7. GWR - Rolling Stock Component Repair, Overhaul and Technical Services for HVAC Systems

Procurement description

This procurement process is being advertised and run by First Greater Western limited on its own behalf and on behalf of the successor operator of the rail passenger transport services in respect of Great Western Railway (GWR). That successor operator will be a public sector company, is expected to be a wholly owned subsidiary of DfT OLR Holdings Limited and will be ultimately owned by the Secretary of State for Transport. The date for transfer of the current operations to the successor operator is not yet confirmed. Where the transfer is completed before contract award under this procurement process, the successor operator may elect (but will not be obliged) to carry on with this procurement process in place of GWR, by taking on the role of contracting entity from the date of completion of the transfer (with this notice and all other procurement documents to be interpreted accordingly). Where the transfer is not yet completed by the time of contract award, contractual rights may be included in the contractual arrangements to enable transfer to the successor operator. Bidders should note that this procurement process (if ongoing), or any awarded contract, may be included in a transfer scheme made by the Secretary of State under section 12 of the Railways Act 2005, or the transfer may be effected outside of, or separate from, such a scheme.

If transfer takes place before the contract award the successor operator shall assume all the rights of the Client set out in this document. All references to the Client shall be deemed to refer to the successor operator for the purposes of this procurement and the successor operator shall be entitled to continue or terminate this procurement as if it was involved.

GWR requires specialist repair, overhaul, servicing and technical support for components used across its rolling stock fleet.

The requirement includes component repair and refurbishment, fault diagnosis, testing, overhaul, replacement parts and associated specialist engineering support. Services will be provided on a planned and reactive basis as required to support fleet maintenance and availability.

FIRST GREATER WESTERN LIMITED

KPL Engineering Limited trading as Pullman AC

Procedure type

Direct award

Description of how these justifications apply

KPL Engineering Limited trading as Pullman AC currently provides specialist repair, overhaul and technical support for components used within GWR's existing rolling stock fleet.

Continuity of the existing arrangements is required to maintain compatibility with existing equipment and established repair and overhaul requirements. Changing supplier may require additional technical assessment, competency assurance, testing and engineering approval, resulting in disproportionate technical difficulty, additional cost and potential delays to fleet maintenance and availability.

The direct award provides continuity of these services while GWR prepares and undertakes a full competitive procurement exercise in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023 for the longer-term requirement.

Direct award justification

Additional repeat extension partial replacement

Is this procurement under a special regime?

Utilities

Extension end date (if all the extensions are used): 30 November 2028