Public procurement notice: Periodic Indicative Notice Without Call For Competition
Published: 2019-11-26
Buyer: Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd
Country: UK
Contract type: Services
CPV classification: 31321100 | 34943000 | 48100000 | 48461000 | 63711100

Technical requirements: Approximately 30 % of Network Rail infrastructure has 25 kV overhead line equipment installed to provide power to electric traction vehicles. This infrastructure is monitored and maintained using methods including visual inspections, manual measurements and train borne monitoring. There is an opportunity to monitor the infrastructure on a more frequent basis using technology fitted to in-service vehicles.
Network Rail would like to transition from a ‘find and fix’ approach to one of ‘predict and prevent’ by developing an improved condition monitoring system that can identify contact forces, geometric defects and other failure modes of the OLE.
The purpose of this RFI is to engage with the supply base and request information relating to the OLE dynamic pattern recognition software/tools available in the market. This RFI aims to inform Network Rail of the current market capability and any future development work which may be required.
Network Rail expects that the software tool will perform analysis using on-board video camera data. The scope of this RFI does not cover the installation of the camera equipment itself, however provisions to gain access to the video should be included.
The software tool shall demonstrate capabilities in analysing the on-board camera data in the following areas:
This can be compared with static position and over time an engineering signature can be developed for the system to assess actual performance against design. This intelligence can be used to identify locations with a high risk of dewirement and improve reliability and availability of the system.
This will identify areas with excessive negative staggers and areas where the pantograph is operating at its limits of OLE interaction; edges of the horns, maximum operable height etc. which are areas with greater risk.
There have been several high profile dewirements with modern open horn pantograph designs at locations where wires converge. By looking at the transfer of pantograph contact from one wire to another the safety and performance of the system could be improved.
This will highlight any areas with encroachment from fixed infrastructure into design tolerances and thereby enabling preventive maintenance to be carried out.
Which will supplement measurement by instrumentation but with higher velocity and volume allowing more correlation. Ultimately reliance on instrumentation may reduce as calibration of machine vision system improves.
It is envisaged at role out that there will be a requirement for approximately 30 users of the technology requiring either software licenses or access to the remote platform.
2) From the welcome screen, access the ‘View Current Opportunities’ link and select ‘Pre-Market Engagement: OLE Dynamic Pattern Recognition System’;
4 Once completed please send your submission document via email as attachment to briony.toogood@networkrail.co.uk with the email subject ‘OLE Dynamic Pattern Recognition System RFI’.
Any questions or clarifications in respect of this RFI should be addressed to briony.toogood@networkrail.co.uk.
Network Rail may be looking to tender this requirement in the near future, any potential tender event in relation to this requirement will be issued via the Network Rail procurement platform – BravoNR, issued through the Technology — Supplier Qualification System (SQS), under one of the following categories