Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Lancashire County Council
Fishergate
Preston
PR18XJ
Contact
Paul Johnstone
casprocurement@lancashire.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKD4 - Lancashire
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
one.5) Main activity
General public services
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
South Lancaster Growth Catalyst - Railway Structure
Reference number
SLGCRS22/07/21
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 45234100 - Railway construction works
two.1.3) Type of contract
Works
two.1.4) Short description
Lancashire County Council is to undertake a significant highway infrastructure intervention to increase the highway capacity north of Galgate village and south of Lancaster University to cater for additional traffic anticipated to be generated as a result of the development of residential properties at Bailrigg Garden Village. As part of the development a highway link is required which will cross beneath the West Coast Main Line Track. Lancashire intends to award a contract for the design and construction of the railway link to Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd
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: £12,500,000
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 45221242 - Railway tunnel construction work
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKD4 - Lancashire
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Lancashire County Council is to undertake significant highway works that includes a reconfiguration of the highways structure north of Galgate village and south of Lancaster University. Included in the development of the infrastructure will be a highway link which will cross beneath the West Coast Main Line, which is the twin track main north-south rail connection in the west of England.
The contract is for the design and construction of the railway structure that will form part of the highway link which will cross beneath the railway track and provide connectivity between the village spine road and the upgraded infrastructure on the other side of the West Coast Main Line.
The railway track in this area is on a high embankment which precludes the highway crossing over the railway by bridge due to cost, excessive land take, visual and environmental impacts. As a consequence, the crossing will pass through the embankment under the track with a bridge supporting the track above. Construction will involve building a bridge structure adjacent to the track, full closure of the West Coast Main Line, removal of a section of the track and embankment and the new bridge inserted into place. The embankment, power, signalling and the track will then be reinstated.
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below
- The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the regulations
Explanation:
Lancashire County Council, as a contracting authority, intends to award a contract to Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd for the design and construction of a railway structure that will cross beneath the West Coast Main Line railway track and provide connectivity between the Galgate village spine road and the upgraded infrastructure on the other side of the railway line.
The contract will be placed without prior publication pursuant to The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/102) relying on Regulation 32, specifically Regulation 32(2)(b), that sets out an exclusion to the usual requirement for a public works contract being procured by a contracting authority to conduct a compliant competitive procurement.
Lancashire County Council is to make a direct award to Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd based on Regulation 32(2)(b)(ii) because it considers competition is absent for technical reasons.
The railway infrastructure works are estimated to be of £12.5M value as part of a wider £140M infrastructure scheme where the balance of the highways infrastructure works is being competed for as a public works contract. For the £12.5M railway infrastructure works, Network Rail are already expected to provide approximately £2M of non-contestable works and are the only solution to provide the full railway infrastructure works package (contestable and non-contestable works with the contestable works awarded through Network Rail's own competed framework arrangements by mini-competition) and managing track access/possession on a critical transport asset. The scope has several aggravating factors being technically challenging and high risk compared to other railway infrastructure works opportunities. It relies on complex project management and liaison with Network Rail in any event. Network Rail are understood to have the capacity, market presence and expertise as market leaders in the rail sector for delivering works similar to Lancashire County Council's requirements with reduced interface risk and a more co-ordinated approach to reduce risk of rail service interruption.
Please note that this is a voluntary transparency notice and the contracts have not yet been awarded.
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
22 July 2021
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
Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd
London
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKI - London
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot/concession: £12,500,000
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £12,500,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Lancashire County Council
Lancashire County Council, County Hall, Fishergate
Preston
PR18XE
Telephone
+44 01772535465
Country
United Kingdom