This notice announces the existence of a technology supplier qualification system (SQS). The scope of the SQS includes all IT goods and services (and where part of a monitoring system, the associated operational technology) required by any function within Network Rail.

The categories which are covered within this SQS are listed below, but this may be subject to change as additional categories may be added in the future.

— hardware and software value added resellers,

— software as a service,

— software applications,

— integrated platform as a service and infrastructure as a service,

— specialist platform as a service,

— professional services — IT consultancy,

— professional services — IT architecture,

— professional services — IT benchmarking,

— professional services — information security,

— support services,

— cloud services provider,

— intelligent infrastructure — infrastructure monitoring of infrastructure,

— intelligent infrastructure — infrastructure monitoring of trains,

— intelligent infrastructure — train monitoring of infrastructure,

— solution delivery including the following:

—— business process management,

—— requirements management,

—— solution design development,

—— proof of concept,

—— operating system configuration services,

— software development services,

—— application configuration and customisation,

—— integration services,

—— building infrastructure IT and installation,

—— UAT and OAT services,

—— application testing services,

—— integration testing service,

—— performance testing,

—— test management,

—— test assurance,

—— test facilities,

—— client provisioning,

—— mobile device provisioning,

—— peripherals provisioning,

—— server provisioning,

—— software provisioning,

—— decommissioning,

—— mobile application development.

The SQS has been established in order to provide a single platform for suppliers to register against multiple technology specific categories. Qualification will negate the need for a supplier to complete Network Rail’s mandatory and discretionary questions every time they are invited to participate in a competitive process.

Registered and qualified suppliers on the SQS can be considered by Network Rail for contract opportunities without further notification of requirements published via the Official Journal of the European Union. For future contract opportunities, suppliers will be selected based on the categories they are qualified for and their level of capability within that category. There may be further qualification stages required dependent on the requirements of specific contract opportunities.

Within the scope defined above, the SQS is the primary method for qualification of all technology categories until 2028. It is therefore imperative that all suppliers who wish to participate in future procurement opportunities within the technology category register their details and complete the qualification questionnaire.

Please note that there is NO cost to the supplier for registration onto the Technology SQS.

For any queries regarding the supplier qualification system, please contact either Daniel.Tough@networkrail.co.uk Alex.Jerome@networkrail.co.uk or Sinead.Freeman@networkrail.co.uk