Eastern Region Examination System Application

This procurement will be undertaken as an open market exercise using the Competitive Flexible Procedure under the Procurement Act 2023 (PA23), with the objective of procuring an Examinations System Application comprising licences, support, and minor configurations.

Nationally, Network Rail has been developing and releasing a modular engineering asset management system called the Network Enterprise Structures and Tunnels system (NEST). In November 2024 the NEST Examinations module went live. The architecture of NEST means it uses modern means of data transfer and security.

Eastern Structures are seeking an examination system that enables various types of examinations and utilises the functionality that NEST offers. The system will be crucial in maintaining the Region’s examinations compliance position and our regulatory commitments with the Office of Rail and Road.

• Scope: The ITT commercial envelope will include a breakdown of each of the following to form a total cost of ownership:

o Licencing – Fixed costs based on defined parameters/user metrics (120 users). Non committed pricing requested for an increase in users of 20 volume increments, but not evaluated.

o Support – Fixed costs based on defined parameters/user metrics (120 users). Non committed pricing requested for an increase in users of 20 volume increments, but not evaluated.

o Configuration: Fixed costs aligned to defined milestones

o User Volume Increases – defined cost for an increase in users, in increments of 20. Not accounted for in the commercial evaluation.

The contract will be awarded to a single supplier for a maximum duration of 8 years. Network Rail shall have the right to exercise a contractual break at the end of Year 5 in accordance with the terms of the contract.