Dear RIA Members,
Welcome to the latest version of RIA's Procurement Watch, featuring procurement updates from key clients as well as market intelligence and information collected by RIA.
With funding announced for Control Period 7 (CP7) for both England & Wales and Scotland, we now have more clarity over what we can expect from Network Rail's five year delivery period, starting April 2024. RIA was also pleased to see recognition of the value of the supply chain, and the need for visible and smooth pipelines, from both the Department for Transport and Transport Scotland. These are things that RIA has long pushed for on behalf of our members. We now await the Strategic Business Plans for CP7, which we are expecting to see in April. We will be looking at these carefully and will be gathering feedback from RIA Members.
We would encourage members to sign up for our online Infrastructure Group on 16 March, which will brief members on CP7 and feature updates from the Office of Rail and Road, Network Rail Planning & Regulation, and Network Rail Southern and Wales & Western. Register here.
Read on for resources, including:
• Network Rail organograms, specially produced for RIA Members
• Information about tendering systems used by key clients such as Transport for London, HS2, East West Rail, and the Network Rail regions
• Summaries of recent client briefings and pipelines
• Information about live and upcoming procurement events
And finally a reminder about RIA's Tenders, Competitions, and Pipelines page which can be found on our website here. We hope that you will find the below information useful, and that you take the chance to share this within your organisation.
Robert Cook, Policy DirectorIfyouhaveanyfeedbackorintelligencethatwecanshareand/orsuggestionsfor futureadditionspleasecontactisabella.lawson@riagb.org.uk.
PleasenotethatthisProcurementWatchisforRIAMembersonlyandweaskthatyou donotshareitbeyondyourorganisation.Alsonotethatthisdocumentshouldnotbe readasprofessionalprocurementorlegaladvice.
Key Client Updates
Department for Transport
The DfT Organogram can be found here, and was updated in January 2023. Paul Rogers, Commercial Director, oversees DfT supplier relationships. The DfT SME supply chain lead is Robert Vaughan and you can get in touch at GCDSMELead@dft.gov.uk and read more here. General supplier queries should be addressed to supplychainmanagement@dft.gov.uk.
DfT are holding a series of SME Supplier Events. Read more and register below:
• Newcastle, 21 March
• Edinburgh, 17 May, as part of a Supplier Development Programme Meet the Buyer
DfT uses Crown Commercial Service Framework Agreements for much of its sourcing activities. Please see the CCS website for further information on how to find
opportunities. If there is no established framework, DfT will advertise all procurement opportunities on Contracts Finder or Find a Tender Service. Individual teams like Rail Group procure their own advice from the STAR framework.
Transport for London (see a November 2022 organogram here)
TfLhaveprovidedthefollowingmessageforRIAmembers:
There are many great opportunities to work with TfL to deliver a high-quality service to Londoners and its visitors, and to achieve the Mayor’s vision of promoting healthy streets, increasing the public transport experience and providing new homes and jobs.
To find these opportunities please ensure that you are registered on these systems:
• Contracts Finder - TfL encourages suppliers to apply for indirect opportunities via Tier 1 contractors
• Find a tender – UK government’s system to find high value contracts (above £118,000)
TfL has recently changed its organisational structure: the Chief Procurement Officer role no longer exists, and there are now two Directors in Procurement and Commercial: Jonathan Wharfe, Operational Director, and Jadon Silva, Capital Director. Supplier Relationship Management is now led by the Capability and Supplier Management Team, headed by Declan Rate.
HS2
HS2 advertises opportunities on CompeteFor and the HS2 Supply Chain website. HS2 also publish information about indirect contract opportunities with their supply chain here HS2 have signed the Rail Supply Group's Work Pipeline Visibility Charter and is now making the Technical Specifications for all
its Rail Systems packages publicly available. These can be viewed here. Sign up to the HS2 Supply Chain newsletter here.
HS2 have recently published an updated Supplier Guide. The new guide offers guidance for interested parties and introduces key Tier 1 construction parties, linking to their procurement and supply chain teams. This can be found here.
HS2 Station Construction Partner, Mace Dragados Joint Venture, are beginning a multiyear programme of procurement for both Euston Station and Curzon Street Station. The Mace Dragados HS2 Euston Station Procurement Pipeline can be viewed here. The Curzon Street Station procurement pipeline will be available here once published, and suppliers can register their interest for Curzon Street by emailing BCZ.procurement@macedragados.com.
Together with the Supply Chain Sustainability School and their main construction partners, HS2 have created a support programme to improve sustainability skills and performance of all companies connected with the UK’s largest infrastructure project as well as those who would like to get involved.
The HS2 Supply Chain School initiative uses a collaborative approach to learning and competence linked to HS2 strategic objectives. Find out more here.
East West Rail
East West Rail uses Jaggaer as their chosen e-tendering system. Suppliers can register there to be kept up-to-date on new contract opportunities.
East West Rail recently published details of a £1.1 billion contract for civils works, as part of the Department for Transport's updated commercial pipeline. The contract is for a construction phase main civil works partners. Procurement is due to start in August 2024, with work starting in 2025 and finishing in 2032.
For background, the East West Rail Alliance was procured by Network Rail to construct the section of EWR between Bicester and Bletchley (EWR2), and is made up of Atkins,
Laing O’Rourke, VolkerRail and Network Rail. To access its tenders, you can visit CompeteFor.
Network Rail
Network Rail updates their procurement pipeline every four weeks. It includes varying levels of detail for each Network Rail region as well as for national programmes and can be found here. Renewals forecasts and volume reports are also published on the same website.
Network Rail uses BravoNR, Compete For, and RISQS (The Railway Industry Supplier Qualification Scheme) to share information on current opportunities. To sign up for the Network Rail supplier newsletter contact suppliercommunications@networkrail.co.uk Network Rail have introduced a new PQQ question for all procurement with a value of £5m per annum or greater. To proceed, suppliers now have to publish a Carbon Reduction Plan and be publicly committed to achieving Net Zero by 2050. Read more here.
Network Rail recently announced that when the Management Consultancy Framework expires on 31 March 2023, it will not be reproduced. Network Rail will utilise a number of both internal and external existing frameworks for future requirements alongside standalone Find a Tender Service (FaTS). When using external frameworks, Network Rail will select the most appropriate public sector framework for the type of consultancy being procured.
The National Train Control Systems framework will cover both conventional and digital signalling, including two lot multi-supplier frameworks (Lot 1 Conventional for 4 suppliers and Lot 2 Digital/ETCS for 5 suppliers). The contract will be based on a longterm framework for 10 years (NEC4). Read more here.
RIA has asked Network Rail to provide updated regional organograms, and you can download these here. A recent overview of CP7 Procurement Plans across the regions as well as for national digital and conventional signalling can be found here. Read on
for updates from each Network Rail region.
Network Rail Southern (see organogram here)
Network Rail Southern recently announced the alliance partners in its Southern Integrated Delivery portfolio for 2024-2034, covering CP7 and CP8. The partners will be:
• VolkerFitzpatrick for Buildings and Civils
• Octavius for Electrification and Plant
• VolkerRail for Track
• Atkins for Signalling
Following the publication of the Southern Region Minor Works Buildings and Civils Framework Market Sounding in late 2022, Network Rail has this week confirmed that the Contract Notice for the Southern Region Minor Works Buildings and Civils Framework has now been published. The Contract Notice can be accessed via Find a Tender here and you can read the full message for RIA members here
Network Rail Southern will be hosting a Meet the Buyer event on 27 March. This is specifically aimed at SMEs who are currently, or are interested in, working with Network Rail. The event is taking place in person in London. Read more here. The event is now full but you can email SouthernSupplierEnquiries@networkrail.co.uk to be placed on the waiting list.
Network Rail North West & Central (see organogram here)
North West & Central are undertaking their regional CP7 framework procurement in two phases. Phase 1 for renewals and reactive/minor works is underway. The region recently announced that they have taken the decision to delay launch of the procurement for Enhancements (Phase 2), to avoid conflict with ongoing procurement in the region.
The revised programme will commence with the issue of PIN in early March 2023 via the find-a-tender service to invite interested parties to register attendance for a launch event, which will take place in late March / early April 2023. The exact date will be confirmed in the PIN, with further programme dates confirmed in the event. Key facts from the region include:
• The Multi-Discipline Portfolio is split by asset type and size, covering Capital Delivery & Works Delivery
• The ITT for Phase 1 Renewals, Reactive and Minor works (B&C, E&P) is live and closing in March 2023.
• Track is not a priority as contracts are in place until CP8
• OLE: Likely to be next priority after Multi-Discipline, pending funding decisions
RIA understands that the pre-qualification exercise for NW&C will look very similar compared to other regions and compared to past exercises. The main difference will be the types of case studies suppliers might want to submit.
In addition to BravoNR, NW&C encourages SMEs to sign up to CompeteFor to view opportunities. To make sure you get invited to any future events and briefings you can get in touch with Charlotte Blach at charlotte.blach@networkrail.co.uk
A December 2022 supplier briefing outlined plans for Midlands Rail Hub. View the slides here. They include key indicative timings (subject to change) such as:
• PQQ Period: July 2023 - October 2023
• ITN Period: October 2023 - April 2024
• Award: June 2024 - August 2024
Network Rail Eastern (see organogram here)
RIA understands that Network Rail Eastern CP7 plans will build up from the route's individually tailored plans (East Coast, North & East, East Midlands, and Anglia routes).
