Official UK procurement notice
Provision of 24/7 Chairs and Associated Services
Authority: NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED (Central government)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionFramework for the supply, delivery, installation, maintenance, repair and associated support services relating to 24/7 Chairs. Full Specification available as at Document 2 (Scope and Specification).
This Framework will supply 24/7 Chairs, to primarily Signallers, Electrical and Route Controllers (the ‘Users’), who have roles where a large proportion of their working day (12-hour shifts) is interacting with Visual Display Units (VDU) equipment from a seated posture. It is important to ensure that the correct seating is provided to Users from a health and safety, durability and comfort perspective to prevent user injury or discomfort.
Network Rail intends to appoint a single national supplier to provide an end-to-end solution for:
- Supply of 24/7 rated ergonomic chairs via a managed core catalogue
- National delivery across England, Wales and Scotland
- Installation and assembly (free of charge on larger orders)
- Asset management including: Annual Maintenance, Repair under supplier warranty and beyond.
- Removal and responsible reuse or recycling of redundant chairs
- Catalogue access via Network Rail Oracle iProcurement
- Ongoing account management, reporting and continuous improvement. Shape
Chair Range:
- Suppliers will be expected to offer a limited core (max 4) and standardised range, including:
- Core 24/7 chair (s) meeting all mandatory requirements
- An enhanced chair exceeding mandatory requirements
- A chair suitable for users with musculoskeletal disorders (MSD)
- Where appropriate, a single chair model may satisfy more than one category and if appropriate two chairs or variants may be offered for the core 24/7 chair.
- A bariatric chair where all elements accommodate weight and size (anticipated to be non-core and low volume) will need to be offered.
Technical & Ergonomic Requirements:
- Chairs must be suitable for continuous 24h our use and comply with relevant standards, including BS 54592 (or ISO equivalent) and have FIRA FS 055 certification or demonstrated equivalence.
Key requirements include:
- Accommodate users from 5th percentile female to 95th percentile male for stature, weight, shoulder width and seated leg length and height. Bariatric users where possible should be accommodated in the Core selection.
- High durability, intuitive controls and ease of adjustment
- Minimum 5 year 24/7 manufacturer or supplier warranty
- Samples to be made available for product trials as part of evaluation
- Sustainability & Ethical Sourcing
Suppliers will be expected to demonstrate:
- Ethical sourcing and Modern Slavery Act compliance
- Traceability and auditability of manufacturing sources
- Environmental management systems (e.g. ISO 14001 or equivalent)
- Strong circular economy practices (reuse, refurbishment, recycling, zero landfill)
Contract Model :
- Anticipated start: June 2027
- Initial term: 5 years, with optional extensions
- Form: NR1 (MT) Goods and Non Construction Services Framework
- Calloffs via NR01(S) Purchase Orders
- Fixed pricing for an initial period, with controlled indexation thereafter
- The core catalogue is expected to meet approximately 95% of demand, with limited non-catalogue provision by exception.
- The authority expects to re-tender this requirement around 30 Jul 2031, 23:59 BST.
- How the procedure runs: Competitive flexible procedure design: This procurement is seeking to award a Framework Agreement to a single Supplier for the supply, delivery, installation, maintenance, repair and associated support services relating to 24/7 Chairs in accordance with the Specification which forms part of the procurement documentation. Network Rail will carry out a two-stage tender process (which includes PSQ questions) as follows: Stage 1 – Initial Tender Stage: Participants must submit their PSQ response and initial tender by the deadline stated in the Procurement Timetable. Network Rail will assess PSQ responses first. The three highest-scoring Participants will proceed to initial tender evaluation, provided they: (i) satisfy the Conditions of Participation; (ii) achieve a Pass in all Pass/Fail questions; (iii) achieve a minimum score of 60% in each scored PSQ question; and (iv) demonstrate, through the Specification Compliance Matrix (Document 3) and supporting evidence, that the proposed products for Chairs A to D, as a minimum, fully comply with and achieve a Pass against all Mandatory Requirements. Network Rail will then evaluate compliant initial tenders and invite the three highest-scoring Participants to deliver Product Samples in accordance with the instructions contained within Document 1 (Instructions to Participants). 1. Technical Evaluation (35%) This section comprises five scored questions and is weighted at 35% of the overall evaluation score. Participants must achieve a minimum score of 60% across the five scored questions combined, which equates to a minimum weighted score of 21.0%. Failure to achieve this threshold may result in the Participant being excluded from further participation in the procurement. 2. Product Trial (35%) The Product Trial is weighted at 35% of the overall evaluation score and comprises: • User Trial (50% of the Product Trial score); and • Technical Assessment (50% of the Product Trial score). A minimum threshold of 60% applies separately to both elements. Accordingly: • User Trial: minimum score of 60%, equating to a minimum weighted score of 10.5%; and • Technical Assessment: minimum score of 60%, equating to a minimum weighted score of 10.5%. Failure to achieve either threshold may result in the Participant being excluded from further participation in the procurement, irrespective of their overall Product Trial score. 3. Commercial Evaluation (30%). The initial commercial evaluation shall be undertaken and reviewed for compliance. The outcome of the initial commercial evaluation will inform any clarifications or feedback in accordance with these Instructions to Participants. Stage 2 – Best and Final Offer (BAFO Stage): Participants that meet all applicable minimum thresholds at the Initial Tender Stage may be invited to submit a Best and Final Offer (BAFO) by the deadline specified in the Procurement Timetable. BAFO submissions will be evaluated in accordance with the information contained within Document 1 (Instructions to Participants) to identify the Most Advantageous Tender.
