Official UK procurement notice
IPDR - Turbostar - Onboard ETCS Fleet Fitment Framework
Authority: NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED (Central government)·Consortium: 2 public authorities
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionNetwork Rail is introducing digital signalling, which will see traditional lineside signals removed and replaced with European Train Control Systems (ETCS) in-cab technology on GB rolling stock. The implementation will enable continuous, real-time information to the train driver’s cab, enabling more responsive, reliable, and safer train operations. ETCS enables trains to run closer together, safely and to travel at their optimal speeds.
To implement ETCS, it requires changes to signalling infrastructure. For passengers, this means fewer delays, increased capacity, and a more resilient service. For operators, it offers reduced costs, streamlined renewals, and a modernised approach to managing the network.
Network Rail intends to procure a national, long-term single supplier framework for the onboard fitment of digital signalling system equipment, European Train Control Systems (ETCS), and associated works on to Turbostar passenger trains.
- How the procedure runs: Competitive flexible procedure with conditions of procedures (PSQ) and negotiations with preferred supplier
CPV: Installation of signalling equipment · Parts of locomotives or rolling stock · Parts of railway or tramway locomotives or rolling stock; railways traffic-control equipment · Railway and tramway locomotives and rolling stock and associated parts · Railway signalling works · Railways traffic-control equipment · Rolling stock
How this framework works
From the published notice- Type
- Open framework
- Call-offs
- call-offs are awarded directly to appointed suppliers, without further competition
- Places
- up to 1 suppliers
- Framework period
15 yrs from 10 Feb 2028, The 15 year framework term exceeds the standard 8-year maximum term under the Procurement Act 23. The Authority considers a longer duration necessary due to the significant invetsment required for completion of FiC designs, APIS approval, fleet fitment and early lifesupport activities across the identified vehicle classes, whilst providing suppliers with the certainty required to invest in resources , tooling, training and supply chains.
The framework term needs to be alligned with accommodate uncertainty around future infrastructure delivery schemes allowing time for the full fleet fitments being delivered to facilitate the infrastructure schemes .
In addition, the financial investment and timescales needed for th eAPIS processes to achieve teh FiC type design and the level of tie in with a single suppliers OEM design would make it significantly more expensive to have to change supplier mid-delivery of the series fitment
- Buyer regions
- UK
- Supplier levy on call-offs (max %)
- N/A
Who may buy through it
This framework will be available to Newtwork Rail, Great British Railways, DFT Operator Limited (DFTO), their subsidiaries & affiliated bodies, successor organisations and by train operators and rolling stock leasing companies operating in Great Britain
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1PlannedPublished value£165,772,356
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).
- “IPDR - Turbostar - Onboard ETCS Fleet Fitment Framework” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, up to 1 suppliers, not a single contract, and call-offs are awarded directly: getting appointed is the whole game.
Pipeline intelligence · planning stage: how this market runs before the tender is published
How NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED buys Parts of railway or tramway locomotives or rolling stock; railways traffic-control equipment (CPV 3463), 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: Parts of railway or tramway locomotives or rolling stock; railways traffic-control equipment (CPV 3463) →
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.
Here, local means the winner is registered in the region where that contract was delivered.
A local branch does not count if the registered address is elsewhere.
Most of this buyer’s recorded winners are registered outside Greater London.
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 250 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.
Both shares are minimums: some awards have no bid count.
Thin markets produce this too; it is not proof of a tailored specification.
Direct awards or one recorded bid are common here. Check the route before spending time on a bid.
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% / 15%
2–334% / 26%
4–648% / 22%
7+10% / 38%
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 #1Published estimate£166m
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 384 past lots.
A forecast, not a list of bidders.
1 bid15%
2–326%
4–622%
7+38%
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.
No earlier contract of this buyer matches this lot on the published record.
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.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Competitive flexible procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Works
- Notice status
- Planned procurement
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Utilities
- Commercial structure
- Framework agreement
- Who may use this agreement
- This framework will be available to Newtwork Rail, Great British Railways, DFT Operator Limited (DFTO), their subsidiaries & affiliated bodies, successor organisations and by train operators and rolling stock leasing companies operating in Great Britain
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA, CPTPP)
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 27 Mar 2026, 17:03 GMT
- Last source update
- 15 Sept 2026, 07:52 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 27 Jan 2028
- Authority reference
43028- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-087088- Latest notice
- Planned procurement notice (UK3)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06771dFind a Tender
- How it runs
Competitive flexible procedure with conditions of procedures (PSQ) and negotiations with preferred supplier
How it was run
Official notice- Requests to participate (first stage)
- 30 Oct 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Appointment period ends
- 30 Oct 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Clarification deadline
- 22 Oct 2026, 17:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
- Supplier levy on call-offs (max %)
- call-off levy · N/A
Following publication of the Tender Notice and Bidder Pack (ITT) on the 23 October 2026 NR intends to hold a virtual online ITT Launch Event on the 2 November 2026 for registered parties to brief potential suppliers on tender requirements in relation to the procurement of the Turbostar - Onboard ETCS Fleet Fitment Contract, via Microsoft Teams (one week after publications of the Tender Notice)
To register your interest in attending the ITT Launch Event, please contact the dedicated Senior Procurement Manager Mr Peter Dunlop on [email protected] with the subject line “Turbostar ITT Launch Event registration”. In your registration, please ensure to provide the following information:
- Company name (Legal Entity):
- Name of Nominated Individual:
- Email Address of Nominated Individual
- Phone Number
- Email Address for Launch Event if different to Nominated Individual
Timeline
27 Mar 2026 → 10 Feb 2028 · 8 dates- Planning notice published207 days ago27 Mar 2026, 17:03 GMT
- Market engagement161 days ago12 May 2026, 23:59 BST
Network Rail intends to procure a national, long-term contract for the onboard fitment of digital signalling system equipment, European Train Control Systems (ETCS), and associated works on to IPDR Turbostar passenger trains.
