Official UK procurement notice
Market Research Services · UK public procurement notice
Authority: NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED (Central government)
What is being bought2 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionNetwork Rail procures B2C/B2B/CX research services & commercial/consumer market intelligence to support internal and external communications, marketing & engagement activities. This is currently done via a multi-lot framework with multiple suppliers per lot to facilitate both short- and long- term projects with call off mechanisms varying subject to value. NR is undertaking market engagement via a questionnaire to help understand how to potentially retender these services. Any eventual procurement will be undertaken in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023.
This Tender notice is linked to preliminary market engagement notice reference: ocds- h6vhtk - 060cc9
- The authority expects to re-tender this requirement around 2 Feb 2035, 23:59 GMT.
- How the procedure runs: This procurement is for 2 separate lots for assorted Research & Insight services. Suppliers may bid for one or both Lots and may be awarded one or both Lots. There are 3 slots for awardees on each lot. This is a framework to establish a mechanism for future call-offs in each respective lot. Stage 1) This is a qualification stage (PSQ) open publicly. This has 3 PSQ events. 1 PSQ for common requirements to both lots 1 & 2, and then two separate PSQ events with Lot specific requirements. Participants will be shortlisted at this stage and following assessment, 6 participants will be shortlisted for each Lot. Participants will be issued feedback letters as per Procurement Act 2023 requirements before the next stage commences. Stage 2) Shortlisted Participants will be invited to Tender at the ITT stage. The ITT stage has 5 events. An ITT for common requirements for both lots and then two lot specific ITTs for the technical submissions and 2 separate events for the commercial submissions. Each lot will have a shortlist of 6 participants invited to tender for it. The 6 Tenderers per lot will be assessed and the highest scoring 3 (based on MAT, the Most Advantageous Tenders) per lot will receive a position on each lot under the framework as outlined in the Instructions to Participants document found in Bravo. Certain tender-stage documentation is provided in draft form at the qualifcation (PSQ) stage of the procurement and may be refined prior to invitation to tender. Further details are set out in the Instructions to Participants document found in Bravo.
CPV: Market research services
How this framework works
From the published notice- Type
- Open framework
- Call-offs
- call-offs may be awarded directly or by further competition
- Places
- up to 6 suppliers
- Framework period
- 9 yrs from 5 Feb 2027, N/A - Framework is 8 years
- Buyer regions
- UK
- Supplier levy on call-offs (max %)
- N/A No fees
Who may buy through it
This framework will be available to Network Rail, Great British Railways, Department For Transport Operator Limited (DFTO), and their subsidiaries, successor organisations and affiliates.
Published description of the framework
Contract Orders shall be awarded through 3 methods as defined below for Lot 1
- Competitive Selection Process for requirements above £250,000
- Requests for Quotations (RfQs) for requirements over £100,000 up to £250,000
- Direct award for requirements up to £100,000
Contract Orders shall be awarded through 3 methods as defined below for Lot 2:
- Competitive Selection Process for requirements above £250,000
- Requests for Quotations (RfQs) for requirements over £60,000 up to £250,000
- Direct award for requirements up to £60,000
Values above are exclusive of VAT.
Pricing tendered acts as Not-to-Exceed rates for methods 1 and 2 (Competitive Selection Process & RfQs). Participants may bid lower than Not-to-Exceed rates in methods 1 and 2 in each lot, but may not bid higher. Day rates per resource/personnel type are tendered. For call off method 3 in both lots, direct awards use the Not-to-Exceed rates but once spend thresholds per financial year with each supplier are reached, discount threshoolds set in (which are tendered and scored parts of the Commercial crtieria at the ITT stage).
Competition detail for Competitive Selection Process and RfQs is detailed in the Procurement Documentation published in Bravo alongside the PSQ.
Pricing is subject to CPI adjustement on an annual basis starting in 2028. Details of the mechanism are outlined in the Procurement Documentation published in Bravo.
Lots and requirements (2)Procurement structure
2 lots · all with a published value · same evaluation weights on every lotLot #1CommunicationsPublished value£28,811,228
Suppliers on Lot 1 must be able to research a wide range of audiences, including:
- Passengers and the general public
- Employees
- Businesses and industry stakeholders (B2B)
- Politicians and journalists
Suppliers must be able to deliver both qualitative and quantitative research, including:
- Passenger satisfaction and experience tracking (e.g. stations, journeys, services)
- Customer and stakeholder insight (B2C, B2B and CX research)
- Employee engagement research
- Communications development and evaluation (testing messages, campaigns and materials)
- Brand and reputation research
- Mystery shopping and on site research
- Behaviour change and behavioural insight studies
- Segmentation and profiling
- Public health, safety and policy related research
- Policy evaluation services
- Technology Insights
- Economic & financial standing
Must meet financial health check score of 35 when responding to quesiton 1.4.3 in the qualifcation envelope of pqq_3909 - Market Research Framework PSQ 1 - MANDATORY COMMON REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL LOTS
Metholdogy and required submission is detailed in PSQ in the qualficaiton envelope.
