Public procurement notice: Periodic Indicative Notice Without Call For Competition
Published: 2020-03-31
Buyer: Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd
Country: UK
Contract type: Works
CPV classification: 43123000 | 45221000: Engineering works for bridges and tunnels | 45221200: Tunnel construction works | 45221240 | 45221242

Technical requirements: Network Rail manages 693 Tunnels that are typically 150 years old. They are built through different geologies and require different but increasing levels of maintenance and renewal. As the growth of railway traffic continues, access for maintenance and renewal reduces.
To counter this trend, Network Rail are looking for innovative ways to form new tunnels. Also, to enlarge or renew significant elements of existing tunnels. The key requirement is to achieve this with minimal blockades where all traffic movements through the tunnel are stopped.
At present, new tunnels are formed using large plant such as tunnel boring machines (TBMs) and other renewals use track-mounted plant. All require a significant duration of time where the railway is closed.
As the existing tunnel portfolio continues to degrade, these interventions are more probable, causing disruption to our passengers. The aspiration is to find new ways of renewing our tunnels to reduce this impact to our passengers.
This RFI aims to inform Network Rail of the current market capability and any future development work which may need to be completed to current solutions as part of the deployment or before.
Network Rail would like to understand technical and commercial information on innovative methods for low-disruption tunnel renewals available on the market. Further information on the requirements can be found at:
2. From the welcome screen, access the ‘View Current Opportunities’ link and select ‘#13668 - Low-disruption Tunnel Renewals’;
4. Once completed please send your submission document via email as an attachment to briony.toogood@networkrail.co.uk with the email subject ‘Low-disruption Tunnel Renewals - RFI’.
Any questions or clarifications in respect of this RFI should be addressed to briony.toogood@networkrail.co.uk.
Please note that any content received via response to this RFI will be used purely for information purposes only and will not be deemed as forming part of any proposed bid now or any potential future tender.
Please note any discussions which do occur will cease immediately should a formal competition ultimately be announced. Network Rail is committed to ensuring fairness, openness and transparency, and to following EU procurement regulations. The Periodic Indicative Notice is issued solely for the purpose of conducting pre-procurement market engagement via a request for information and does not constitute any commitment to undertake any procurement in the future. Interested parties will not be prejudiced by any response or failure to respond to the PIN event and a response to this PIN does not guarantee any invitation to participate in this event or any future procurement.
This PIN does not constitute a call for competition to procure any services, supplies or works mentioned in this PIN and Network Rail will not accept any proposals offered in response to this PIN. Network Rail is not liable for any costs, fees or expenses incurred by any party in replying to or attending any PIN event. Any procurement of any services, supplies or works by Network Rail will be carried out strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016.
Network Rail would like to thank you in advance should you wish to respond to this Request for Information.