Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd
Waterloo General Offices
London
SE1 8SW
Contact
Garry Pyne
Telephone
+44 1908781000
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UK - United Kingdom
National registration number
2904587
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
www.networkrail.bravosolution.co.uk
one.6) Main activity
Railway services
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Supply of 'Green' Steel Rail Trial
Reference number
36709
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 34946000 - Railway-track construction materials and supplies
two.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
two.1.4) Short description
Trial supply of one trainload of steel rail manufactured using Electric Arc Furnace (Green Steel)
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: £826,098.17
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
Main site or place of performance
Delivery shall be made to the Long-Welded Rail Depot at Eastleigh, UK.
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The provision of a one-off trial supply of R260 (60E2 profile) steel rails, produced using Electric Arc Furnace (Green Steel), for the purpose of research and development
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Form of Tender and Compliance Statements / Weighting: Pass/Fail
Price - Weighting: 100
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
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 four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Negotiated without a prior call for competition
- The contract involved is purely for the purpose of research, experiment, study or development under the conditions stated in the directive
- 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:
Primarily Regulation 50 (1) (b) where a contract is purely for the purpose of research, experiment, study or development and not for the purpose of securing a profit or of recovering research and development costs, and insofar as the award of such contract does not prejudice the competitive award of subsequent contracts which do seek, in particular, those ends. The award of this contract meets this criteria because in order for the contracting authority to meet its intended carbon reduction requirements, it needs to understand the technical differences between EAF and non-EAF steel particularly from a welding perspective. The contracting authority also needs to validate a viable logistics supply chain to our welding plant at Eastleigh. The contracting authority requires this green steel rail to demonstrate if fully 'green' track renewals can be a viable option in the future. The goods are being supplied at cost.
Secondarily Regulation 50 (1) (c) where the works, supplies or services can be supplied only by a particular economic operator for the following reason—
(ii)competition is absent for technical reasons - detailed market engagement carried out in the context of Network Rail's overall steel sourcing strategy has confirmed that Saarstahl is the only manufacturer currently supplying "green" steel in Europe that has been manufactured using an electric arc furnace.
Future supplies of steel rail both EAF and non-EAF will be secured under advertised competitive tender where possible.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
Section five. Award of contract/concession
Contract No
1
Title
'Green' Steel Rail Trial
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
18 August 2023
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
Saarstahl Rail SAS
R.C.S.
THIONVILLE APE
2410Z-TVA FR
Country
France
NUTS code
- FR - France
National registration number
08391575354
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £826,098.17
five.2.5) Information about subcontracting
The contract/lot/concession is likely to be subcontracted
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
High Court
7 Rolls Building, Fetter Lane
London
EC4A 1NL
Telephone
+44 2079477501
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
www.find-court-tribunal.service.gov.uk
six.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures
Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd
C&P, 1st Floor, Loughton Building, Quadrant MK, Elder Gate
Milton Keynes
MK9 1EN
Telephone
+44 908781001
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
.