- Technical & professional ability
Market Research Society - Company Partner Accrediation (or equivalent)
ISO27001 covering the scope of busines acitvites used to fulfil obligations under the framework
- Condition of participationshortlisting
Technical 70%
Commercial 30%
For detailed question breakdowns please see the published ITP (Instructions to Participants) document in the Procurement Documentation published alongside the PSQ events in Bravo.
Lot #2Commercial Property & RetailPublished value£8,578,194
Suppliers on Lot 2 must be able to research a range of audiences, including:
- Passengers and the general public
- Businesses and industry stakeholders (B2B)
- Stakeholders in the wider rail and transport industries such as TOCs (Train Operating Companies), Department for Transport Operator (DfTO) and their stakeholders
Suppliers must be able to deliver both qualitative and quantitative research, including:
- Trends and insight into retail buying behaviours of passengers and consumers
o General retail consumer buying behaviours (national and global)
o Travel retail consumer buying behaviours (national and global)
o Customer experience – experiential activity
- Customer profiling and segmentation
- Thought leadership in the retail and commercial sphere
- Turning information into actionable insights for daily decision-making and strategic planning
- Economic & financial standing
Must meet financial health check score of 35 when responding to quesiton 1.4.3 in the qualifcation envelope of pqq_3909 - Market Research Framework PSQ 1 - MANDATORY COMMON REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL LOTS
Metholdogy and required submission is detailed in PSQ in the qualficaiton envelope.
- Technical & professional ability
Market Research Society - Company Partner Accrediation (or equivalent)
ISO27001 covering the scope of business acitvites used to fulfil obligations under the framework
- Condition of participationshortlisting
Technical 70%
Commercial 30%
For detailed question breakdowns please see the published ITP (Instructions to Participants) document in the Procurement Documentation published alongside the PSQ events in Bravo.
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 (2)
- Technical Envelope - Quality Criteria: 70%
- Commercial Envelope - Price Criteria: 30%
Published award criteria (2)
- Technical Envelope - Quality Criteria: For detailed question breakdowns please see the published ITP (Instructions to Participants) document in the Procurement Documentation published alongside the PSQ events in Bravo.
- Commercial Envelope - Price Criteria: For detailed question breakdowns please see the published ITP (Instructions to Participants) document in the Procurement Documentation published alongside the PSQ events in Bravo.
- Price carries 30 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 3 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
- “Market Research Services” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, up to 6 suppliers, 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
- 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
- Utilities
- Commercial structure
- Framework agreement
- Who may use this agreement
- This framework will be available to Network Rail, Great British Railways, Department For Transport Operator Limited (DFTO), and their subsidiaries, successor organisations and affiliates.
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA, CPTPP)
- Recurring procurement
- Yes · next expected 2 Feb 2035
- First published
- 22 Jun 2026, 11:21 BST
- Last source update
- 22 Jun 2026, 11:21 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 18 Jan 2027
- Authority reference
project_45336- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-058401- Latest notice
- Tender notice (UK4)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06b9dfFind a Tender- Contract terms summary
28 days
- How it runs
This procurement is for 2 separate lots for assorted Research & Insight services. Suppliers may bid for one or both Lots and may be awarded one or both Lots. There are 3 slots for awardees on each lot. This is a framework to establish a mechanism for future call-offs in each respective lot.
Stage 1) This is a qualification stage (PSQ) open publicly. This has 3 PSQ events. 1 PSQ for common requirements to both lots 1 & 2, and then two separate PSQ events with Lot specific requirements. Participants will be shortlisted at this stage and following assessment, 6 participants will be shortlisted for each Lot. Participants will be issued feedback letters as per Procurement Act 2023 requirements before the next stage commences.
Stage 2) Shortlisted Participants will be invited to Tender at the ITT stage. The ITT stage has 5 events. An ITT for common requirements for both lots and then two lot specific ITTs for the technical submissions and 2 separate events for the commercial submissions. Each lot will have a shortlist of 6 participants invited to tender for it. The 6 Tenderers per lot will be assessed and the highest scoring 3 (based on MAT, the Most Advantageous Tenders) per lot will receive a position on each lot under the framework as outlined in the Instructions to Participants document found in Bravo.
Certain tender-stage documentation is provided in draft form at the qualifcation (PSQ) stage of the procurement and may be refined prior to invitation to tender. Further details are set out in the Instructions to Participants document found in Bravo.
