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Civils Examinations Framework Agreement (CEFA) - Southern Region

Network Rail Infrastructure Limited · Central government

In brief

Network Rail Infrastructure Limited has announced plans to buy architecture and engineering work. This is an early notice: there is nothing to bid on yet, but it tells you a tender may follow.

It is a framework worth up to £360,000,000 excluding VAT: the most the buyer expects to spend across all suppliers, not one contract.

The contract runs for 5 years, up to 8 years with extensions, starting 1 April 2028.

The buyer says it is suitable for small and medium-sized businesses.

Built from the notice's own fields. Always check the official notice before you bid.

Can I win this?

Competition

Typical: a median of 3 bids per contract for this buyer (from 28 awards in the last 12 months).

Framework

Winning puts you on a list of suppliers the buyer can call on; it does not guarantee work. The £360,000,000 is the most the buyer expects to spend across all suppliers over the framework's life, not one contract.

What the notice says

Network Rail Southern Region are seeking market engagement to inform the procurement strategy of a framework agreement which will manage civil examinations on the following assets: • Structures – overline bridges, underline bridges, tunnels, footbridges, side of line, intersections, culverts, retaining walls, ancillary assets; • Earthworks – embankments, soil cuttings, rock cuttings and mixed soil and rock cuttings; and • Buildings - lineside buildings, operational buildings (e.g. stations, depots, signal boxes, ROCS etc.), medium to high voltage sites. Civil examinations within Network Rail refer to the inspection, examination and reporting of structural assets to ensure the safety, reliability, and longevity of railway infrastructure. These examinations help identify defects, monitor structural integrity, and determine necessary maintenance or repair works to prevent failures and ensure continued safe operation of the rail network. It should be noted within the estimated Contract Start Date (currently set at 01/04/2028) that there is an expected 6-8 months mobilisation prior to contract go live.

How to bid

  1. Read the full notice on Find a Tender, including any tender documents it links to.
  2. Register your organisation on the Central Digital Platform (through Find a Tender) if you have not already. Suppliers need to be registered to take part in procurements under the Procurement Act 2023.
  3. Follow the submission instructions in the notice; it does not name an e-tendering portal.

Timeline

  1. Preliminary market engagement notice · UK2, notice 069527-2025

About the buyer

Network Rail Infrastructure LimitedLast 12 months

Procurements

248

Awards

83

Suppliers it has used most for architecture and engineering

All tenders and awards from Network Rail Infrastructure Limited

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From notice 069527-2025 on Find a Tender, first published 29 October 2025. We last checked for changes on 28 September 2026.