Official UK procurement notice
Oxford - Architect Services
Authority: NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED (Central government)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionNetwork Rail is seeking to appoint a suitably qualified and experienced architectural practice to lead the design and planning application for the redevelopment of Oxford Station and its surrounding area. This commission forms a critical part of the Oxford Station Masterplan, which aims to deliver a new vision for the station environment, supporting Oxford’s growth as a national rail hub and global innovation centre.
Scope of Services:
- Masterplanning: Develop and evolve previous scheme proposals to create a new, mixed-use masterplan that maximises value, integrates operational railway requirements, and aligns with Oxford City’s development and regeneration aspirations.
- Design Leadership: Act as lead architect for the masterplan, coordinating with specialist consultants and stakeholders to deliver a comprehensive design solution, including station entrances, public realm, multi-storey car park, cycle hub, offices, life sciences, hotel, and residential elements.
- Planning Application: Prepare and submit a detailed planning application for Phase 1, including all necessary supporting documents, reports, and stakeholder engagement as required by the local planning authority.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate with Oxford City Council, Oxfordshire County Council, Network Rail, train operating companies, and other key stakeholders throughout the design and planning process.
- Sustainability: Embed best practice in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) objectives, targeting high levels of certification (e.g., BREEAM, WELL, NABERS, BNG, embodied carbon).
Key Deliverables:
- A new illustrative masterplan for the Oxford Station area, including phasing and delivery strategy.
- RIBA Stage 2+ design report for the first phase of development.
- Full planning application for Phase 1, including all required technical and supporting documentation.
- Coordination and integration of specialist inputs (e.g., transport, sustainability, heritage, engineering).
- Ongoing design and technical support through the planning determination period.
The contract will be let under the NR26 NEC4 Professional Service Short Contract (PSSC).
The scope of this procurement covers the development of the Oxford Station Masterplan and the delivery of a detailed planning application for Phase 1. Phase 2 services are entirely optional and may not be instructed. Any extension to include Phase 2 will be subject to separate approval and explicit instruction by Network Rail. The estimated total value and contract term stated in this notice is inclusive of both Phase 1 and the optional Phase 2.
Full details of the scope, deliverables, and requirements are provided in the procurement documents within the tender Pack.
- How the procedure runs: This procurement will be conducted using the Competitive Flexible Procedure in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023. The process begins with the publication of the Tender Notice and all associated procurement documents, which is made available via the Find a Tender Service and the Bravo Portal (NR Sourcing Portal). Interested suppliers are required to submit both a Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) and their full tender response in a single stage, by the deadline specified in the procurement timetable. All submissions will first be assessed against the conditions of participation set out in the PSQ. Only those candidates who meet all mandatory requirements and are ranked in the top four based on technical scoring will progress to full tender evaluation. The tenders of these shortlisted candidates will then be evaluated against published technical and commercial criteria, with a weighting of 70% technical and 30% commercial. Moderation and consensus scoring will be applied to ensure fairness and consistency. A clarification window will be provided during the tender period, allowing suppliers to seek clarification on any aspect of the procurement documents. Network Rail may also seek clarifications from bidders during the evaluation process to ensure a full understanding of submissions. Following evaluation, the highest scoring tenderer will be recommended for contract award. A standstill period will be observed prior to contract execution, in line with procurement regulations. The contract will initially cover services for Phase 1, with Network Rail reserving the right to extend the contract to include Phase 2 services, subject to separate approval and instruction. This procedure is designed to ensure transparency, equal treatment, and value for money, while allowing Network Rail to tailor the procurement process to the complexity and urgency of the Oxford Station Masterplan project.
- No preliminary market engagement: A preliminary market engagement notice has not been published for this procurement due to the urgent programme requirements and the need to proceed directly to competition. The scope and requirements have been developed based on prior project work and stakeholder input, ensuring that the procurement is proportionate. As such, a separate preliminary market engagement exercise was not considered necessary for this process.
CPV: Architectural and related services · Architectural design services · Architectural services for buildings · Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services · Architectural, engineering and planning services
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1AwardedRenewalPublished value£1,900,000
- Economic & financial standing
Full details of the legal and financial requirements, including any conditions to be met prior to contract award, are set out in the tender documents.
- Technical & professional ability
Full details of the technical requirements and acceptable forms of evidence are provided in the tender documents.
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 (8)
- Key Personnel & CV's: 10%
- Station Needs Interpretation and Operational Interface Experience: 10%
- Masterplan Deliverability and Design Response: 25%
- Health and Safety Management: 5%
- Collaboration with Specialist Architectural Practices: 5%
- Relevant Project Experience by Building Type: 10%
- Pricing: 30%
- Environmental and Social Sustainability Approach: 5%
Published award criteria (8)
- Key Personnel & CV's: ITT - Technical Envelope
- Station Needs Interpretation and Operational Interface Experience: ITT - Technical Envelope
- Masterplan Deliverability and Design Response: ITT - Technical Envelope
- Health and Safety Management: ITT - Technical Envelope
- Collaboration with Specialist Architectural Practices: ITT - Technical Envelope
- Relevant Project Experience by Building Type: ITT - Technical Envelope
- Environmental and Social Sustainability Approach: ITT - Technical Envelope
- Pricing: ITT - Commerical Envelope
- Economic & financial standing
Full details of the legal and financial requirements, including any conditions to be met prior to contract award, are set out in the tender documents.
