Official UK procurement notice
Independent Assessor Framework · UK public procurement notice
Authority: Transport for Wales·Consortium: 2 public authorities
What is being bought3 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionTfW is seeking to establish a Framework Agreement to cover Independent Assessor services.
The proposed framework will provide specialist independent assessment and assurance services to verify compliance with railway safety, interoperability and regulatory requirements.
The framework will be divided into three lots:
Lot 1 – Assessment Body (AsBo): Independent assessment against Common Safety Method (CSM-REA) requirements.
Lot 2 – AsBo / Approval Body (ApBo) / Designated Body (DeBo): Safety and interoperability assessment services against National Technical Specification Notices (NTSNs) and National Technical Rules (NTRs).
Lot 3 – Independent Competent Person (ICP): Independent verification of compliance with ROGS requirements.
The framework will support assurance activities across TfW rail infrastructure projects throughout the project lifecycle.
Further information can be found in the Tender Documents published on the Atamis procurement portal.
- The authority expects to re-tender this requirement around 30 Jan 2030, 23:59 GMT.
- No preliminary market engagement: Limited supply market
CPV: Certification services · Civil engineering consultancy services · Construction consultancy services · Safety consultancy services · Systems consultancy services
How this framework works
From the published notice- Type
- Closed framework
- Call-offs
- call-offs may be awarded directly or by further competition
- Framework period
- 4 yrs from 2 Nov 2026
Published description of the framework
Full details can be found in ITT Volume 2
Lots and requirements (3)Procurement structure
3 lots · all with a published value · same evaluation weights on every lotEvery one of these 2 lots carries the same published figure, £1,666,667: it is the framework's maximum for the whole notice, not each lot's own budget, and no share per lot is published. The cards below say ceiling above rather than repeat it.
Lot #1Assessment Body (AsBo)ceiling above
Provides independent verification of compliance with the Common Safety Method for Risk Evaluation and Assessment (CSM-REA).
Key activities:
- Produce an Independent Assessment Plan at Preliminary Design (Stage C).
- Review and assess:
o Safety Plans
o System Definitions
o Hazard Records
o Safety Justification Reports
- Issue:
o Progressive Assessment Records at Stages C and E.
o Safety Assessment Records at Stage F (Construction, Commissioning and Handover).
Lot #2AsBo, Approval Body (ApBo) and Designated Body (DeBo)ceiling above
Provides:
- AsBo services for CSM-REA compliance.
- ApBo services for interoperability compliance against applicable National Technical Specification Notices (NTSNs).
- DeBo services for interoperability compliance against National Technical Rules (NTRs).
Key activities:
- Produce an Independent Assessment Plan at Stage C.
- Review safety documentation (System Safety & Authorisation Plans, System Definition, Hazard Record, Safety Justification Report).
- Assess NTSN compliance and supporting evidence.
- Issue:
o Progressive Assessment Records (Stages C and E).
o Design Intermediate Statement of Verification (ISV-D) at Detailed Design (Stage E).
o Production Intermediate Statement of Verification (ISV-P) at Construction/Commissioning (Stage F).
o Safety Assessment Records at Stage F.
o A final Technical File.
Lot #3Independent Competent Person (ICP)Published value£791,667
Provides independent verification of compliance with the Railways and Other Guided Transport Systems (Safety) Regulations (ROGS).
Key activities:
- Produce an Independent Assessment Plan at Stage C.
- Review the Duty Holder's:
o Safety Management System (SMS)
o System Safety & Authorisation Plan
o System Definition
o Hazard Record
o Safety Justification Report
- Issue:
o ICP Duty Holder SMS Report at Stage C.
o ICP Preliminary Design Review Reports at Stage C.
o ICP Design Review Reports at Stage E.
o ICP Pre-Commissioning Review Reports at Stage F
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 award criteria (3)
- Price: Hourly/Daily Rates
- Quality : Full details in tender pack
- Social Value
- Price carries 30 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 3 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
- “Independent Assessor Framework” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, not a single contract: call-offs may be direct or by further competition.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Open procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Closed
- 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
- Yes · next expected 30 Jan 2030
- First published
- 31 Jul 2026, 13:53 BST
- Last source update
- 31 Jul 2026, 13:53 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 12 Oct 2026
- Authority reference
C001284.00- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-072731- Latest notice
- Tender notice (UK4)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06d8dfFind a Tender
How it was run
Official notice- Appointment period ends
- 4 Sept 2026, 12:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 26 Aug 2026, 12:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en, cy
Via the TfW Atamis Procurement Portal tfw.my.site.com/s/Welcome ↗ using code: C0216.Once you have registered, you will find the home screen with various access links. To view and register onto any Transport for Wales tender opportunities, click on the ‘Find Opportunities’ section on the home page. Once you have registered for the tenders you are interested in, return to the home page where you’ll find the ‘My Proposals and Quotes’ button
Timeline
31 Jul 2026 → 2 Nov 2026 · 5 dates- Tender notice published82 days ago31 Jul 2026, 13:53 BST
- Clarification questions by56 days ago26 Aug 2026, 12:00 BST
- Admission / appointment period ends47 days ago · period end, not a bid countdown4 Sept 2026, 12:00 BST
- Award decision expected by8 days ago12 Oct 2026, 23:59 BST
- Today21 Oct 2026
- Contract startsin 12 days2 Nov 2026
Notice history
1 event · 1 release on Find a Tender- Tender notice published31 Jul 2026, 13:53 BSTUK4
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
2 public bodies on the noticeConsortium members and other public bodies
- Transport for Wales Rail LtdContracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central governmentWelsh devolved regulations apply
Official documents & specifications (1)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender