1. GWR - Legacy Fleet MRO & Engineering Parts

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 a contract to ensure the continued provision of engineering maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) parts and components across its various rolling stock fleets.

The requirement ranges from consumable parts to complete electrical and mechanical assemblies for relevant vehicles, with goods delivered from the supplier's location to GWR depots within agreed timescales.

FIRST GREATER WESTERN LIMITED

UNIPART RAIL LIMITED

Procedure type

Direct award

Description of how these justifications apply

The interim arrangement is required to maintain the supply of existing and compatible components while GWR undertakes a competitive procurement for the longer-term requirement. GWR intends to commence that competitive procurement during the lifetime of this contract, with the new competitively awarded arrangement replacing the interim contract once completed.

During this interim period, changing the existing supply arrangements may result in different or incompatible products being introduced into established fleet maintenance arrangements. This could require additional engineering assessment, compatibility verification, product substitution approval, testing and changes to existing maintenance and inventory arrangements, creating disproportionate technical difficulties in the operation and maintenance of GWR's rolling stock.

The direct award is therefore intended only as an interim arrangement to maintain compatibility and continuity of supply while the competitive procurement is undertaken. The proposed contract is for 12 months, with an option to extend for a further 12 months only where required to allow completion and implementation of the competitive procurement.

Direct award justification

Single suppliers intellectual property exclusive rights

Is this procurement under a special regime?

Utilities

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