Network Rail is preparing a £150 million excluding VAT / £180 million including VAT framework for geotechnical and civil engineering works across its Wales and Western region. The framework will focus on rock cutting remediation, earthworks drainage and related civils activities, with suppliers expected to take responsibility for investigation, design, construction and handback where required.
A revised preliminary market engagement notice has widened the route to participation for some Tier 2 suppliers by changing the timing of the Principal Contractor licence requirement. However, the opportunity still has important rail-specific eligibility conditions that suppliers need to check immediately.
If you are eligible and intend to respond, speak to Thornton & Lowe about your Network Rail bid strategy and evidence before the procurement moves into PSQ and ITT stages.
How is the framework structured?
The planned framework contains two geographic lots:
- Lot 1: Wales, Rock Cutting & Drainage
- Lot 2: Western, Rock Cutting & Drainage
Bidders may tender for both lots, but no supplier can be awarded more than one. The intended term is three years with two possible one-year extensions.
Projects may include early-stage surveys, investigations, feasibility work and design. Other commissions may be issued on a design-and-build or build-only basis. Complex or specialist schemes can also be priced separately or run through a further competition between framework suppliers.
The official Find a Tender notice should be checked carefully because the eligibility and engagement requirements are central to whether a supplier can progress.
RISQS and Principal Contractor requirements
Network Rail intends to invite suppliers registered on the RISQS Dynamic Market with the relevant earthworks drainage, rock netting and rock scaling category codes.
Suppliers must also demonstrate CDM Principal Contractor capability. The revised notice was issued because the initial supplier selection exercise excluded a number of Tier 2 suppliers that did not already hold the required Network Rail Principal Contractor licence.
The notice says suppliers have been given additional time to obtain the licence, although bidders should check the procurement documents and Network Rail communications for the exact point at which it must be in place. The eligibility section refers to the anticipated ITT launch date of 16 November 2026, while the explanation of the revised process refers to the ITT submission stage.
Our rail tenders guide provides broader advice on demonstrating safety, technical competence and delivery capability in rail procurement.
The EOI is time-sensitive
Interested suppliers must respond through RISQS by 14 September 2026. Network Rail states that organisations that do not submit the EOI by the deadline will not be invited to the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire stage.
The PSQ will then be administered through Network Rail's Bravo eSourcing system, so suppliers should also make sure they are registered and able to access the platform before the next stage.
This is one of those procurements where portal readiness and qualification status are genuine bid-critical issues rather than administration to leave until the final week.
What should bidders prepare?
Suppliers that progress should expect to evidence:
- railway earthworks and drainage experience
- rock cutting, rock netting or rock scaling capability where relevant
- Principal Contractor competence under CDM
- safe delivery in an operational railway environment
- design management and Principal Designer capability where required
- survey, investigation and feasibility capability
- possession, access and site management
- quality assurance and handback
- supply-chain management
- programme, cost and risk control
Case studies should show the conditions in which work was delivered, not just the technical activity. Network Rail will need confidence that suppliers can manage safety-critical work around an operational asset and coordinate design and construction effectively.
Quick facts
- Buyer: Network Rail Infrastructure Limited
- Estimated value: £150m excluding VAT / £180m including VAT
- Lots: Two
- Term: Three years plus two possible one-year extensions
- EOI deadline: 14 September 2026
- Estimated tender notice: 19 September 2026
- Anticipated ITT launch referenced in the notice: 16 November 2026
- Suitability: SMEs and VCSEs are identified
- Route to market: RISQS followed by PSQ and ITT
Check eligibility before investing in the bid
This is a significant rail civils opportunity, but suppliers should confirm RISQS categories, licence requirements and capacity before committing bid resource. For firms that do qualify, the revised process creates a valuable route into a substantial regional delivery framework.
Thornton & Lowe has experience supporting infrastructure and rail suppliers with complex public sector tenders. Contact our team if you want support with the Wales & Western civils procurement.
