Rail Vehicle Electronics · UK public procurement notice

Transport for London (TfL), on behalf of its subsidiary London Underground Limited (LUL), is undertaking early market engagement to support the development of a comprehensive and flexible Rail Vehicle Electronics Framework Agreement.

TfL will subsequently issue a Market Sounding Questionnaire (MSQ) document which details the scope of work required.

TfL seeks to engage with the supply market to understand capability, capacity, and viable delivery approaches for the Rail Vehicle Electronics Framework Agreement. The scope includes all electronics assemblies on rail vehicles that operate on the TfL Network, including but not limited to the following:

• Printed circuits and boards (ICS code 31.180)
• Electronic component assemblies (ICS code 31.190)
• Integrated circuits and microelectronics (ICS code 31.200)
• Software (ICS code 35.080)

Note "ICS" means the International Classification for Standards.

The framework will enable TfL to engage pre-approved suppliers for a range of Goods and Services including but not limited to:

Goods:

• Development and provision of prototype electronic assemblies to replace obsolete systems, ensuring compatibility with existing infrastructure. All replacement components must undergo functional validation and certification of compliance to relevant Railway standards, including but not limited to:
• EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility)

o Electronics environmental standards

• Shock & vibration testing (where significant design changes occur)
• IPC quality standards - supplier must demonstrate training and adherence to IPC standards in their working procedures
• Supply of display units and Human Machine Interface (HMI) components.

Services:

• Surveying
• Investigation
• Design and provision of rail vehicles modifications required to support the integration and operation of replacement electronic assemblies, undertaken in close collaboration with TfL engineering teams to ensure compatibility and avoid duplication of work.
• Reverse engineering of legacy rail vehicles electronic systems.
• Obsolescence reporting and lifecycle analysis.
• Condition Assessment
• Repairs and refurbishments of electronic assemblies.
• Overhauling & Testing including collaborative overhaul package undertaken in partnership with London Underground's Railway Engineering Works (REW) Electronics Workshop. Such package may include:
• Reverse engineering of components to be overhauled.
• Production of schematics to support overhaul activities
• Identification of components requiring replacement and obsolescence solutions
• Development of mechanisms to overcome onboard software barriers
• Design and build of suitable test rigs to confirm correct functional operation after overhaul.
• Creation of overhaul documentation to enable in-house capability building
• Non-routine sourcing of obsolete components, including grey market sourcing with ap-propriate assurance mechanisms such as counterfeit inspection, independent bench testing and validation.
• Approaches to component substitution, functional equivalency analysis, and obsolescence avoidance strategies, including grey market sourcing with appropriate assurance mechanisms such as counterfeit inspection, independent bench testing and validation of components.
• Documentation preparation
• Document review
• Verification and validation, including type testing of the rail vehicle modification in accordance with the conformity assessment plan.
• Technical support
• Any other engineering services
• Document management of the Contractual Documentation until delivery to the Company.
• Preservation, including storage and transport, of the Goods, Contractual Documentation and supporting items until delivery to the company.
• Services required by the Quality and Safety Plan