Award

CT4326 MethodGrid

  • East West Rail Company Limited

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

Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-030376

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-0543ea (view related notices)

Published 5 June 2025, 4:31pm



Scope

Reference

CT4326

Description

A digital project lifecyle management tool based on the principles of Network Rail's (NRs) Project Acceleration in Controlled Environments (PACE) tool.


Contract 1. Digital Project Lifecycle Management Tool

Supplier

Contract value

  • £1,388,100 excluding VAT
  • £1,665,720 including VAT

Above the relevant threshold

Earliest date the contract will be signed

17 June 2025

Contract dates (estimated)

  • 18 June 2025 to 16 June 2026
  • Possible extension to 16 June 2035
  • 9 years, 11 months, 29 days

Description of possible extension:

Annual extensions on the anniversary

Main procurement category

Goods

Options

The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid.

Annual Extension options during the term

CPV classifications

  • 48000000 - Software package and information systems

Other information

Description of risks to contract performance

n/a

Conflicts assessment prepared/revised

Yes


Procedure

Procedure type

Direct award

Direct award justification

Single supplier - technical reasons

This direct award is made under Section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023, on the basis that the selected supplier is the only provider capable of meeting the specific and complex requirements of the project, thereby ensuring value for money and continuity of delivery.

EWR Co. has determined these services can only be supplied by Method Apps for the following technical reasons:

- MethodGrid by Method Apps is the only digital project lifecycle tool that is pre-configurated to the requirements of Network Rail's PACE system. This is a key requirement as a common software solution is required across Network Rail.

- EWR Co estimates that implementing a new (bespoke) system would result in approximately 9 months of complex redesign and modification which would result in significant duplication of effort, additional cost, delay to the EWR Co project and introduce significant risks around interoperability with the existing system.

Use of a pre-configured and readily available tool developed by NR eliminates risks around interoperability and duplication of technical efforts in developing and implementing a new system, providing better value for money for the taxpayer.


Supplier

method apps limited

  • Companies House: 11235998

11 Laura place

Bath

BA2 4BL

United Kingdom

Region: UKK12 - Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire

Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): Yes

Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No

Contract 1. Digital Project Lifecycle Management Tool


Contracting authority

East West Rail Company Limited

  • Companies House: 11072935

The Quadrant, Milton Keynes

MILTON KEYNES

MK9 1EN

United Kingdom

Contact name: Lisa Hepburn

Telephone: 0000

Email: Commercial@eastwestrail.co.uk

Region: UKJ12 - Milton Keynes

Organisation type: Public authority - central government