Railway-track construction materials and supplies

Tender description

Network Rail would like to investigate the potential for using different bearer joints in modular Switches and Crossings layouts.The bearer joint is used to join 2 bearers together. Network Rail intends to investigate market potential for replacement of the joint retrospectively (for installed layouts) and use or design, develop, fabricate and deploy a new joint going forward. After the closing date of this PIN, Network Rail will be holding a market engagement day with interested suppliers. The market engagement day is to discuss the project and specification in more detail in terms of feasibility. Network Rail will elect if a procurement event(s) will be published after the market engagement day. The next phase of the programme has an objective to either design a joint or use an existing design in the market. Network Rail would like to understand the market potential in regard to either designing or supplying a joint that can perform better than the current joint. There are 4 joint types Network Rail are looking at purchasing or developing. They are new, and a retrospective version of a stiff and a ‘flexible’ joint which allows switches and crossings to be installed in modules by connecting long bearers. There are estimated to be over 10 000 bearer joints that would need to be installed retrospectively across the network. The stiff joint should simulate a long concrete bearer and will be installed in the 4 foot and the ‘flexible’ joint should be installed in the 6 foot and allow the track to settle at different rates. After the closing date of this PIN, Network Rail will be holding a market engagement day with interested suppliers. After a supplier demonstrates interest via this PIN they will be invited to the market engagement day where they will be provided with more detailed information and be able to ask questions to the project team. After the market engagement day, the interested suppliers would be requested to provide further information which would include: — a demonstrated understanding of the scope and requirements, — where a current joint is already available, organisations will be asked for information on what functions the joint performs, where it is used and an indication of price, — where an organisation is interested in designing or producing a new joint, information on relevant experience designing products will be requested, — any information related to Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). Further information on submitting the above requested information will be provided during the market engagement day. For more information regarding this PIN and how to respond, please review the additional documents which can be accessed through Network Rail's sourcing platform — BravoNR via this link. https://networkrail.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html From the welcome screen, click the ‘View Current Opportunities’ link and select ‘Pre-Procurement — Modular Bearer Joints for Switches and Crossings'. Please note you do not need to login to BravoNR at this stage to access this opportunity listing. The deadline for expressing interest is 5.7.2019.