Official UK procurement notice
Provision of Aerial Survey of the UK Rail Network - LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and Aerial Photography
Authority: NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED (Central government)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionNetwork Rail require an Aerial Survey of the UK rail network, principally consisting of LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and RGB (Red, Green and Blue) data capture.
There is a desire to capture this data in the winter 2027/28 season (November 2027 to March 2028) and process it rapidly for the purposes of delivering Earthwork Asset condition information.
- Two-stage procedure: 4 to 5 candidates will be invited to tender.
- How the procedure runs: Participants will be required to submit a PSQ and conditions of participation. Following an evaluation and moderation process (Participants that meet the conditions of participation and PSQ requirements), the PSQ participants will be shortlisted and invited to tender. Initial tenders will be submitted. An evaluation process will take followed by clarifications (technical and commercial), negotiation (including BAFO) at which point final commercial submissions will be evaluated.
CPV: Aerial and related services · Aerial mapping services
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1RenewalPublished value£12,000,000
- Economic & financial standing
Legal and financial capacity: Participants must have the legal capacity and authority to enter into and perform the Contract. NR/DFTO 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
Detailed conditions of participation will be set out in the Instructions to Participants document, which is issued alongside the Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) and made available via the Network Rail Sourcing Platform (Bravo).
Candidates must demonstrate the following technical capabilities to participate in this procurement in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023 including, but not limited to:
- Relevant Experience and Competence
- Technical Capability
- Health & Safety
- Information Security
- Sustainability
Please refer to the Instructions to Participants for full details.
- Condition of participationshortlisting
Pass all mandatory requirements, including financial and legal conditions of participation. Pass mandatory requirments for information security. Pass requirements for both case studies, sub-contractor management and modern slavery 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 (2)
- Technical: 60%
- Commercial: 40%
Published award criteria (2)
- Technical: Requirements Health and Safety Delivery Strategy Mobilisation and Service Delivery LiDAR Capture Methodology LiDAR Processing Methodology Aerial Photography Capture & Processing Methodology Positional Accuracy, Validation & Quality Control Quality Reporting & Data Delivery Social Value & Sustainability
- Commercial: Aerial Services Core Pricing Schedule
- Economic & financial standing
Legal and financial capacity: Participants must have the legal capacity and authority to enter into and perform the Contract. NR/DFTO 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
Detailed conditions of participation will be set out in the Instructions to Participants document, which is issued alongside the Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) and made available via the Network Rail Sourcing Platform (Bravo).
Candidates must demonstrate the following technical capabilities to participate in this procurement in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023 including, but not limited to:
- Relevant Experience and Competence
- Technical Capability
- Health & Safety
- Information Security
- Sustainability
Please refer to the Instructions to Participants for full details.
- Condition of participationshortlisting
Pass all mandatory requirements, including financial and legal conditions of participation. Pass mandatory requirments for information security. Pass requirements for both case studies, sub-contractor management and modern slavery requirements.
- Price carries 40 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 4 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
- Turnover usually expected at this size: about £7,992,701 (twice the annual value).
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula. Turnover is an indicative market norm (≈2× annual value), not a published condition.
Competition analysis · published record, not a forecast of who will bid
How NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED buys Engineering-related scientific and technical services (CPV 7135), and who usually turns up
NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED’s own published record, next to the published market for the same work. Frameworks and DPS are kept out: they attract a different number of bids. Whole-market view: Engineering-related scientific and technical services (CPV 7135) →
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 registered in Greater London.
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 148 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 bid13% / 0%
2–350% / 33%
4–638% / 67%
7+0% / 0%
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.
Past prices are a guide, not a bid price.
Below estimate83% / 47%
Within ±2%0% / 29%
Above estimate17% / 24%
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 7135Published estimate£12m
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 bid5%
2–337%
4–656%
7+2%
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.
Based on 27 comparable awards. Each lot reflects its own category; forecasts for different lots of the same notice are not comparative.
A statistical guide from past awards, not a price to bid.
Middle 50%£9.0m–£12m
Estimate£12m
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.
