Translink has launched FW127 Infrastructure Professional Services, a framework covering permanent-way and civil or structural engineering consultancy. The opportunity is estimated at £78 million including VAT and could run for up to eight years.
The procurement uses a two-stage competitive flexible procedure. Suppliers must first submit a request to participate, with successful participants progressing to the Invitation to Tender stage. The participation deadline is 1 October 2026.
If your consultancy is considering FW127, speak to Thornton & Lowe about your participation response, project evidence and bid strategy before the October deadline.
Two infrastructure professional services lots
FW127 is split evenly across two planned lots, each estimated at £39 million including VAT.
- Lot 1: Permanent-Way & Associated Services, for professional services linked to railway permanent way infrastructure projects and maintenance.
- Lot 2: Civil & Structural Professional Services, for civil engineering and structures infrastructure projects.
A two-stage competitive flexible procedure
The first stage is an Invitation to Participate, followed by an Invitation to Tender for suppliers that progress. The published notice lists Technical Questions as 100% quality at the current stage.
This makes the qualification response commercially important. Suppliers should not treat the participation request as an administrative gateway. The evidence submitted now needs to give Translink confidence that the organisation has the right technical capability and experience to move forward.
What experience should bidders evidence?
The exact question set sits within the procurement documents, but the lot scope points to several areas suppliers should prepare carefully.
- Permanent-way design, maintenance and renewal experience for Lot 1.
- Civil and structural design or consultancy on transport infrastructure for Lot 2.
- Delivery in operational railway environments.
- Engineering assurance, design governance and technical review.
- Management of interfaces between track, structures, civils and operations.
- Programme, cost, risk and stakeholder management.
- Competent technical resource and professional qualifications.
- Health, safety and compliance in safety-critical infrastructure.
SMEs are explicitly identified
The framework is identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises. That does not remove the need to demonstrate credible rail or infrastructure experience, but it does signal that Translink does not see the opportunity as restricted only to the largest consultancies.
Suppliers should still assess capacity over the potential eight-year framework life and confirm that they can support work in Northern Ireland.
Key dates
The enquiry deadline is 24 September 2026 at 11:59pm. Requests to participate are due by 1 October at 11:59pm, with the award decision currently estimated for 1 March 2027. The initial framework period is four years, with extensions possible to March 2035.
The official Find a Tender notice confirms the two-stage procedure and current participation timetable.
Use rail-specific evidence, not generic consultancy claims
Infrastructure consultancies often have strong engineering credentials, but Translink will need evidence that those credentials translate into railway delivery. Case studies should make clear the asset, operational context, technical responsibilities, interfaces and outcomes.
Our rail tenders guidance covers the wider bidding issues suppliers face across UK rail procurement.
Treat the participation stage as the first competitive hurdle
The October deadline arrives before the full ITT, but suppliers still need a strong, evidence-led submission now. Confirm the relevant lot, select comparable project examples and make sure the technical narrative demonstrates rail-specific capability.
Thornton & Lowe supports engineering and rail suppliers with qualification responses, tender writing and independent review. Contact our team if you want help with Translink FW127.