- Technical & professional ability
Full details of the technical requirements and acceptable forms of evidence are provided in the tender documents.
- Price carries 30 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 3 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
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
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Utilities
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA, CPTPP)
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 5 Sept 2025, 15:43 BST
- Last source update
- 2 Sept 2026, 15:06 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 28 Oct 2025
- Authority reference
project_43822- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-054388- Latest notice
- Contract details notice (UK7)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-059530Find a Tender
- How it runs
This procurement will be conducted using the Competitive Flexible Procedure in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023. The process begins with the publication of the Tender Notice and all associated procurement documents, which is made available via the Find a Tender Service and the Bravo Portal (NR Sourcing Portal). Interested suppliers are required to submit both a Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) and their full tender response in a single stage, by the deadline specified in the procurement timetable.
All submissions will first be assessed against the conditions of participation set out in the PSQ. Only those candidates who meet all mandatory requirements and are ranked in the top four based on technical scoring will progress to full tender evaluation. The tenders of these shortlisted candidates will then be evaluated against published technical and commercial criteria, with a weighting of 70% technical and 30% commercial. Moderation and consensus scoring will be applied to ensure fairness and consistency.
A clarification window will be provided during the tender period, allowing suppliers to seek clarification on any aspect of the procurement documents. Network Rail may also seek clarifications from bidders during the evaluation process to ensure a full understanding of submissions.
Following evaluation, the highest scoring tenderer will be recommended for contract award. A standstill period will be observed prior to contract execution, in line with procurement regulations. The contract will initially cover services for Phase 1, with Network Rail reserving the right to extend the contract to include Phase 2 services, subject to separate approval and instruction.
This procedure is designed to ensure transparency, equal treatment, and value for money, while allowing Network Rail to tailor the procurement process to the complexity and urgency of the Oxford Station Masterplan project.
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- 10 Oct 2025, 12:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 8 Oct 2025, 12:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Full instructions for accessing the tender documents and submitting a response are provided within the portal.
All respones and submissions must be submitted electronically via the Bravo eSourcing portal at: networkrail.bravosolution.co.uk ↗.
Timeline
5 Sept 2025 → 2 Sept 2026 · 7 dates- Tender notice published5 Sept 2025, 15:43 BST
- Clarification questions by381 days ago8 Oct 2025, 12:00 BST
- Submission deadline379 days ago10 Oct 2025, 12:00 BST
- Award decision expected by360 days ago28 Oct 2025, 23:59 GMT
- Contract starts350 days ago8 Nov 2025
- Assessment summaries sent109 days ago7 Jul 2026, 00:00 BST
- Latest notice published52 days ago2 Sept 2026, 15:06 BST
Notice history
5 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 5 Sept 2025- Tender notice published5 Sept 2025, 15:43 BSTUK4
- Contract award notice published7 Jul 2026, 17:46 BSTUK6
- Status changed to complete7 Jul 2026, 17:46 BST
- Contract signature expected20 Jul 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
- Contract details notice published2 Sept 2026, 15:06 BSTUK7
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawkins Brown Architecture LimitedSME20 Jul 2026 – 19 Jun 2029 · up to 19 Dec 2029Extensions: The Authority reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to extend the contract for a single period of up to six (6) months in accordance with the terms of the contract. · Options: The contract includes an option for the Authority, at its sole discretion, to instruct Phase 2 services as part of the Oxford Station programme. Progression to Phase 2 is subject to the Authority's governance approvals, funding approvals and business requirements. The underlying scope and objectives of the services remain broadly consistent with those procured, with any subsequent changes to scope, phasing, sequencing or progression managed in accordance with the contract provisions | £2,150,000 | 7 Jul 2026 | Awarded |
Contracts
Contract 1 · Hawkins Brown Architecture LimitedSME
- Signed
- 27 Aug 2026
- Value
- £2,150,000
- Period
- 27 Aug 2026 – 27 Aug 2029 · up to 26 Feb 2030 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- The Authority reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to extend the contract for a single period of up to six (6) months in accordance with the terms of the contract.
- Options
- The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid. The contract includes an option for the Authority, at its sole discretion, to instruct Phase 2 services as part of the Oxford Station programme. Progression to Phase 2 is subject to the Authority's governance approvals, funding approvals and business requirements. The underlying scope and objectives of the services remain broadly consistent with those procured, with any subsequent changes to scope, phasing, sequencing or progression managed in accordance with the contract provisions
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4final-stage tenders · 15 at stage one | 3 | 0 | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- Hawkins Brown Architecture LimitedAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (3)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender