Scope
Description
The East West Railway Company (EWR Co.) is responsible for the delivery of East West Rail (EWR), a rail project providing infrastructure to enable services to link Oxford to Cambridge.
The scale of the EWR project and the complexity of developing new line and structures (stations & depots) with existing track means it is critical to ensure we have the best suppliers on board. To achieve this we recognise the importance of building the right commercial model to attract strong competition and incentivise collaborative working across the supply chain.
This Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) Notice is to inform the market that EWR Co. intends to commence market engagement to support the development of our Commercial Strategy for the delivery of EWR. The EWR requirements will include professional services (client-side support services), enabling works, main works civil engineering, stations, railway systems, rolling stock and depots.
The market engagement will commence with an initial virtual briefing session setting out EWR Co's proposed Commercial Strategy on the 14th May 2025 at 12:30 - 13:30pm. This will be followed by a Market Sounding Briefing and Questionnaire inviting potential suppliers to provide their feedback on our proposed approach.
To participate in the event please register as a supplier on our Jaggaer portal by the 9th May at 12pm (noon):
East West https://eastwestrail.ukp.app.jaggaer.com/esop/ogc-host/public/eastwestrail/web/login.jst# Rail
If you have registered as a supplier, please hold the time in your diary and formal invites will be issued to the event on the 12th May. All registered suppliers will receive an email confirming whether they have been invited to the event.
If you have previously registered as a supplier on the portal, please ensure your details are up to date in order to receive the invitation.
Registration deadline is 9th May 2025 at 12pm (noon).
Contract dates (estimated)
- 14 May 2025 to 14 May 2025
- 1 day
Main procurement category
Works
CPV classifications
- 44000000 - Construction structures and materials; auxiliary products to construction (except electric apparatus)
- 45000000 - Construction work
- 60000000 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)
- 65000000 - Public utilities
- 34946000 - Railway-track construction materials and supplies
- 45200000 - Works for complete or part construction and civil engineering work
- 45213321 - Railway station construction work
- 45234100 - Railway construction works
- 45234112 - Railway depot construction work
- 45234116 - Track construction works
- 34632200 - Electrical signalling equipment for railways
- 45234115 - Railway signalling works
- 71311230 - Railway engineering services
- 34620000 - Rolling stock
Contract locations
- UK - United Kingdom
Engagement
Engagement deadline
9 May 2025
Engagement process description
The East West Rail Project
The East West Rail Project is a once in a generation opportunity to connect people and businesses between Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge through a new direct rail line. It is a railway with community at its heart that will open up new journeys, cut travel times, and ease congestion on local roads. The route will connect people to the things and places that matter, bringing local benefit and sustainable growth by unlocking the social and economic potential of the area.
The East West Rail Project will be delivered in three Connection Stages:
Connection Stage One: Oxford to Bletchley and Milton Keynes
Connection Stage Two: Oxford to Bedford
Connection Stage Three: Oxford to Cambridge
About East West Railway Company
The East West Railway Company (EWR Co) is a non-departmental public body with limited company status set up by the Secretary of State for Transport in 2017 to deliver the East West Rail (EWR) Project. EWR Co aims to bring fresh thinking to the Project, challenging the industry status quo, leading to more efficient and cost-effective project delivery and better outcomes for the communities in and around the Project. The corridor, which runs from Oxford through Milton Keynes and Bedford to Cambridge, is an economic artery that makes the UK a global leader in life sciences, technology and innovation, with the potential to create jobs, drive growth and attract investment for the entire country. EWR Co's ambition is to unlock the full potential of this region that is vital to keeping the UK globally competitive in a way that considers the environment and offers value for taxpayers.
Preliminary Market Engagement
EWR Co. is initiating this preliminary market engagement exercise intended to:
- raise market awareness of the potential opportunities associated with the EWR project; and
- to engage directly with interested potential suppliers to gain their feedback on our proposed commercial approach to the procurement of the services and works associated with the EWR project, including professional services, main works civils, stations, railway systems and rolling stock.
EWR Co. are currently developing the Commercial Strategy for the procurement of the services and works needed to complete the EWR project, and would like to present our proposed commercial approach, including contracting and packaging strategy, to the market to encourage industry feedback.
Market engagement will commence with an initial virtual event on the 14th May at 12:30-13:30pm. Following the event interested potential suppliers will be invited to provide feedback on our proposed approach via a Market Sounding Questionnaire.
To register your interest, please use the following link to register as a potential supplier on our e-procurement platform Jaggaer: East West https://eastwestrail.ukp.app.jaggaer.com/esop/ogc-host/public/eastwestrail/web/login.jst# Rail
Registration deadline is 9th May at 12pm (noon).
If you have registered as a supplier, please hold the time in your diary and formal invites will be issued on the 12th May. All registered individuals will receive an email confirming whether they have been invited to the event
Points to Note:
Please also note the following important notices before registering an interest:
1) This PME is not a call for competition and is not published with the intention of reducing any time limits for the receipt of tenders.
2) EWR Co. reserves the right not to commence any procurement process or award any contracts in respect of the EWR project and to amend the requirements stated in this PME (or as stated in any pre-procurement market engagement documents).
3) EWR Co. will provide information on its emerging thinking on packaging and contracting approach for the EWR project at the virtual briefing event and within the pre-procurement market engagement documents which will be made available to relevant registered suppliers by EWR Co. EWR Co. reserves the right to further develop and change the commercial strategy and/or other aspects of the proposed procurement and delivery strategy as a result of pre-procurement market engagement or otherwise.
4) EWR Co. may undertake further and other pre-procurement market consultation exercises but, initially, the market engagement briefing event is to commence market engagement and give suppliers emerging information about the requirements.
5) Publication of this PME is part of the normal EWR Co. due diligence process on its options, and the publication of this PME does not indicate that a decision has been made on a particular route for a procurement and/or subsequent contract award, if any.
6) Registration does not bind EWR Co. to include any party/economic operator in the pre-procurement market engagement exercise.
7) EWR Co. is not obliged to communicate with any parties /economic operators that register after the deadline for registration has passed.
8) EWR Co. is not obliged to respond to any correspondence on this notice or any matter related to this preliminary market engagement exercise and the decision to accept the registration of any interested party/economic operator, and subsequent inclusion in any engagement process shall remain with EWR Co. alone.
9) Non-participation in this process will not prevent any party/economic operator from participating in any procurement process in due course.
10) Given the early stage of the project, and the anticipated impact of the market engagement process, and other internal processes, any information provided to the market shall be subject to change and EWR Co. (insofar as it is permitted by law) shall not be liable for any losses incurred by any party/economic operator as a result of reliance on such information.
11) Any values set out in this PME are indicative and is subject to revision and is subject to confirmation in any future notices in relation to EWR procurement.
Participation
Particular suitability
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Contracting authority
East West Rail Company Limited
- Companies House: 11072935
The Quadrant, Milton Keynes
MILTON KEYNES
MK9 1EN
United Kingdom
Contact name: Mark Ollerton
Region: UKJ12 - Milton Keynes
Organisation type: Public authority - central government