- Risks
The transition to Great British Railways could alter the scope of services required rendering the Agreement no longer be suitable. The full scope of potential changes/risks to this reform could bring are not yet fully known. Scope elements affected/requiring change may include but not be limited to:
- Greater geographic scope
- Changes to locations services may be required at, for example more managed stations or public facilities
- Changes to services/research types required so long as they support the Buyer in its research needs to support Communications, Commercial Property and Retail activities
- Additional/amended safety or performance provisions due to any of the above changes including KPIs
- Changes to Data Protection requirements and the processing of personal data
- Changes how Contract Orders may be raised and call-off mechanisms
- Other changes to permit or support the transition to Great British Railways
Where possible such changes will be managed via Variations with the Supplier(s) as per Clause 28 of the terms and conditions. Where this cannot be done, Network Rail/the buyer reserves the right to terminate the framework and/or exercise break clauses.
How it was run
Official notice- Requests to participate (first stage)
- 20 Jul 2026, 12:00 BST
- Appointment period ends
- 20 Jul 2026, 12:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 13 Jul 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 No fees
Tenders must be submitted by Bravo electronically. Suppliers can register here for the platform: networkrail.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html ↗
The opportunity listing where the procurement event can be accessed can be found here: networkrail.bravosolution.co.uk/esop/guest/go/opport… ↗
This link provides access to the PSQ events wherein all documentation required is attached for Participants to view and access.
Participants must complete the PSQ below regardless of what lot(s) they intend to participate in:
PSQ pqq_3909 Market Research Framework PSQ 1 - MANDATORY COMMON REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL LOTS
Participants will then complete one or both of the below PSQs subject to if they want to participate in Lot 1, Lot 2 or both:
PSQ pqq_3910 Market Research Framework PSQ 2 - Lot 1 Requirements
PSQ pqq_3911 Market Research Framework PSQ 3 - Lot 2 Requirements
The shortlisted Participants invited to Tender must then complete the below ITT regardless of which lot they wish to tender for:
ITT itt_19471 Market Research Framework ITT 1 - MANDATORY COMMON REQUIREMENTS ALL LOTS
Shortlisted Participants will then be invited to the relevant ITTs per lot they declared themselves as bidding for in the PSQ stages:
ITT itt_19476 Market Research Framework ITT 2 - Lot 1 Requirements
ITT itt_19475 Market Research Framework ITT 3 - Lot 2 Requirements
ITT itt_19535 - Market Research Framework ITT4 Lot 1 Commercial Submission: Contains the commercial submission for Lot 1.
ITT itt_19536 - Market Research Framework ITT5 Lot 2 Commercial Submission: Contains the commercial submission for Lot 2.
Failure to complete the common requirements PSQ and/or ITT alongside your lot specific submissions will result in an incomplete bid and Network Rail may not be able to assess them. Failure to do so will result in an incomplete submission and Network Rail may be unable to consider your response(s) and this could lead to exclusion.
The deadline for PSQ submissions is 12:00 20/07/2026 with clarifications relating to the PSQ stage closing on 13/07/2026 at 17:00.
Clarifications for the Tender stage will be confirmed later in the process but provisionally tender submissions for shortlisted participants will be required by 30/09/2026 at 17:00 with clarifications relating to the ITT stage closing by 23/09/2026 at 17:00.
Timeline
22 Jun 2026 → 5 Feb 2027 · 5 dates- Tender notice published120 days ago22 Jun 2026, 11:21 BST
- Clarification questions by99 days ago13 Jul 2026, 17:00 BST
- Admission / appointment period ends92 days ago · period end, not a bid countdown20 Jul 2026, 12:00 BST
- Today20 Oct 2026
- Award decision expected byin 91 days18 Jan 2027, 23:59 GMT
- Contract startsin 108 days5 Feb 2027
Notice history
1 event · 1 release on Find a Tender- Tender notice published22 Jun 2026, 11:21 BSTUK4
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (2)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Bidding documents and specificationsAccess: All documents for both the selection (PSQ) and award (ITT) phases will be published with the PSQ events in a combined manner (stage 1 of the process as detailed in the 'Procedure' section of this notice). Where procurement documents have updates, they will be published in the relevant PSQ or ITT to which they relate of which there are 8 as outlined below and this will be communciated to all Participants. Certain tender-stage documentation is provided in draft form at the qualifcation (PSQ) stage of the procurement and may be refined prior to invitation to tender. Further details are set out in the Instructions to Participants document found in Bravo. Stage 1 PSQ pqq_3909 Market Research Framework PSQ 1 - MANDATORY COMMON REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL LOTS PSQ pqq_3910 Market Research Framework PSQ 2 - Lot 1 Requirements PSQ pqq_3911 Market Research Framework PSQ 3 - Lot 2 Requirements Stage 2 ITT itt_19471 Market Research Framework ITT 1 - MANDATORY COMMON REQUIREMENTS ALL LOTS ITT itt_19476 Market Research Framework ITT 2 - Lot 1 Requirements ITT itt_19475 Market Research Framework ITT 3 - Lot 2 Requirements ITT itt_19535 - Market Research Framework ITT4 Lot 1 Commercial Submission ITT itt_19536 - Market Research Framework ITT5 Lot 2 Commercial Submission
Notices published for this procedure
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender