Award

Extension of rolling stock lease with Eversholt Rail Group for Class 802 trains currently operated on the GWR rail network.

  • First Greater Western Limited

F15: Voluntary ex ante transparency notice

Notice identifier: 2022/S 000-014587

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-033fa1

Published 25 May 2022, 8:25am



Section one: Contracting authority/entity

one.1) Name and addresses

First Greater Western Limited

8th Floor,The Point, 37 North Wharf Road

LONDON

W21AF

Contact

Stephen Stewart

Email

stephen.stewart@firstrail.com

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UKK - South West (England)

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.gwr.com/

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Other type

Railway Transport Services

one.5) Main activity

Other activity

Railway Transport Services


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

Extension of rolling stock lease with Eversholt Rail Group for Class 802 trains currently operated on the GWR rail network.

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 60200000 - Railway transport services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

Extension of a lease agreement with Eversholt Rail Group for the provision of the existing fleet of bi-mode Class 802s (does not include maintenance). The current lease expires in March 2023, and it is intended to extend the lease to June 2028.

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)

Value excluding VAT: £272,000,000

two.2) Description

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKI - London
  • UKK - South West (England)
Main site or place of performance

Great Western Railways network from London into the South West of England and Wales.

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

In preparation for an award of a National Rail Contract from the Department for Transport to Great Western Railway (operated by First Group), it is intended to extend the rolling stock lease with Eversholt Rail Group for the existing fleet of bi-mode Class 802s (does not include maintenance). The lease is expected to be extended to June 2028.

The Contracting Authority intends to extend the rolling stock lease in accordance with Regulation 50(1)(c)(ii) of the Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016 for technical reasons. This is because there is no other UK based bi-mode fleet available in sufficient quantities or within the requisite timeframe to meet GWR's needs for the National Rail Contract. GWR are not able to consider diesel only alternatives as this would prevent compliance to GWR's Environmental and Sustainability Plan. GWR intend to award a lease extension to Eversholt Rail Group (subject to agreement of a National Rail Contract between DfT and GWR) of the Class 802s to cover the term of the National Rail Contract.

The Contracting Authority will observe a 10 day standstill period from the date of issue of this notice prior to entering into the lease extension with Eversholt.

The standstill period will end on Monday 6th June 2022.

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: No


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.1) Type of procedure

Negotiated without a prior call for competition

  • The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason:
    • absence of competition for technical reasons

Explanation:

The Contracting Authority intends to extend the rolling stock lease in accordance with Regulation 50(1)(c)(ii) of the Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016 for technical reasons. This is because there is no other UK based bi-mode fleet available in sufficient quantities or within the requisite timeframe to meet GWR's needs for the National Rail Contract. GWR are not able to consider diesel only alternatives as this would prevent compliance to GWR's Environmental and Sustainability Plan. Therefore GWR intend to award a lease extension to Eversholt Rail Group (subject to agreement of a National Rail Contract between DfT and GWR) of the Class 802s to cover the term of the National Rail Contract.

The Contracting Authority will observe a 10 day standstill period from the date of issue of this notice prior to entering into the lease extension with Eversholt.

The Standstill Period will end on Monday 6th June 2022.

four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No


Section five. Award of contract/concession

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract/concession

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

25 May 2022

five.2.2) Information about tenders

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire

Eversholt Rail Limited

Ground Floor, WeWork 1 Waterhouse Square, 138-142 Holborn

London

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKI - London
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME

Yes

five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)

Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £272,000,000


Section six. Complementary information

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

High Court

London

Country

United Kingdom