The IPDR Turbostar fleet has been identified as the next priority procurement due to the required delivery dates to achieve fitment completion and driver training before the anticipated ‘signals away’ date for the Grantham Scheme on the East Coast Main Line (ECML).
The Turbostar fleet are diesel multiple units (DMUs) built by Adtranz and later Bombardier (now Alstom) in Derby between 1997 and 2011. The family consists of 206 units of Class 168, Class 170, Class 171, Class 172, of which 172 are planned to be fitted owned by Porterbrook (145), Beacon Rail Leasing (12) and Angel Trains (12). The fleet to be fitted is operated across 6 Train Operating Companies (TOCs).
As such there is a significant opportunity to implement a consolidated sourcing strategy which will drive value, economies of scale and consistency into the procurement and delivery of the works over this proposed fifteen 15 year contract period.
Network Rail is planning to conduct a Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) to develop the procurement approach and provide the market with the opportunity to input.
Responding to the notice is an excellent opportunity to engage with the programme, share relevant information and provide vital feedback to inform the procurement approach. Should your organisation wish to respond to this notice please follow the instructions below.
- Supplier Engagement Event
NR intends to hold a virtual online supplier engagement session for registered parties in relation to the procurement of the IPDR - Turbostar - Onboard ETCS Fleet Fitment Contract on the 28 April 2026, via Microsoft Teams.
NR encourages your organisation to attend this event and hear about this very exciting opportunity and the start of changing the GB Rail Industry for the future of ETCS.
This event will have a greater level of detailed information provided on our proposed approaches, and we encourage attendance therefore to help shape the requirements and contracting strategy. Our team will be on hand to take away any questions which will answered by publishing the Q&A in the BRAVO sourcing portal after the event. All supply chains are encouraged to attend (large or small) to understand how your organisation can become engaged and involved.
To register for the event please follow the instructions below:
- Follow the link
networkrail.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html ↗
- From the welcome screen, access the "View Current Opportunities" link and select “IPDR - Turbostar - Onboard ETCS Fleet Fitment Contract” (Login is not required).
- Then follow the instructions in the "Responding to the Preliminary Market Engagement Notice" section of the attached document titled “IPDR - Turbostar - Onboard ETCS Fleet Fitment Contract Supplier Briefing Document” in the Opportunity Attachments section in BRAVO.
Should you have any difficulties in registering for the event or have any clarifications or questions in respect of this market engagement they should be directed to:
- Market Sounding Questionnaire
In conjunction with the publication of this PME Notice and the supplier briefing document, NR has published a Market Sounding Questionnaire (MSQ) in the Opportunity Attachments section in BRAVO which invites all participants to provide feedback on key areas to help shape the requirements and contracting strategy for the IPDR - Turbostar - Onboard ETCS Fleet Fitment Contract.
- Supplier Clarification Question (CQ) process
NR shall run a full clarification question process throughout this whole market engagement process via the NR BRAVO sourcing portal messaging function. Where no Unique Selling Points (USP’s) or Intellectual Property Rights are disclosed then in these cases our responses and the original question will be shared with all potential participants via BRAVO.
NR therefore request that should anything be considered a USP and IPR to your organisation that this is marked (CONFIDENTIAL & COMMERCIALLY SENSITIVE) on the clarification or email at the very top of the clarification or email, so that NR can consider ensuring protection of the same.
- Latest notice published36 days ago15 Sept 2026, 07:52 BST
- Today21 Oct 2026
- Clarification questions byin 2 days22 Oct 2026, 17:00 BST
- Tender notice expectedin 3 days23 Oct 2026, 23:59 BST
- Admission / appointment period endsin 10 days · period end, not a bid countdown30 Oct 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Award decision expected by27 Jan 2028, 23:59 GMT
- Contract starts10 Feb 2028
Notice history
6 events · 4 releases on Find a Tender · since 27 Mar 2026- Pipeline notice published27 Mar 2026, 17:03 GMTUK1
- Preliminary market engagement notice published31 Mar 2026, 17:11 BSTUK2
- Planned procurement notice published7 Aug 2026, 11:46 BSTUK3
- Published value updated to £165,772,3567 Aug 2026, 11:46 BSTwas £234,000,000
- Procurement method changed7 Aug 2026, 11:46 BST
- Planned procurement notice published15 Sept 2026, 07:52 BSTUK3
Routine re-releases (4)
- 2026-03: 1 release · 27 Mar 2026
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
2 public bodies on the noticeConsortium members and other public bodies
- NETWORK RAIL (HIGH SPEED) LIMITEDContracting authorityPublic authority - central government
Official documents & specifications (4)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Planned procurement notice Planned procurement notice on Find a Tender
- Planned procurement notice Planned procurement notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- Pipeline notice Pipeline notice on Find a Tender