Supply of Earthwork Monitoring Equipment to Network Rail

Network Rail Infrastructrure Limited
The Quadrant: MK, Elder Gate
Contact point(s): National Supply Chain
For the attention of: Leonie Seymour
MK9 1EN Milton Keynes
UNITED KINGDOM
E-mail: leonie.seymour@networkrail.co.uk

Internet address(es):

General address of the contracting entity: www.networkrail.co.uk

Further information can be obtained from: The above mentioned contact point(s)

Specifications and additional documents (including documents for a dynamic purchasing system) can be obtained from: The above mentioned contact point(s)

Tenders or requests to participate must be sent to: The above mentioned contact point(s)

Railway services

The contracting entity is purchasing on behalf of other contracting entities: no

The Supply of Earthwork Monitoring Equipment.

Supplies
Purchase
Main site or location of works, place of delivery or of performance: UK.

NUTS code UK

The notice involves the establishment of a framework agreement

Framework agreement with a single operator

Duration of the framework agreement

Duration in years: 5

Network Rail Infrastructure Limited wishes to procure a new supply Framework for Earthwork Monitoring Equipment to meet the needs of its internal customers, work contractors and external customers.

71700000, 71351500, 90711500, 71313450, 45111250

The contract is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA): no

This contract is divided into lots: no

Variants will be accepted: yes

Network Rail (NR) wishes to source an earthworks remote monitoring solution. The purpose of the solution is to help NR identify earth movements (particularly on cuttings and embankments) which may lead to movement or obstruction of the track, posing a threat to train movements.
NR’s requirements are as follows:
1. The solution shall allow the remote monitoring of earth movements on the rail network.
2. Typical monitoring sites will be 100 metres in length with two rows of monitoring nodes spaced 5 m apart (approximately 40 nodes).
3. There is a current requirement to monitor 250 sites that will be located throughout the UK in Scotland, London North Eastern, Wessex and Western Routes.
4. Due to the remote nature of a number of the sites, power cannot be assumed to be available at the sites. Therefore, the solution shall be designed to work without a mains power supply.
5. The sensors, data logger and other on-site equipment shall be designed in such a way as to require the minimum of physical on-site maintenance and configuration and as part of this requirement NR envisage that the equipment battery life shall be at least five years under normal monitoring conditions.
6. The solution will be required to function 24 hours per day, 7 days per week sampling continuously and transmitting information when a set trigger level has been reached to effectively monitor earthwork movements. Full functionality is expected throughout periods of adverse weather as the risk of earth movement is greatest during or in the aftermath of heavy rainfall.
7. It is expected that the chosen solution will make use of tilt sensors mounted on the top of 2.5 m long metal poles driven into the ground to an embedment of 1.5 m to provide readings of earth movements.
8. The metal poles shall be segmented with screw thread connectors to allow different pole lengths in combinations of 1 m and 0.5 m to be utilised to suit different ground conditions.
9. The sensors should be fixed to the top of each pole by a threaded connector, tightened by spanner and if required with a means of ensuring they are aligned correctly.
10. The sensors shall be orientated on top of the pole so that the major tilt meter axis points directly down-slope, so that each tilt meter always records movement relative to the slope direction.
11. Exact locations can be locally modified within 1.5m in any direction to avoid trees and obstructions however this should be kept to a minimum.
12. The sensors shall be capable of operating in a range from – 40°C to + 60°C and evidence of this will be sought during the tender stage.
13. The sensing equipment (and hence the system) shall have the capability to detect any movement of the sensor in the x, y and z directions of more than 1 mm.
14. The sensors shall communicate wirelessly with a data logging device/gateway node and other nodes placed on the same earthwork asset (to prevent issues with trailing wires across the site).
15. The data logging device/gateway node shall connect to a GPRS modem powered by solar panels.
16. The sensing equipment shall have the capability to send movement readings and battery power levels to the central system (see below) based on the following triggers:
1. On movement beyond a set threshold (to immediately notify the central system of pre-defined significant earth movement).
2. Periodically (time based) e.g. every 3 hours
3. On request from the central system
17. The sensors shall be capable of receiving commands from the central system and hence the ability to receive remote configuration changes to include but not be limited to increasing the transmission rate of results.
18. The sensors shall be enclosed in casing with a rating of no less than IP68.
Cameras
19. In addition to the tilt sensors, the solution shall also allow the central system to remotely view through digital still camera(s) “live” images of the 100m long site (to ensure that no earth or other debris has slipped down to track level).
20. The cameras shall be capable of dealing with daylight and night conditions, low and changeable light levels, and periods of adverse weather including heavy rain, hail or snow.
21. The cameras shall be installed on metal posts fixed permanently and securely in the ground. Cameras should be robust and reasonably vandal proof.
22. The cameras shall take reference pictures for comparison purposes and pictures upon request, when prompted by the central system, in response to movement events.
Solar Panels
23. Solar panels may be supplied to power the data logging device/gateway node, GPRS modem and cameras as necessary to deliver the five year battery life of the system.
Central Asset Monitoring and Control System
24. Network Rail require each of the new asset monitoring sites to be linked eventually to Network Rail’s own asset monitoring system (currently monitoring over 30,000 assets on the rail network) (PHASE 2). However, initially the Supplier will need to control the sites and host the data from the sites on their own IT monitoring and control system (PHASE 1).
25. The Supplier’s Phase 1 system shall not only control the sites and host the data from the sites but shall also provide a web accessible user interface to allow NR users to monitor the sites by viewing current and historic, sensor readings, battery levels and camera images. The alerts and alarms during Phase 1 will be required to be in email format to a dedicated Network Rail email address.
26. In both Phase 1 and 2 the sites will communicate with the central system using GPRS on the mobile network used by Network Rail. The sim card and monthly connection costs for each site will be provided to the Supplier at Network Rail’s cost. In circumstances where Network Rail’s usual mobile network does not provide the coverage required, Network Rail will work collaboratively with the Supplier to source the best solution at that site.
27. In Phase 2 the Supplier shall work with Network Rail to deliver the functionality of Phase 1 directly through Network Rail’s own asset monitoring system. An interface specification is available and shall be complied with.
Installation and Maintenance
28. Following suitable training of NR staff by the Supplier and joint site installation by the Supplier and NR staff at 10 sites, the equipment shall be capable of being installed and commissioned by NR staff with remote support from the Supplier to establish a fully operating connection between the system and the Supplier’s server.
29. The system shall be capable of operating during the five year life of the batteries with very minimal maintenance i.e. a maintenance visit required not more than annually.
30. The system shall be capable of working with some of the nodes out of action due to failure or damage and of accepting new replacement nodes with minimal re-commissioning.
Timescales
31. In order to meet NR’s time-scales for installation of these systems onto the railway it is envisaged that Suppliers will need to have a system readily available (though possibly requiring limited adjustment to meet NR’s exact requirements) that can be demonstrated to provide the required outputs.

Options: yes
Description of these options: This contract will be for 3 years with a provision to allow it to be extended for up to a further 2 years.

This contract is subject to renewal: no

Duration in months: 60 (from the award of the contract)

Payments shall be made in accordance with the conditions of contract specified in the tender documents.

The performance of the contract is subject to particular conditions: yes
Description of particular conditions: The particular conditions will be details in the tender and contract documentation and will be based upon one of Network Rail’s standard forms of contract.

Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if the requirements are met: Applicants will be required to complete a Pre Qualification Questionnaire.

Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if the requirements are met: Applicants will be required to complete a Pre Qualification Questionnaire.

Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if the requirements are met: Applicants will be required to complete a Pre Qualification Questionnaire.

Execution of the service is reserved to a particular profession: no

Legal persons should indicate the names and professional qualifications of the staff responsible for the execution of the service: no

Negotiated
Some candidates have already been selected (if appropriate under certain types of negotiated procedures): no

The most economically advantageous tender in terms of the criteria stated in the specifications or in the invitation to tender or to negotiate

An electronic auction will be used: no

no

Time limit for receipt of requests for documents or for accessing documents: 1.12.2014 – 10:00
Payable documents: no

1.12.2014 – 10:00

Persons authorised to be present at the opening of tenders: no

This is a recurrent procurement: no

The contract is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: no

Precise information on deadline(s) for lodging appeals: Network Rail will incorporate a stand still period at the point information on the award of the contract is communicated to tenderers. That notification will provide full information on the award decision. The standstill period, which will be for a minimum of ten calender days, provides time for unsuccessful tenderers to challenge the award decision before the contract is entered into.
The Utilities Contract Regulations 2006 (SI 2006 No.6) provides for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of harm by a breach of the rules to take action in the High Court (England, Wales and Northern Ireland).

6.11.2014