Official UK procurement notice
Track Buckling – MxV Testing Collaboration
Authority: NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED (Central government)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionOutlines how the University of Huddersfield Institute of Railway Research (IRR) can provide further support to Network Rail (NR) in justifying the relaxation of speed restrictions and operational constraints applied during periods of hot weather, to ensure that the GB railway is more resilient to climate change. It builds on previous work carried out by the IRR and the University of Southampton (UoS), and takes advantage of a testing programme being planned by MxV in the USA. This international collaboration will enhance the understanding of track buckle formation and the accuracy of models used to predict it.
How this framework works
From the published notice- Type
- Closed framework
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · no lot value publishedProcedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Direct award
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Notice status
- Awarded without competition
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Utilities
- Commercial structure
- Framework agreement
- Who may use this agreement
- Not stated in the notice; call-off rights may be limited to the establishing authority
- Competition type
- Direct award (no call for competition)
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 26 Feb 2026, 10:44 GMT
- Last source update
- 26 Feb 2026, 10:44 GMT
- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-017199- Latest notice
- Transparency notice (UK5)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-065cc6Find a Tender
- Why no open competition
- only one supplier could deliver (user choice)
- Published justification
This is a framework call‑off (direct award) under the UK Rail Research and Innovation Network (UKRRIN) Research & Development Framework. Competition was undertaken at framework award stage and the framework permits direct award of commissions below £100k. This procurement is therefore not a UCR direct award and no statutory derogation is being relied upon.
Notice history
2 events · 1 release on Find a Tender · since 26 Feb 2026- Transparency notice published26 Feb 2026, 10:44 GMTUK5
- Contract signature expected26 Feb 2026, 23:59 GMTscheduled
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Huddersfield26 Feb 2026 – 31 May 2026 | £29,295 | — | Standstill |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Framework contractors & participating bidders
1 commercial party on the notice- University of HuddersfieldFramework contractor
Official documents & specifications (1)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Transparency notice Transparency notice on Find a Tender