Official UK procurement notice
Rail Haulage · UK public procurement notice
Authority: NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED (Central government)
What is being bought3 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionNational requirement for rail haulage possession hours and operation of Local Distribution Centres.
- The authority expects to re-tender this requirement around 6 Jan 2034, 23:59 GMT.
- How the procedure runs: Participants will be required to complete to complete a Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ). If successful at PSQ Participants will be invited to the tender stage. A full explanation of the process has been detailed in the Instructions to Participants document which can be found within the Bravo opportunities listing at networkrail.bravosolution.co.uk
CPV: Railway transport services
Lots and requirements (3)Procurement structure
3 lots · all with a published value · same evaluation weights on every lotLot #1Operation of Network Rail’s Local Distribution Centres (LDCs)RenewalPublished value£0
Operation of of the Local Distribution Centres (LDCs) which involves the shunting and marshalling of wagons at a specific location to receive/prepare Network Services and Possession Services. The LDCs are based in:
- Bescot
- Carlisle Kingmoor
- Eastleigh
- Millerhill
- Whitemoor
Lot #2Operation of Possession ServicesRenewalPublished value£0
Operation of Possession Services involves the operation of rail haulage services from Local Distribution Centres to Network Rail worksites on an as-required basis.
Lot #3Operation of Network ServicesRenewalPublished value£0
Operation of Network Services involves the operation of rail haulage between Local Distribution Centres to and from material suppliers on a regular timetabled basis. This lot is split into 25 Route bundles details of which have been detailed in the tender pack which can be found here: networkrail.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html ↗
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: 30%
- Commercial: 70%
Published award criteria (2)
- Technical: The technical section includes, but is not limited to, questions relating to safety, sustainability, capability & capacity, mobilisation and continuous improvement. Full details have been included in the tender pack on the Bravo Opportunities listing: https://networkrail.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html"
- Commercial: Against each lot full marks will be awarded to the lowest price. Fewer marks will be awarded for the higher price relative to its proximity to the lowest tendered price. It should be noted that any negative scores will be awarded 0%. It should be noted within Lot 1a 70% shall be applied to each LDC; Lot 1b 70% shall be applied to each of the Route bundles. Full details have been included in the tender pack on the Bravo Opportunities listing: https://networkrail.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html
No conditions of participation were published on the notice; check the tender documents.
- Price carries 70 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 7 points. This one is won on the number: sharpen the price before polishing the prose.
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 Railway transport services (CPV 6020), 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: Railway transport services (CPV 6020) →
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.
A local branch does not count if the registered address is elsewhere.
Most of this buyer’s recorded winners are registered outside the delivery region.
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.
The buyer’s share is a minimum: 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%
2–350%
4–638%
7+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%
Within ±2%0%
Above estimate17%
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 #1Operation of Network Rail’s Local Distribution Centres (LDCs)CPV 60200000No real estimate
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 bid3%
2–379%
4–614%
7+4%
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
GB Railfreight LtdLarge | £1.5m4 awards in 36m · last 16 months ago | None on file | no comparable pairs |
| £1.9m25 awards in 36m · last 1 months ago | 6 live · £274k 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. | 11% below n=4 | |
| £4.0m8 awards in 36m · last 3 months ago | 1 live · £3.0m 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. | 26% below n=2 | |
R CARSLarge | £292k38 awards in 36m · last 1 months ago | 22 live · £285k 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 |
Rounds CarsSME | £65k18 awards in 36m · last 1 months ago | 6 live · £61k 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 |
Lot #2Operation of Possession ServicesCPV 60200000No real estimate
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 bid6%
2–377%
4–615%
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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
CMAC Group UK LtdLarge | £50m6 awards in 36m · last 1 months ago | 2 live · £3k 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=2 |
| £1.9m25 awards in 36m · last 1 months ago | 6 live · £274k 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. | 11% below n=4 | |
| £4.0m8 awards in 36m · last 3 months ago | 1 live · £3.0m 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. | 26% below n=2 | |
Rounds CarsSME | £65k18 awards in 36m · last 1 months ago | 6 live · £61k 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 |
| £36k1 awards in 36m · last 9 months ago | 1 live · £36k 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 |
Lot #3Operation of Network ServicesCPV 60200000No real estimate
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 bid4%
2–378%
4–615%
7+3%
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.
| Supplier | This buyer’s earlier contract | Lot | Award value | Why listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JSD Research and Development LtdWorked for this buyer | Weedspray Planning and Managementnotice published Sept 2023 | — | — | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
CMAC Group UK LtdLarge | £50m6 awards in 36m · last 1 months ago | 2 live · £3k 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=2 |
| £1.9m25 awards in 36m · last 1 months ago | 6 live · £274k 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. | 11% below n=4 | |
| £4.0m8 awards in 36m · last 3 months ago | 1 live · £3.0m 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. | 26% below n=2 | |
| £557k41 awards in 36m · last 1 months ago | 32 live · £533k 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 | |
R CARSLarge | £292k38 awards in 36m · last 1 months ago | 22 live · £285k 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)
- Recurring procurement
- Yes · next expected 6 Jan 2034
- First published
- 28 May 2026, 12:04 BST
- Last source update
- 30 Sept 2026, 18:33 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 17 Sept 2027
- Authority reference
project_43883- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-092602- Latest notice
- Tender notice (UK4)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06a771Find a Tender
- How it runs
Participants will be required to complete to complete a Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ). If successful at PSQ Participants will be invited to the tender stage. A full explanation of the process has been detailed in the Instructions to Participants document which can be found within the Bravo opportunities listing at networkrail.bravosolution.co.uk
How to participate & submission route
Official notice Submit via Jaggaer- Requests to participate (first stage)
- 2 Dec 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Tender submission deadline
- 2 Dec 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Clarification deadline
- 18 Nov 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Participants will be required to complete to complete a Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ). If successful at PSQ Tenderers will be invited to the tender stage. A full explanation of the process has been detailed in the Instructions to Participants document which can be found within the Bravo opportunities listing at: networkrail.bravosolution.co.uk ↗
Timeline
28 May 2026 → 1 Apr 2028 · 7 dates- Planning notice published147 days ago28 May 2026, 12:04 BST
- Tender notice published22 days ago30 Sept 2026, 18:33 BST
- Today22 Oct 2026
- Clarification questions byin 28 days18 Nov 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Submission deadlinein 42 days2 Dec 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Next notice expectedin 48 days8 Dec 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Award decision expected byin 331 days17 Sept 2027, 23:59 BST
- Contract starts1 Apr 2028, 00:00 BST
Notice history
5 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 28 May 2026- Pipeline notice published28 May 2026, 12:04 BSTUK1
- Tender notice published30 Sept 2026, 18:33 BSTUK4
- Published value updated to £949,900,00030 Sept 2026, 18:33 BSTwas £1,100,000,000
- Status changed to active30 Sept 2026, 18:33 BST
- Procurement method changed30 Sept 2026, 18:33 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
- Pipeline notice Pipeline notice on Find a Tender