Network Rail is responsible for maintaining, developing and operating Great Britain's (GB) railway infrastructure.Network Rail is an arm's length government owned company, whose capital investments are constrained by, and contribute to, the Public Sector Borrowing Requirement. Network Rail needs to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of its capital spend programmes.

NR recognises the opportunity afforded by signalling and is significantly investing in both conventional and digital signalling systems, with a significant programme of work being set out over the next two Control Periods (CP7 (from April 2024 to March 2029) / CP8 (April 2029 to March 2034)).Network Rail is committed to procuring signalling in a different way to drive benefits for the taxpayer, signalling market and wider UK.

The current national signalling workbank shows a significant pipeline across European Train Control System (ETCS) or related technologies and Conventional technologies through CP7 and CP8. Whilst a proportion of the Conventional signalling renewals in CP7 will be covered by existing frameworks, these expire during CP7. There is therefore a need for a new contracting route for Conventional signalling and ETCS signalling which will be used by NR's regions in support of their multi-disciplinary project and programme delivery plans.

Through this contract award NR has established a national Train Control System Frameworks (TCS Frameworks) for the delivery of major train control works and renewals to be delivered on the existing rail network comprising two lots:

Lot 1: TCS Framework - Conventional: Conventional signalling (either conventional or related technologies). Framework Suppliers will be required to provide a range of works and/or services covering design and build.

Lot 2: TCS Framework - Digital: Digital signalling (either ETCS or related technologies). Framework Suppliers will be required to provide a range of works and/or services covering design, build and ETCS maintenance support.

An indicative workbank for each Lot is provided for information only purposes as part of the procurement documents.

The TCSF frameworks will each have a duration of 10-years with an estimated value of approximately £4bn across both Lots.

Network Rail’s approach looks to create long-term, national collaborative relationships with suppliers. Network Rail intends to use the 10-year duration of these frameworks to build strategic longer-term collaborative relationships with suppliers, and with a strong focus on technology development and pipeline visibility.

Lot 1: TCS Framework – Conventional relates to conventional signalling (either conventional

or related technologies). Framework Suppliers will be required to provide a range of works

and/or services covering design and build.

NR has awarded a10-year framework to 4 suppliers to Lot 1: TCS Framework –

Conventional.

Under the TCS Frameworks, NR is looking to develop longer term, strategic relationships

with framework suppliers, which includes providing increased certainty of work to be

secured through achievement of a place on the frameworks.

NR therefore intends to allocate a proportion of the works and services to relevant suppliers

from a workbank of conventional signalling projects on a direct award basis (subject to

certain criteria) which will be set out in the Framework Agreement. The remainder of the

works will be awarded using mini competition.

It is intended that this framework will be utilised by NR, any NR subsidiary.

Lot 2: TCS Framework – Digital relates to digital signalling (either ETCS or related technologies).

Framework Suppliers will be required to provide a range of works and/or services covering design,

build and ETCS maintenance support. As part of this TCS Framework, NR intends to enter into

development commission contracts with each Framework Supplier to develop the supplier’s ETCS

solutions for the GB network and NR intends to make a contribution to actual development costs

up to a cap as will be detailed in the Framework Agreement.

NR has awarded a 10-year framework to 4 suppliers appointed to Lot 2: TCS

Framework Digital - digital signalling framework.

Under the TCS Frameworks, NR is looking to develop longer term, strategic relationships with

framework suppliers, which includes providing increased certainty of work to be secured through

achievement of a place on the frameworks.

NR therefore intends to allocate a proportion of the works and services to relevant suppliers from

the workbank of digital signalling projects on a direct award basis (subject to certain criteria) which

will be set out in the Framework Agreement. The remainder of the works will be awarded using

mini competition.

It is intended that this framework will be utilised by NR, any NR subsidiary and East West Rail

Limited.