delta-esourcing.com ↗ Tenderbox Reference: 45S3X532Q7.

The Procurement Specific Questionnaire ('PSQ') will be evaluated in two (2) parts:

Part 1: Mandatory information to be provided by the suppliers, failure to do so and in an accurate manner may lead to exclusion from the procurement process.

Part 2: Questions relating to conditions of participation, including standard & technical questions

All suppliers that have passed the submission of mandatory information will then be evaluated in accordance with the evaluation criteria provided within the ITP documentation.

The top 4 scoring suppliers for the technical questions and who pass all other conditions within the PSQ, including conditions of participation will be shortlisted to participate in the Invitation to Negotiate ('ITN') stage.

Should there not be the maximum number of suppliers capable of meeting the required criteria the number of successful suppliers taken forward to ITN will be reduced accordingly.

In the instance where there is a tiebreak for any of the last successful positions, the number of successful suppliers would increase, and include any tied suppliers (set to two decimal places) as additional suppliers for the ITN. Therefore, the maximum number of successful suppliers made may increase where 2 or more suppliers have tied scores in the last successful position. Additionally, Northern Trains Limited ('NTL') reserves the right, but is not obligated to to take forward to any suppliers whose final score is within 2% of the last successful position.

All other suppliers (and non-compliant parties) will be notified as unsuccessful from the process at this stage.

NTL reserves the right to not score any question response that had not been provided in line with the instructions provided in the ITP.

Stage 2:

Suppliers taken through from Stage 1 will be invited to submit their Tender Responses.

Tender Responses will have three (3) distinct elements:

• Technical Quality with a weighting of 60%
• Pricing with a weighting of 30%
• Social Value with a weighting of 10%

NTL will undertake a comprehensive evaluation process to determine the Most Advantageous Tender (MAT).

Tender Responses will initially be checked for compliance, including that all required returnables for the response have been submitted. If NTL does not consider a Tender Response compliant, it reserves the right not to carry out any further evaluation and eliminate the supplier from the procurement.

At any stage following the submission of a Tender Response, NTL reserves the right (but shall not be obliged) to seek clarification of any aspect of a supplier's Tender Response during the evaluation process.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any stage following the submission of a Tender Response, NTL may require Negotiation Meetings in which the supplier may be required to present their Tender Response for the purposes verifying any aspect of that Tender Response. The supplier will be required to make suitable personnel available to NTL in order to resolve NTL's queries. Any clarification discussed at such clarification meetings will be agreed by NTL and the supplier and documented and submitted by the supplier through the message centre on Delta.

Following the response of the ITN, representatives from NTL & TransPennine Trains ('TPT') may visit the supplier's manufacturing site in order to assess the supplier's capability to develop, manufacture and deliver ETCS desktop simulators.

NTL therefore requests that the suppliers make their sites available to visit within the 4 week period following ITN submission.

The specific dates on which these visits can be made will be agreed with the suppliers via Delta portal during or following the ITN stage.

The purpose of any site visits is to assess the supplier's capability to develop, manufacture and deliver ETCS desktop simulators and verify the information that the supplier's provided in ITN Part 3 - Tender Response.

Stage 3 (optional):

Following evaluation of the ITN, a minimum of the top two (2) highest scoring suppliers for each lot may be invited to submit Best and Final Offers ('BAFO's). NTL strongly encourages all suppliers to submit competitive tender submissions. Whilst NTL may request BAFOs, suppliers should not rely on any potential subsequent opportunities for providing improved commercial offers.

Further information on the tender process can be found in CFP ITP Part 1 - Instructions & ITN Part 1 - Instructions.

Requests to participate (first stage)

12 Dec 2025, 15:00 GMT

Appointment period ends

12 Dec 2025, 15:00 GMT

Submission channel

Official e-sourcing portal

Electronic submission

Allowed

Accepted languages

en