CPV: Chairs · Furniture · Seats, chairs and related products, and associated parts
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
- 5 yrs · up to 8 yrs from 1 Jun 2027, Not Applicable
- Supplier levy on call-offs (max %)
- Not Applicable
Who may buy through it
The framework will be available for use by Network Rail, Great British Railways, Department For Transport Operator Limited (DFTO), and their subsidiaries, successor organisations and affiliates.
Published description of the framework
Single supplier framework, unit prices and products shall be agreed as part of the Competitive Flexible Procedure.
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1RenewalPublished value£4,600,000
- Economic & financial standing
Participants must have the legal capacity and authority to enter into and perform the Contract. NR may require evidence of legal status, registration, authority of signatories, consortium or group structure, and any legally binding arrangements with relied-upon entities before contract award.
- Technical & professional ability
Past Experience in 24/7 Operational Environments
Past Experience Supporting Continuous-Use Ergonomic Seating Requirements
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 (3)
- Technical Evaluation: 35%
- Product Trial: 35%
- Commercial: 30%
Published award criteria (3)
- Technical Evaluation: Technical Evaluation Criteria: Service Delivery, User Support, Mobilisation and Safety Asset Management, High-Volume Site Support, Warranty, Repairs and Whole-Life Value Catalogue Management, Account Management, Value for Money and Continuous Improvement Sustainability, Circular Economy, Modern Slavery, Ethical Sourcing and Social Value Product Proposal, Technical Evidence, Maintainability and Repairability
- Product Trial: Consists of two components: 1) User Trials; and 2) Technical Assessment
- Commercial: Unit Prices for Proposed Products x Estimated Demand/Demand Assumptions = ‘Total Forecasted Framework Price’ for the initial five year term
- Economic & financial standing
Participants must have the legal capacity and authority to enter into and perform the Contract. NR may require evidence of legal status, registration, authority of signatories, consortium or group structure, and any legally binding arrangements with relied-upon entities before contract award.
- Technical & professional ability
Past Experience in 24/7 Operational Environments
Past Experience Supporting Continuous-Use Ergonomic Seating Requirements
- Price carries 30 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 3 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
- “Provision of 24/7 Chairs and Associated Services” 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.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Competition analysis · published record, not a forecast of who will bid
How NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED buys Seats, chairs and related products, and associated parts (CPV 3911), 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: Seats, chairs and related products, and associated parts (CPV 3911) →
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 bid7% / 0%
2–334% / 17%
4–648% / 33%
7+10% / 50%
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 #1CPV 3911Published estimate£4.6m
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.
A forecast, not a list of bidders.
1 bid2%
2–345%
4–647%
7+5%
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.
| Supplier | Won in this category | Live contracts | Award vs estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| £18m19 awards in 36m · last 1 months ago | 9 live · £13m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | 13% below n=2 | |
| £2.1m28 awards in 36m · last 1 months ago | 4 live · £286k iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | 14% below n=3 | |
| £194k13 awards in 36m · last 1 months ago | 3 live · £103k iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | no comparable pairs | |
| £2.7m11 awards in 36m · last 1 months ago | 7 live · £1.3m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | at estimate n=5 | |
| £115k10 awards in 36m · last 2 months ago | 5 live · £5.1m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | no comparable pairs |
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
- Goods
- Notice status
- Open admission
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Utilities
- Commercial structure
- Framework agreement
- Who may use this agreement
- The framework will be available for use by 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 30 Jul 2031
- First published
- 1 Apr 2026, 15:35 BST
- Last source update
- 5 Oct 2026, 11:27 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 14 Apr 2027
- Authority reference
project_46027 / itt_19953- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-093718- Latest notice
- Tender notice (UK4)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-067afeFind a Tender
- How it runs
Competitive flexible procedure design:
This procurement is seeking to award a Framework Agreement to a single Supplier for the supply, delivery, installation, maintenance, repair and associated support services relating to 24/7 Chairs in accordance with the Specification which forms part of the procurement documentation.
