✓Tender information last checkedLast checked 6 Oct 2026, 11:47.
Opportunity overview
Chiltern Rail Limited (Chiltern) is undertaking preliminary market engagement to support the planned replacement of its existing Trackside Acoustic Detection System (TADS).
TADS has been used by Chiltern since 2015 to monitor the health and condition of axle bearings and other bogie mounted rotating components. TADS is a wayside system developed by “Transportation Technology Centre Inc” (TTCI) for the purpose of detecting defective railroad bearing prior to failure. This system uses microphone-based technology to collect the acoustic signature of each bearing on a passing train. This data is processed thorough a collection of algorithms to identify defective bearings. The resulting information is used to drive critical safety, business and operational decisions.
TADS is becoming unreliable and has suffered several outages more recently therefore Chiltern is seeking information from the market regarding potential solutions and delivery approaches for its replacement.
The scope of requirement may include:
• System design and Network Rail approval.
• Decommissioning existing equipment and making the site safe.
• Civil engineering where required for the new equipment.
• Instillation of new equipment.
• User interface/software package.
• Ongoing maintenance and support.
Further requirements are detailed within the draft specifications included within the documents provided.
The purpose of this RFI is to:
• Understand the solutions and delivery models currently available in the market;
• Determine whether the requirement is best delivered through lots or separate procurements;
• Test and refine the draft functional and non-functional requirements;
• Understand implementation;
• Obtain indicative pricing and commercial information;
• Identify likely implementation timescales, dependencies and risks.
The estimated contract value, contract duration and final procurement structure have not yet been determined. Suppliers are therefore being asked to provide information on available commercial models, indicative pricing, implementation timescales and the main factors affecting cost.
This is preliminary market engagement only and does not constitute an invitation to tender or a commitment by Chiltern Railways to commence a future procurement. The purpose is to help Chiltern understand market capability and develop its requirements, commercial approach and procurement strategy, which is consistent with the intended function of preliminary market engagement under the Procurement Act 2023.
Classification
CPV63711100 — Train monitoring services
Lots
Lot 1Value not stated
Documents and notices
Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a TenderOpen source ↗
Published notice details
Additional information from the published procurement release. Fields appear only when supplied by the source; check the original notice and tender documents before acting.
This preliminary market engagement will be conducted electronically through Market Dojo. No physical supplier events are currently planned. The engagement will commence on Tuesday 6 October 2026. Suppliers will be provided with access to the Request for Information questionnaire, the draft requirements spreadsheet and the relevant background information through Market Dojo. Suppliers wishing to participate should register with Market Dojo at the following URL: https://marketdojo.com/market-dojo-sign-up/ and once registered, use invitation code: 4AF903D4B4 to access the event.
Once access has been gained, all communications relating to the engagement must take place through Market Dojo. This includes the submission of clarification questions, Chiltern Railways' responses to those questions and the submission of completed RFI responses. Clarification questions must be submitted through Market Dojo by 14:00 on Tuesday 13 October 2026. Chiltern Railways intends to issue consolidated responses to clarification questions through Market Dojo by Friday 16 October 2026. Completed responses must be submitted through Market Dojo by 14:00 on Friay 30 October 2026. Following review of the responses, Chiltern Railways may invite suppliers to participate in further market engagement discussions or solution demonstrations. Any further sessions will be arranged separately and will remain part of the preliminary market engagement process.
Due
30 Oct 2026, 23:59
Status
scheduled
Documents
Entry 1
Id
094107-2026
Document Type
marketEngagementNotice
Notice Type
UK2
Description
Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
Buyer location · London · UKI45 · SE1 8SW · United Kingdom
Delivery location · UK · United Kingdom
Notice and amendment history
1 published notice version reviewed by ProcuraAxis.
1 VERSION
1
094107-2026Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ·
PROCURAAXIS ANALYSIS
ProcuraAxis Analysis
Our approved analysis of the opportunity appears below the official tender information.
ANALYSIS PREVIEW
Opportunity intelligence at a glance
Early-stage preliminary market engagement for replacement of Chiltern Rail Limited’s trackside acoustic detection system, used to identify defective axle bearings and other bogie-mounted rotating components. This is not an open tender or commitment to procure.
Who this may suit
Relevant to suppliers of railway wayside condition-monitoring systems, acoustic bearing detection, rail software, installation, civil works, Network Rail approvals and maintenance support.
Key points identified
System capabilityProvide a replacement trackside acoustic detection solution for monitoring axle bearings and other bogie-mounted rotating components.Evidence: TADS is used “to monitor the health and condition of axle bearings and other bogie mounted rotating components” and Chiltern seeks potential replacement solutions.
Network Rail approvalSystem design and Network Rail approval may be required.Evidence: The stated scope “may include: • System design and Network Rail approval.”
Software and user interfaceA user interface/software package may be required.Evidence: The stated scope “may include: • User interface/software package.”
95% approved-analysis confidence6 supplier criteria identified4 risks or unknowns
ProcuraAxis structures information found in published procurement records, checks the result for consistency and publishes only approved analysis. Confidence describes the completeness and consistency of the available source information; it is not a guarantee of eligibility or contract award.
