Supplier Update | August 2018

Our procurement process is well underway for CP6, with a number of regions currently out to tender or preparing to launch shortly.

Earlier this week, IP Signalling hosted a supplier engagement event for the 'Signalling & Telecoms' and 'Minor Signalling' frameworks. Network Rail is planning to deliver around £4.4bn worth of signalling works over the next control period, presenting a real opportunity for small and large, established or growing suppliers to become involved in the delivery of signalling.

Over 150 supply chain partners attended the event from 100 different companies, covering all levels of capability and specialism, which is really positive. We hope it provided suppliers with an opportunity to network, discuss aspirations and explore opportunities to jointly meet the cost and volume challenges of CP6.

Materials from the event will be available shortly and will provide an overview of the CP6 Signalling work bank, commercial arrangements, prequalification and tendering activities.

Matthew Steele
Commercial and Development Director

Design service framework

We are pleased to announce that the Design Service Framework (DSF) strategy is complete and we are now in a position to progress with procurement.

Time has been taken to ensure that the framework can deliver a flexible selection of design services for internal clients throughout Network Rail, whilst aligning with the transformation of Industry Design Group (IDG) into Network Rail Design Delivery (NRDD).

The pre-qualification questionnaire (PQQ) is scheduled for early October, with the invitation to tender (ITT) going live in late November and contract go-live due in early July 2019.

A second supplier engagement event to present the strategy will be held on Friday 7 September 2018, providing more information on the framework structure, evaluation, selection and post award commissioning processes.

Formal invitation to the event will be included in a prior information notice (PIN) and issued via email using the DSF contact list. Spaces will be limited to one attendee per organisation and seats will be allocated on a first come first served basis; however, the presentation and any notes will be shared with the full DSF distribution list. If you would like your organisation to be added to the contact list, please get in touch at contactIP@networkrail.co.uk.

Christmas and New Year shift allowance

In previous years, the rail industry has agreed a common position on payments for Christmas and New Year additional shift allowance.

We thought it would be helpful to again establish a common position to apply to all of our Christmas works and clarify what additional payments will be made by Network Rail.

You can find further details of the agreed additional shift allowance for Christmas and New Year 2018/19 here.

If you have any queries, please get in touch at contactIP@networkrail.co.uk.

CP6 procurement update

A summary of the current status of our CP6 procurement process is outlined below, and a detailed indicative procurement programme is also available on our supply chain webpage.

Prequalification phase
Western and Wales recently held a supplier engagement event and were due to issue their prequalification questionnaire (PQQ) at the beginning of September. However, following further consideration and third party approaches around only inviting RISQ accredited suppliers, we have taken the decision to instead follow the OJEU procurement route.

Consequently, a PIN notice will be issued at the end of August and a further supplier engagement event will take place on the 21 September, with PQQ commencing in October 2018. ITT issue will be slightly delayed to February 2019, with contract awards planned for October 2019.

Prequalification for the £5bn Track alliances began this month, with ITT's issued in two stages - mid August and November, ahead of contract award in May 19.

The signalling work bank is being managed in three frameworks; Signal & Telecoms (S&T), Minor Signalling and Major Signalling. PQQs are due to be issued for S&T and minor signalling frameworks in early September, with ITTs expected to be issued in October.

Prequalification for the major signalling framework is set to begin in mid November, with the ITT following in January 2019, for contract award by early December next year.

Tender evaluation phase
The tender evaluation period for Anglia, South East, Wessex, Scotland and London North East will commence this month, with contracts awarded by the end of the year.

This evaluation process is already underway for London North West and contract award is expected by mid-December.

As outlined above, the design services framework PQQ is scheduled for early October. With regards to the remaining professional services contracts; commercial services is due to issue a PQQ in September and the collaborative consultancy framework will award contracts at the end of October.

Our online procurement pipeline will be updated each month to reflect the suppliers awarded each framework, should you wish to engage with them on the delivery of our projects.

Open for business

We're transforming to make Network Rail 'open for business', making it easier for your organisation to invest in and build on the railway.

We have now revamped our webpages for third parties, meaning you'll have all the resources you need in one place.

The page includes:

A list of projects you can invest in or deliver
Details of how you can challenge our standards
Contact details for our team of business development directors
Updates on the streamlined changes to our asset protection and optimisation arrangements
All the documentation, forms and downloads required to make getting involved as simple as possible

Visit www.networkrail.co.uk/OpenForBusiness to see all the latest updates and find out more.

Dates for your diaries

7 September
Design services framework - supplier engagement event
If you would like to receive an invitation and further information, please get in touch at contactIP@networkrail.co.uk

21 September
Western and Wales - supplier engagement event
If you would like to receive an invitation and further information, please get in touch at contactIP@networkrail.co.uk

November
National Supplier Conference
We are currently confirming venues for the next National Supplier Conference, which is due to take place at the end of November.

Invitations will be issued shortly and details of the event will also be listed on our Supply Chain webpage and publicised in this Supplier Update.