| Supplier | This buyer’s earlier contract | Lot | Award value | Why listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JOHNSON CONTROLS BUILDING EFFICIENCY UK LIMITEDWorked for this buyer | UK public contract notice — Network Rail Infrastructure Ltdnotice published Nov 2022 | Lighting | — | Similar wording and category |
| SMS Energy Services LimitedWorked for this buyer | UK public contract notice — Network Rail Infrastructure Ltdnotice published Nov 2022 | Utility Meter Installation | — | Similar wording and category |
| Gutteridge, Haskins and Davey LimitedWorked for this buyer | West Coast South Major Earthwork Management Strategyruns to Mar 2027 | — | £400k | Similar wording and category |
| Smart Component Technologies LimitedWorked for this buyer | SWIX Asset Health Monitoring Serviceruns to Mar 2029 | — | £1.5m | Similar wording and category |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| £3.0m30 awards in 36m · last 1 months ago | 3 live · £492k 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=2 | |
| £2.3m15 awards in 36m · last 2 months ago | 6 live · £34m 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. | 18% below n=4 | |
| £1.1m8 awards in 36m · last 4 months ago | 2 live · £4.4m 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 | |
| £183k4 awards in 36m · last 3 months ago | 1 live · £50k 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 | |
| £1.5m1 awards in 36m · last 8 months ago | 1 live · £1.5m 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
- Services
- Notice status
- Requests to participate open
- 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
- 30 Jan 2026, 14:46 GMT
- Last source update
- 14 Oct 2026, 09:52 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 30 Apr 2027
- Authority reference
project_45297- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-096680- Latest notice
- Tender notice (UK4)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-061326Find a Tender
- How it runs
Participants will be required to submit a PSQ and conditions of participation. Following an evaluation and moderation process (Participants that meet the conditions of participation and PSQ requirements), the PSQ participants will be shortlisted and invited to tender. Initial tenders will be submitted. An evaluation process will take followed by clarifications (technical and commercial), negotiation (including BAFO) at which point final commercial submissions will be evaluated.
How to participate & submission route
Official notice Submit via Jaggaer- Requests to participate (first stage)
- 9 Nov 2026, 14:00 GMT
- Tender submission deadline
- 9 Nov 2026, 14:00 GMT
- Clarification deadline
- 2 Nov 2026, 14:00 GMT
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
- Shortlist
- 4–5 candidates invited to tender
To access the procurement opportunity, please follow these steps:
- Visit our Bravo site using the link provided below.
Link to Bravo: networkrail.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html ↗
- On the Bravo login page, locate and select the "View Current Opportunities" option at the bottom left of the page. Find and select the link for "Provision of National Aerial Services" to access the documents available for the market engagement exercise.
Alternatively, please note the link to the opportunity listing: networkrail.bravosolution.co.uk/esop/toolkit/opportu… ↗
Project Ref: project_45297
Further instructions for participating in the opportunity are detailed in the PSQ Pack within Bravo. Please ensure you follow these instructions carefully to submit your PSQ.
Timeline
30 Jan 2026 → 30 Sept 2027 · 8 dates- Planning notice published263 days ago30 Jan 2026, 14:46 GMT
- Market engagement142 days ago31 May 2026, 23:59 BST
Network Rail is inviting all interested parties to express their interest in this ‘Pre-Market Engagement exercise’ - Please email [email protected] with the subject heading "NR National Aerial Survey".
Once interest has been logged, Network Rail will send a Market Engagement Questionnaire along with a background information document. We request that the questionnaire is completed by Monday 2nd March 2026 at 17:00 hours, so please register your interest as soon as possible.
A follow-up market engagement session may be held with all suppliers, or individual clarification questions sought in response to the questionnaire.
Please also register as a supplier on our Procurement portal at networkrail.bravosolution.co.uk ↗ if you haven’t done so already.
- Next notice expected112 days ago30 Jun 2026, 23:59 BST
- Tender notice published7 days ago13 Oct 2026, 15:53 BST
- Today21 Oct 2026
- Clarification questions byin 12 days2 Nov 2026, 14:00 GMT
- Submission deadlinein 19 days9 Nov 2026, 14:00 GMT
- Award decision expected byin 192 days30 Apr 2027, 23:59 BST
- Contract startsin 344 days30 Sept 2027, 00:00 BST
Notice history
7 events · 4 releases on Find a Tender · since 30 Jan 2026- Preliminary market engagement notice published30 Jan 2026, 14:46 GMTUK2
- Tender notice published13 Oct 2026, 15:53 BSTUK4
- Published value updated to £12,000,00013 Oct 2026, 15:53 BSTwas £10,000,000
- Status changed to active13 Oct 2026, 15:53 BST
- Procurement method changed13 Oct 2026, 15:53 BST
- Tender notice published13 Oct 2026, 16:01 BSTUK4
- Tender notice published14 Oct 2026, 09:52 BSTUK4
Routine re-releases (4)
- 2026-01: 1 release · 30 Jan 2026
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 (5)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Bidding documents and specificationsAccess: All new documents and updates will be published via ia the NR Bravo E-sourcing System throughout the event. Where a stage is in progress, a message shall be sent to all particpants within the stage to inform them. The documents that will may be issued as part of the Tender stage to the successful participants may be either confidential in nature or be determined by Tenderers responses: • Updated Instruction to Participants • Tender Stage Technical Questions • Pricing Document • ITT - Technical Envelope Brief
Notices published for this procedure
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender