Section one: Contracting entity
one.1) Name and addresses
ScotRail Trains Limited
Atrium Court, 50 Waterloo Street
Glasgow
G2 6HQ
Contact
Lisa Scott
Telephone
+44 3448110141
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKM - Scotland
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
one.3) Communication
Access to the procurement documents is restricted. Further information can be obtained at
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
one.6) Main activity
Railway services
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
ScotRail suburban fleet (EMU and BEMU) financier procurement
Reference number
SR-PACT-PROJ-466
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 34620000 - Rolling stock
two.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
two.1.4) Short description
This Contract Notice formally commences the procurement process for the financing of a new fleet of trains (the "Suburban Fleet"), comprising Electric Multiple Units ("EMU") and Battery Electric Multiple Units ("BEMU"). ScotRail Trains Limited ("ScotRail") intends to procure a financier / owner who will fund and retain ownership of the Suburban Fleet and subsequently lease it to ScotRail for operational use for a duration of up to 30 years via a rolling stock lease ("Lease").
The Suburban Fleet will be supplied under a Manufacture and Supply Agreement ("MSA"), which is the subject of a separate procurement process (the “Suburban Manufacturer procurement"), with Find a Tender reference 2025/S 000-071234. The financier / owner will be a party to the MSA.
The Suburban Fleet will comprise a minimum of 69 trains, with an option for additional orders of up to 37 trains.
ScotRail will select economic operators to be invited to negotiate in this procurement process in accordance with the selection criteria detailed in the Pre-Qualification Pack which includes the pre-qualification questionnaire and procurement overview and instructions document (together the "PQQ"). The Lease will be awarded according to the criteria specified in the forthcoming Invitation to Negotiate (the "ITN").
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 34620000 - Rolling stock
- 66114000 - Financial leasing services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM - Scotland
Main site or place of performance
Scotland
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The scope of services to be provided by the successful economic operator is anticipated to include the financing of the Suburban Fleet (manufactured via the MSA), with the successful Bidder taking ownership of the Suburban Fleet, and subsequently leasing it to ScotRail for a term of up to 30 years, via the Lease (such term being extendable - see II2.7).
It is anticipated that Transport Scotland will provide a Section 54 undertaking in respect of the Lease arrangements, covering the 30-year period.
ScotRail is conducting the Suburban Manufacturer Procurement in parallel with this procurement process to secure a manufacturer to design, manufacture, test, certify, commission, sell, and deliver the new Suburban Fleet, as well as provide relevant inputs relating to infrastructure and depot/stabling works to accommodate the Suburban Fleet.
The owner / financier will be a party to the MSA alongside ScotRail and the successful manufacturer appointed under the Suburban Manufacturer Procurement. Please refer to the PQQ for a summary of the interface between this procurement process and the Manufacturer Procurement.
Economic operators will have their capability and financial standing evaluated at the PQQ stage, and those Economic operators that are successful will be invited to the ITN stage, as outlined in the procurement documents.
This procurement is being run by ScotRail under the terms of its Grant Agreement with the Scottish Ministers and Scottish Rail Holdings Limited ("SRH"). It is anticipated that the contract subject to this procurement process will be awarded and entered into by ScotRail.
The aim of this procurement is to deliver Transport Scotland’s requirements as set out in Schedule 6 of the Grant Agreement. Following receipt and evaluation of tenders, ScotRail will prepare a Final Business Case ("FBC") in line with the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance for SRH and Transport Scotland consideration. Progress to contract award is dependent on the approval by Transport Scotland of a compliant and affordable FBC.
Interested parties must sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) and will be granted access to the Pre-Qualification Event in Waxdigital once the signed NDA has been returned.
Waxdigital Link: https://scotrail.wax-live.com/S2C/DisplayModules/TradeModules/Negotiations/Opportunities/ListEvents.aspx
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start date
28 April 2028
End date
27 April 2058
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
It is anticipated that the Lease term will be up to 30 years in length with an option to extend for a further 5 years.
two.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
Maximum number: 5
Objective criteria for choosing the limited number of candidates:
TBC
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
It is anticipated that the appointed financier/owner will finance and purchase (under the MSA) 69 trains (comprising of a mixture of EMUs and BEMUs), simulators, owner owned spares and special tools (collectively known as Leased Equipment) and lease this Leased Equipment to ScotRail under the Lease.
There may also be a requirement for option orders of up to 37 trains which could also comprise of a mixture of EMUs and BEMUs (as outlined in the procurement documents) along with option vehicles, spares, special tools and/or simulators, all becoming Leased Equipment. It is anticipated that, if required to do so by ScotRail under the terms of the option, the appointed financier / owner will finance and purchase this option equipment (under the MSA) and lease it to ScotRail under the Lease.
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
Section three. Legal, economic, financial and technical information
three.1) Conditions for participation
three.1.1) Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
List and brief description of conditions
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
three.1.2) Economic and financial standing
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
three.1.3) Technical and professional ability
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
three.1.4) Objective rules and criteria for participation
List and brief description of rules and criteria
As stated in the procurement documents.
three.1.6) Deposits and guarantees required
Detailed requirements will be set out in the ITN (and procurement documents accompanying this).
three.1.7) Main financing conditions and payment arrangements and/or reference to the relevant provisions governing them
MSA: It is anticipated that the design, manufacture, testing, certification, commissioning and delivery of the Suburban Fleet under the MSA will be financed by a financier / owner of the Suburban Fleet. This procurement process intends to identify the financier / owner, whilst the separate Suburban Manufacturer Procurement intends to identify a manufacturer to design, manufacture, test, certify, commission, sell and deliver the new Suburban Fleet. The arrangements for payments to the manufacturer from the financier / owner will be set out in the MSA.
Lease: It is anticipated that the financer / owner will lease the Suburban Fleet to ScotRail. The arrangements for payments to the financier / owner from ScotRail will be set out in the Lease.
three.1.8) Legal form to be taken by the group of economic operators to whom the contract is to be awarded
ScotRail will accept responses from single entities or joint ventures / consortia. ScotRail does not require any such joint ventures / consortia to form a single legal entity in order to request to participate or to tender / negotiate in relation to this procurement process. ScotRail will consider contracting with a joint venture / consortium, provided always that prior to contract award: the participants in any joint venture / consortium form a single legal entity; and all other applicable requirements outlined in the procurement documents are complied with.
three.2) Conditions related to the contract
three.2.2) Contract performance conditions
As stated in the procurement documents.
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Negotiated procedure with prior call for competition
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
10 April 2026
Local time
12:00pm
four.2.3) Estimated date of dispatch of invitations to tender or to participate to selected candidates
17 July 2026
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
four.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Tender must be valid until: 28 April 2028
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic ordering will be used
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
six.3) Additional information
ScotRail, along with SRH and Scottish Ministers, is continuing to explore complementary sources of funds for the Suburban Fleet, which may reduce or amend the financing required from the financier / owner, and the procurement process, procurement document and / or contractual arrangements may be adapted accordingly.
ScotRail may implement revisions to this procurement process, and / or the procurement documents, to accommodate the provision of funds to ScotRail or to a financier / owner. Similarly, the resulting contractual arrangements (including the MSA and / or Lease) may be amended to accommodate this, through a contractual option or otherwise (and in addition to any general refinancing option that ScotRail may in any event require in the document set), where such investment becomes available later.
Access to the procurement documents is restricted, subject to the completion (to SRT's satisfaction) of an NDA. Further information can be obtained at:
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Public Contracts Scotland Web Site at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=818847.
(SC Ref:818847)
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Glasgow Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court
1 Carlton Place
Glasgow
G5 9DA
Telephone
+44 1414298888
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
In accordance with the Utilities Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2016
six.4.4) Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained
Glasgow Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court
1 Carlton Place
Glasgow
G5 9DA
Telephone
+44 14298888
Country
United Kingdom