5. GWR - On-Board Toilet Repair Services

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.

The requirement is to establish a compliant contract for the repair, maintenance and supply of parts for GWR's on-board train toilet systems, ensuring continued availability of specialist technical support and components required to maintain fleet reliability and passenger service standards.

FIRST GREATER WESTERN LIMITED

RAIL INSTALLATION & TECHNICAL SERVICES LTD

Procedure type

Direct award

Description of how these justifications apply

GWR intends to directly award an agreement for rail installation and technical services relating to the repair and maintenance of on-train toilet systems.

The supplier has specialist technical knowledge, experience and competency relating to the existing equipment installed across the relevant GWR fleet. The works require an understanding of the existing systems, interfaces and applicable rail safety and engineering requirements.

Introducing an alternative supplier would require additional technical assessment, familiarisation and competency assurance and could result in increased cost, delay and risk to fleet availability. The direct award therefore supports continuity of maintenance and the timely return of vehicles to service.

A competitive tender exercise for the longer-term requirement will be launched in due course, with this direct award providing an interim contractual arrangement until that process is completed.

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