RIA understands that upcoming plans for procurement include the below. Although please note that these will be subject to funding and internal approvals, and timings and details may still change.
• Eastern Route Partnership Framework: A six week PQQ is scheduled to be issued on 22 March. This will replace the abandoned procurement event in part, but there are also some changes.
• Midland Mainline Electrification Partnership: They are hoping to go to market in April, subject to funding and internal approvals.
• Reactive and Small Schemes Framework: The plan is to issue the PQQ in May. This will cover small schemes, including reactive works, with values ranging up to £500k.
• Enhancements: From July and onwards they are planning potential enhancements sourcing activities (rail systems based). This will depend on funding decisions taken as a part of the Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline.
• From August onwards, the plan is to review standalone non-railway corridor frameworks, looking to optimise the use of existing non-Network Rail frameworks.
Updates about the above will be announced via Bravo.
The region held a supplier briefing in January 2023, which included details about CP7 Market Engagement. View the slides from this here. Mike Halliday is the new Programme Director for Supply Chain and suppliers can get in touch with him at Mike.Halliday@networkrail.co.uk
Network Rail Wales & Western (see organogram here)
Network Rail Wales & Western hold monthly supplier updates and they also host a supply chain Teams channel where regular updates are posted. To register and gain access to the channel please email Patrick.Benjuya@networkrail.co.uk.
You can download a briefing on the W&W Intelligent Client model here.
Wales & Western provided an updated Procurement Pipeline on 17 November 2022.This can be downloaded here.
In January, Wales & Western announced six contracting arrangements for CP7:
• Wales and Western electrification and plant: AmcoGiffen
• Wales and Western stations and buildings work contract: Octavius
• Wales and Borders structures: AmcoGiffen
• Wales and Borders geotechnical and off-track drainage work: BAM Nuttall
• Western geotechnical and off-track drainage work: Taylor Woodrow
• Western structures: Morgan Sindall Infrastructure
For signalling, procurement for CP7 and beyond will be via the national team. For track, the Colas Rail / AECOM alliance contracts are expected to continue in CP7.
All new procurements will be under collaborative NEC4 contracts.
Network Rail Scotland (see organogram here)
For any questions about supplier engagement, please get in touch with Martin McLaren, Head of Supplier Management at martin.mclaren@networkrail.co.uk
While exact timelines are to be confirmed, indicative dates for Scotland's Railway CP7 Procurement are:
• Electrification: Award issued in April 2024
• Buildings, Civils and Geotech Frameworks: Award issued in April 2024
• SP&C Frameworks: Award issued in 2024
• National Major Signalling Frameworks: Award issued in July 2026
• Rail Systems Alliance Scotland: TBC for CP8
Wales
For Wales, Sell2Wales is the national advertising portal where Welsh public sector organisations including Transport for Wales (TfW) post their contract opportunities. One of the aims of Sell2Wales is to help SMEs work successfully with the public sector in Wales. You can search for tenders here. See also the National Procurement Service which offers procurement advice and guidance.
Global Centre of Rail Excellence
The Global Centre of Rail Excellence (GCRE) will provide a facility for world class research, testing and certification of rolling stock, infrastructure and innovative new rail technologies that fill a strategic gap, not just here in the UK, but across Europe when it opens in 2025.
The site is currently being constructed, with storage facilities being available later in 2023. Track construction will begin in 2024 and the site will be fully operational from the middle of 2025.
Read more about the project on the GCRE website.
GCRE is currently running a Railway Asset Showcase competition, offering the rail supply chain the opportunity to showcase donated products, technologies and assets by including them in the GCRE build as it is being constructed over the next two years. More detail can be found here.
GCRE uses Sell2Wales and their Buyer Profile can be found here. Tamara Evans is the procurement contact (tamara.evans@gcre.wales) for GCRE.
Scotland
Public Contracts Scotland is the Scottish Government’s official national portal for public sector contract opportunities. Supplier Journey offers guidance for suppliers on the Scottish public sector procurement process and the Supplier Development Programme provides free courses on how to tender and bid better. PCS-Tender is the national eTendering system, centrally funded by the Scottish Government
ScotRail
ScotRail plans to replace 65% of its train fleet (around 675 carriages) in the period 2027 to 2035. This will be delivered through three procurement competitions:
• Phase 1 2022-23: Procurement for a new fleet of suburban trains which will enter passenger service between 2027 and 2030. These trains will connect local communities with Edinburgh, Glasgow, Perth, Dundee and Aberdeen.
• Phase 2 2024-25 (indicative): Procurement for a new fleet of trains for rural routes.
• Phase 3 2025-26 (indicative): Procurement for a new fleet of intercity trains to connect the central belt with Aberdeen and Inverness.
Read more here.