Network Rail will carry out a two-stage tender process (which includes PSQ questions) as follows:
Stage 1 – Initial Tender Stage:
Participants must submit their PSQ response and initial tender by the deadline stated in the Procurement Timetable. Network Rail will assess PSQ responses first. The three highest-scoring Participants will proceed to initial tender evaluation, provided they:
(i) satisfy the Conditions of Participation;
(ii) achieve a Pass in all Pass/Fail questions;
(iii) achieve a minimum score of 60% in each scored PSQ question; and
(iv) demonstrate, through the Specification Compliance Matrix (Document 3) and supporting evidence, that the proposed products for Chairs A to D, as a minimum, fully comply with and achieve a Pass against all Mandatory Requirements.
Network Rail will then evaluate compliant initial tenders and invite the three highest-scoring Participants to deliver Product Samples in accordance with the instructions contained within Document 1 (Instructions to Participants).
- Technical Evaluation (35%)
This section comprises five scored questions and is weighted at 35% of the overall evaluation score.
Participants must achieve a minimum score of 60% across the five scored questions combined, which equates to a minimum weighted score of 21.0%.
Failure to achieve this threshold may result in the Participant being excluded from further participation in the procurement.
- Product Trial (35%)
The Product Trial is weighted at 35% of the overall evaluation score and comprises:
- User Trial (50% of the Product Trial score); and
- Technical Assessment (50% of the Product Trial score).
A minimum threshold of 60% applies separately to both elements.
Accordingly:
- User Trial: minimum score of 60%, equating to a minimum weighted score of 10.5%; and
- Technical Assessment: minimum score of 60%, equating to a minimum weighted score of 10.5%.
Failure to achieve either threshold may result in the Participant being excluded from further participation in the procurement, irrespective of their overall Product Trial score.
- Commercial Evaluation (30%).
The initial commercial evaluation shall be undertaken and reviewed for compliance. The outcome of the initial commercial evaluation will inform any clarifications or feedback in accordance with these Instructions to Participants.
Stage 2 – Best and Final Offer (BAFO Stage):
Participants that meet all applicable minimum thresholds at the Initial Tender Stage may be invited to submit a Best and Final Offer (BAFO) by the deadline specified in the Procurement Timetable. BAFO submissions will be evaluated in accordance with the information contained within Document 1 (Instructions to Participants) to identify the Most Advantageous Tender.
- Risks
Availability of Agreed Products and On Time Delivery
How to participate & submission route
Official notice Apply via Jaggaer- Requests to participate (first stage)
- —
- Appointment period ends
- 5 Nov 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Clarification deadline
- 20 Oct 2026, 12:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
- Supplier levy on call-offs (max %)
- call-off levy · Not Applicable
Timeline
1 Apr 2026 → 1 Jun 2027 · 8 dates- Planning notice published202 days ago1 Apr 2026, 15:35 BST
- Market engagement173 days ago30 Apr 2026, 23:59 BST
The Market Engagement will take place through a online webinar on 20th April 2026 and completion of a questionnaire to be returned by 30th April 2026.
To access the Market Engagement submission document, please go to our Bravo site via the link and select "View Current Opportunities" at the bottom left of the login page. Select the Link for supply of 24/7 Controller Chairs and complete the links for expression of interest/ register to attend the webinar and the response to the engagement questionnaire.
Please note that there is no need to login to Bravo to be able to access the opportunity.
The instructions for returning the market engagement information are included within the Market Engagement document titled "Market Engagement - 24-7 Controller Chairs.docx"
The link to Bravo is - networkrail.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html ↗
The link to the opportunity is -
- Next notice expected19 days ago1 Oct 2026, 23:59 BST
- Tender notice published16 days ago5 Oct 2026, 11:27 BST
- Clarification questions by1 day ago20 Oct 2026, 12:00 BST
- Today21 Oct 2026
- Admission / appointment period endsin 15 days · period end, not a bid countdown5 Nov 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Award decision expected byin 176 days14 Apr 2027, 23:59 BST
- Contract startsin 223 days1 Jun 2027, 00:00 BST
Notice history
6 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 1 Apr 2026- Preliminary market engagement notice published1 Apr 2026, 15:35 BSTUK2
- Tender notice published5 Oct 2026, 11:27 BSTUK4
- Published value updated to £4,600,0005 Oct 2026, 11:27 BSTwas £4,000,000
- Status changed to active5 Oct 2026, 11:27 BST
- Procurement method changed5 Oct 2026, 11:27 BST
- Deadline published: 5 Nov 2026, 12:00 GMT5 Oct 2026, 11:27 BST
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Nothing awarded yet- Awards (0)
- No award published
- Contracts (0)
- No contract published
- Bid statistics
- No aggregate bid statistics published
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (2)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender