Infrabel, Belgium’s railway infrastructure manager, has issued a framework agreement for complete re-electrification and civil engineering works on the L162 railway line between Jemelle and Grupont. This €33.5 million contract spans 36 months and includes catenary infrastructure renewal, linear civil engineering, and signaling works.
Executive Summary
Infrabel seeks contractors to completely renew the catenary infrastructure and perform linear civil engineering and signaling works on line L162 between Jemelle and Grupont in the Dinant district. The framework agreement is valued at €33,500,000.00 over 36 months. Bids closed September 23, 2025. This procurement follows a negotiated procedure with prior publication, requiring French-language submissions. The project encompasses overhead power line replacement, drainage construction, railway signaling systems, and associated civil engineering works. Firms with experience in railway electrification, catenary systems, and Belgian rail infrastructure standards should have prioritized this opportunity. The substantial contract value and Infrabel’s extensive procurement history (1,400 contracts worth €2.3 billion) demonstrate consistent demand for railway infrastructure services in Belgium.
Tender Overview
Basic Information
Document ID: 00553591-2025 Reference Number: TR 083315 Publication Date: August 25, 2025 Deadline: September 23, 2025 Status: Closed Source: TED BOSA
Financial Summary
Total Estimated Value: €33,500,000.00 Contract Duration: 36 months EU Funding: No
The procurement consists of a single lot (TR 083315 – 1) covering all re-electrification and civil engineering works on the designated railway section.
Budget Breakdown
The tender documentation does not provide detailed cost breakdowns by work category. The framework agreement encompasses:
- Complete catenary infrastructure renewal
- Linear civil engineering works
- Signaling system works
- Drainage construction works
The scope covers the L162 railway line section between Jemelle and Grupont in the Arrondissement of Dinant.
Buyer Profile Analysis
Organization Overview
Official Name: INFRABEL Contact Email: 41533.support1030@infrabel.be Phone: +32 00000000 External URL: https://www.infrabel.be/
Buyer Type: Body governed by public law Main Activity: Railway services Country: Belgium Project Location: Arr. Dinant
Organizational Background
Infrabel is Belgium’s railway infrastructure manager, operating as a body governed by public law with the main activity of railway services.
Procurement History
The buyer’s procurement data shows extensive contracting activity:
Previous Contract Winners (Top 10):
- RENTABEL: €37M across 22 contracts, average €1.7M per contract
- JACOBS ENGINEERING: €71M across 18 contracts, average €3.9M per contract
- MOBIX: €48M across 15 contracts, average €3.2M per contract
- DE WITTE VANDECAVEYE: €38M across 15 contracts, average €2.5M per contract
- ALGEMENE ONDERNEMINGEN E DE VUYST: €18M across 15 contracts, average €1.2M per contract
- SOCOGETRA: €24M across 14 contracts, average €1.7M per contract
- SOCIETE ANONYME DE CONSTRUCTION ET ENTRETIEN: €5M across 14 contracts, average €358K per contract
- JEROUVILLE: €7.5M across 13 contracts, average €627K per contract
- BESIX: €73M across 12 contracts, average €6.1M per contract
- STRUKTON RAIL: €56M across 12 contracts, average €4.7M per contract
Contractor countries represented in previous awards:
- Belgium: €858M across 477 contracts, average €1.8M per contract
- France: €1.8M across 4 contracts, average €443K per contract
- Luxembourg: €8.1M across 9 contracts, average €897K per contract
- Germany: €31M across 3 contracts, average €10M per contract
- Netherlands: €3.6M across 1 contract, average €3.6M per contract
Total procurement activity:
- 1,400 contract awards worth €2.3 billion total
- 511 similar contract awards worth €902M
- 641 similar renewals worth €70M
- 777 total renewals worth €117M
- 26 similar open tenders (value not disclosed)
- 33 total open tenders (value not disclosed)
The market data indicates 5,500 other buyers with similar projects valued at €7 billion.
Working Relationship Indicators
The procurement follows a negotiated procedure with prior publication of a call for competition. This approach allows for dialogue and negotiation during the evaluation process.
Evaluation criteria are not disclosed in the available documentation.
The framework agreement structure provides flexibility in managing work execution over the 36-month period. Language requirements specify French-only submissions.
Scope and Requirements Analysis
Service Categories
The framework agreement covers:
Catenary Infrastructure Renewal: Complete renewal of catenary infrastructure
Linear Civil Engineering: Civil engineering works on the railway line, including drainage construction
Railway Signaling Works: Signaling system works
Technical Requirements
The tender specifies works on railway line L162 between Jemelle and Grupont. The specific technical requirements are contained in the full tender documentation available through the official procurement sources.