Early-stage preliminary market engagement for replacement of Chiltern Rail Limited’s trackside acoustic detection system, used to identify defective axle bearings and other bogie-mounted rotating components. This is not an open tender or commitment to procure.
Who this may suit
Relevant to suppliers of railway wayside condition-monitoring systems, acoustic bearing detection, rail software, installation, civil works, Network Rail approvals and maintenance support.
Key deliverables
Potential system design and Network Rail approval
Decommissioning and site safety works for existing equipment
Civil engineering where required
Installation of replacement equipment
User interface and software package
Ongoing maintenance and support
Indicative pricing, commercial models, implementation timescales, dependencies and risks
SUPPLIER REQUIREMENTS
6 criteria identified
System capability
97% confidence
Provide a replacement trackside acoustic detection solution for monitoring axle bearings and other bogie-mounted rotating components.
View supporting evidence
TADS is used “to monitor the health and condition of axle bearings and other bogie mounted rotating components” and Chiltern seeks potential replacement solutions.
Network Rail approval
91% confidence
System design and Network Rail approval may be required.
View supporting evidence
The stated scope “may include: • System design and Network Rail approval.”
Software and user interface
94% confidence
A user interface/software package may be required.
View supporting evidence
The stated scope “may include: • User interface/software package.”
Installation and works
96% confidence
Potential scope includes decommissioning existing equipment, site safety, civil engineering and installation of new equipment.
View supporting evidence
The stated scope may include decommissioning, making the site safe, civil engineering and installation.
Maintenance
94% confidence
Ongoing maintenance and support may be required.
View supporting evidence
The stated scope “may include: • Ongoing maintenance and support.”
Supplier eligibility criteria
98% confidence
Unknown at this preliminary market engagement stage.
View supporting evidence
The notice requests market information and does not state eligibility, financial, insurance, location or company-size requirements.
COMMERCIAL AND DELIVERY
Contract intelligence
Commercial
Commercial information requested
98% confidence
Suppliers are asked to provide available commercial models, indicative pricing and main cost factors.
View supporting evidence
“Suppliers are therefore being asked to provide information on available commercial models, indicative pricing, implementation timescales and the main factors affecting cost.”
Estimated contract value
94% confidence
Narrative states it has not yet been determined; structured notice data records a maximum value of GBP 1,200,000.
View supporting evidence
Description: “The estimated contract value... [has] not yet been determined.” Opportunity data: value_max 1200000 GBP.
Contract duration
99% confidence
Unknown; not yet determined.
View supporting evidence
“The estimated contract value, contract duration and final procurement structure have not yet been determined.”
Delivery
Delivery location
91% confidence
United Kingdom.
View supporting evidence
Opportunity location data specifies delivery region “UK”, country “United Kingdom”.
Implementation timescales
98% confidence
To be informed by suppliers; no delivery timetable is stated.
View supporting evidence
The RFI seeks to “Identify likely implementation timescales, dependencies and risks.”
Delivery dependencies
87% confidence
Potential dependencies include Network Rail approval, site safety, decommissioning and any required civil engineering.
View supporting evidence
These activities are included in the potential scope; the notice also seeks implementation dependencies.
PROCEDURE
How to respond
Procedure type
99% confidence
Preliminary market engagement / request for information (RFI).
View supporting evidence
Notice type is “Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender”; description states “The purpose of this RFI”.
Opportunity status
99% confidence
Upcoming early-stage planned procurement; bidding is not open.
View supporting evidence
Display status is “upcoming” and the notice states this is “preliminary market engagement only” and “does not constitute an invitation to tender”.
Procurement structure
99% confidence
Unknown; Chiltern is assessing whether to use lots or separate procurements.
View supporting evidence
The RFI will “Determine whether the requirement is best delivered through lots or separate procurements”; final procurement structure is not determined.
Submission deadline
99% confidence
Unknown.
View supporting evidence
No submission deadline is supplied in the opportunity data or notice description.
RISKS AND UNKNOWNS
Points requiring attention
Scope uncertainty
98% confidence
The functional and non-functional requirements are draft and the final scope has not been set.
View supporting evidence
The RFI is intended to “Test and refine the draft functional and non-functional requirements”; scope “may include” listed activities.
Commercial uncertainty
99% confidence
Final value, duration and commercial approach are not determined.
View supporting evidence
The notice states estimated value, duration and final procurement structure are not yet determined.
Implementation risk
98% confidence
The existing TADS is unreliable and has experienced recent outages; replacement must support safety, operational and business decisions.
View supporting evidence
“TADS is becoming unreliable and has suffered several outages more recently”; resulting information drives “critical safety, business and operational decisions.”
Approval dependency
91% confidence
Network Rail approval may affect implementation.
View supporting evidence
Potential scope includes “System design and Network Rail approval.”
ProcuraAxis analysis supplements, but does not replace, the original notice and tender documents. Always verify eligibility, deadlines and commercial terms with the issuing authority.
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