Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
First Greater Western Limited
Milford House, 1 Milford Street
Swindon
SN1 1HL
Contact
Stephen Stewart
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKI32 - Westminster
Companies House
05113733
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.6) Main activity
Railway services
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Lease of Class 175 DMUs
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 34620000 - Rolling stock
two.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
two.1.4) Short description
This VTN sets out First Greater Western Limited's ("GWR") intention to award a contract to Angel Trains Limited for the leasing of 70 x Class 175 Diesel Multiple Unit vehicles.
The contract will have provisions to potentially run until 2032.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
This VTN sets out GWR's intention to award a contract to Angel Trains Limited for the leasing of 70 x Class 175 Diesel Multiple Unit vehicles, to be in service from May 2025 on Devon and Cornwall routes.
GWR intends to observe a voluntary standstill period of at least 10 days from the date of publication of this VTN and will not enter into the contract during that period.
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Negotiated without a prior call for competition
- 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:
Negotiated without a prior call for competition (in accordance with Regulation 50(1)(c) of the Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016 ("UCR"))
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:
GWR considers that the award of this contract is permitted pursuant to Regulation 50(1)(c) of UCR. Regulation 50(1)(c) of the UCR permits the use of the negotiated procedure without prior publication of a notice where the works, supplies or services can be supplied only by a particular economic operator because competition is absent for technical reasons, but only where no reasonable alternative or substitute exists and the absence of competition is not the result of an artificial narrowing down of the parameters of the procurement.
GWR's view is that the supplies under the contract can be supplied only by Angel Trains Limited because competition is absent for technical reasons and no reasonable alternative or substitute exists. Due to the operational requirements of the Devon and Cornwall routes that the rolling stock will operate on, namely 100mph capability and ability to operate over steep gradients, minimum fuel range of circa 1000 miles, and 2 - 5 car formations with selective door opening, only Class 175s can meet all the requirements and are available with sufficient lead time to be in operation for May 2025. No alternative provider can provide the Class 175s. This absence of competition is not the result of an artificial narrowing down of the parameters of the procurement.
The contract will have provisions to potentially run until 2032.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2024/S 000-012351
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
29 August 2024
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
Subject to internal governance approvals and receiving no notice of any intention to legally challenge the award of this contract, First Greater Western Limited intends to award the Contract on a date following conclusion of the voluntary standstill period (i.e. no earlier than 10th September 2024).
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
The High Court, Royal Court of Justice
The Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
Country
United Kingdom