Geographic Coverage
The project covers the railway line section between Jemelle and Grupont on line L162 in the Arrondissement of Dinant.
Market Opportunity Assessment
Target Businesses
This procurement targets:
Railway Electrification Specialists: Firms with experience in catenary system installation and railway electrical infrastructure
Railway Construction Contractors: Companies capable of performing civil engineering works in railway environments
Signaling System Contractors: Contractors experienced with railway signaling installations
Multi-Discipline Contractors: Firms offering combined capabilities across catenary, civil engineering, and signaling disciplines
French-Language Capability: Ability to submit offers in French as required by the tender
Competition Analysis
The procurement history reveals:
BESIX and JACOBS ENGINEERING lead in total contract value (€73M and €71M respectively) with larger average contract sizes (€6.1M and €3.9M).
RENTABEL leads in contract count (22) with average values of €1.7M.
MOBIX, DE WITTE VANDECAVEYE, and STRUKTON RAIL represent strong competitors with substantial experience (€48M-€56M in historical awards).
Market context:
- 511 similar contract awards worth €902M from Infrabel
- 641 similar renewal opportunities worth €70M
- 5,500 buyers with similar projects worth €7B
The closed tender status (September 23, 2025 deadline) means the bidding period has ended.
Barriers to Entry
Railway Infrastructure Expertise: Specialized knowledge required for catenary systems, railway civil engineering, and signaling works
French Language Requirement: Submissions must be in French
Track Record: Previous experience with railway infrastructure projects
Financial Capacity: Ability to manage €33.5M contract over 36 months
Strategic Insights
Key Success Factors
Note: This tender closed September 23, 2025. The following analysis applies to similar future opportunities.
Successful bids would demonstrate:
- Previous railway infrastructure projects, particularly catenary installations
- Experience with railway civil engineering and signaling works
- French-language project management and documentation capabilities
- Financial capacity to manage large-scale, multi-year contracts
- References from railway infrastructure managers
- Understanding of Belgian railway project requirements
The undisclosed evaluation criteria mean specific assessment weightings are not available in the public documentation.
Risk Assessment
Potential challenges include:
Project Complexity: The combination of catenary renewal, civil engineering, and signaling works requires coordination across multiple technical disciplines.
Railway Environment: Working on railway infrastructure presents specific challenges related to railway operations and safety.
Contract Duration: The 36-month timeframe requires sustained project management and resource allocation.
Regulatory Considerations
All work must comply with Belgian railway regulations and Infrabel specifications. Specific regulatory requirements are detailed in the full tender documentation.
Actionable Recommendations
For Potential Bidders
Note: This tender closed September 23, 2025. The following recommendations apply to similar future opportunities.
Firms interested in future Infrabel railway infrastructure tenders should:
- Monitor Infrabel procurement notices and the TED/BOSA platforms for similar opportunities
- Build reference projects demonstrating railway infrastructure capability
- Develop French-language technical documentation and project management capabilities
- Form partnerships if gaps exist in catenary, civil engineering, or signaling expertise
- Review Infrabel’s procurement history to understand typical contract structures and values
For Industry Observers
This tender reveals several significant trends:
Railway Infrastructure Investment: The €33.5M contract indicates continued investment in Belgian railway electrification and modernization.
Framework Agreement Approach: Infrabel uses framework agreements for infrastructure projects, providing structure over multi-year periods.
Negotiated Procedures: The negotiated procedure with prior publication allows for dialogue during the procurement process.
Market Participation: Belgian contractors dominate awards (€858M across 477 contracts), though international firms from neighboring countries participate successfully.
Consistent Procurement Activity: With 641 similar renewal opportunities worth €70M and 777 total renewals worth €117M, Infrabel maintains regular procurement cycles.
Related Opportunities
The tender documentation does not reference corrigenda or related notices beyond the original contract notice published August 25, 2025.
The buyer’s procurement profile shows:
- 26 similar open tenders (value not disclosed)
- 33 total open tenders (value not disclosed)
- 641 similar renewal opportunities worth €70M
- 777 total renewal opportunities worth €117M
This suggests regular procurement cycles for railway infrastructure work. Firms should monitor Infrabel notices for additional opportunities.
Similar opportunities exist with 5,500 other buyers conducting similar projects worth €7 billion.
Contractors should monitor:
- Infrabel procurement platform for Belgian railway opportunities
- TED and BOSA databases for Belgian public procurement
- Railway infrastructure procurement across Europe
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PS: This analysis is based on publicly available tender documentation and data provided by the contracting authority. While we strive to provide accurate information, users are responsible for verifying all details against official tender documents before making any procurement decisions.
