Award

Direct award of a Lease for Class 444/450 rolling stock

  • SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY LIMITED

UK5: Transparency notice - Procurement Act 2023 - view information about notice types

Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-021013

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-051276 (view related notices)

Published 13 May 2025, 5:30pm



Scope

Description

Intention to directly award a contract of between 3 to 5 years in duration (which remains subject to settlement of commercial terms) for the leasing of 45 x 5 car units of Class 444 rolling stock and 127 x 4 car units of Class 450 rolling stock and related spares and special tools. The lease of the rolling stock is on the basis that the contracting authority (rather than the supplier) is responsible for all maintenance of the vehicles.

The Lease also contains a right to transfer or sub-let the contract to certain third parties and an obligation for the supplier to enter into a direct agreement with the Secretary of State in parallel to the Lease. The direct agreement permits the Secretary of State to call for a New Contract in the event of the termination or expiry of the contracting authority's services agreement with the Secretary of State. The duration of the New Contract would typically be up to 3 years and the terms of the New Contract and the circumstances in which the direct agreement can be relied upon are all unambiguously set out in the direct agreement. The Lease also contains provisions addressing adjustments to monthly rentals on the basis specified in the Lease if certain modifications to the rolling stock are required which are to be funded by the Lessor. In the event that the contract is transferred or sub-let to a third party, a direct agreement is relied upon by the Secretary of State or modifications to the rolling stock are required and are to be funded by the Lessor, it is considered that these would be permitted modifications provided for in the contract.


Contract 1

Supplier

Contract value

  • £328,706,520 excluding VAT
  • £394,447,824 including VAT

Above the relevant threshold

Earliest date the contract will be signed

24 May 2025

Contract dates (estimated)

  • 25 May 2025 to 25 May 2030
  • 5 years, 1 day

Main procurement category

Goods

CPV classifications

  • 34600000 - Railway and tramway locomotives and rolling stock and associated parts

Contract locations

  • UKI - London
  • UKJ - South East (England)
  • UKK - South West (England)

Other information

Conflicts assessment prepared/revised

Yes


Procedure

Procedure type

Direct award

Special regime

Utilities

Direct award justification

Single supplier - technical reasons

No fleet than other the Angel Class 444 and 450 are able to meet the operational and/or capacity requirements that the contracting authority needs from this rolling stock for the necessary contract duration to meet its public passenger rail transport obligations. There is therefore an absence of competition for technical reasons. Any alternatives identified were unsuitable in length/door configuration, would not be convertible to DC within a reasonable period and/or a large shortfall in the number of available units. There are therefore no reasonable alternatives to the Class 444 and 450 rolling stock.


Supplier

Angel Trains Limited

  • Companies House: 02912655

123 Victoria Street

London

SW1E 6DE

United Kingdom

Region: UKI32 - Westminster

Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No

Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No

Contract 1


Contracting authority

SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY LIMITED

  • Companies House: 03266760
  • Public Procurement Organisation Number: PQHL-7495-VCQT

Great Minster House 4th Floor, Public Ownership Programme Team

London

SW1P 4DR

United Kingdom

Region: UKI32 - Westminster

Organisation type: Public undertaking (commercial organisation subject to public authority oversight)