C2C Class 357 OLE Monitoring

This award is compliant with the Procurement Act 2023 under schedule 5 paragraph 5; competition is absent for technical reasons and NR’s C&P Policy. The Rationale is as follows:

• the aim of the procurement is the creation or acquisition of a unique work of art or artistic performance.
• competition is absent for technical reasons.
• the protection of exclusive rights, including intellectual property rights, but only in the case of paragraphs.

Angel Trains, as the owner and lessor of the Class 357 fleet, is uniquely positioned to provide this OLE monitoring service. The rationale for a direct award is based on the following:

• Existing Asset Knowledge and Access: Angel Trains possesses in-depth knowledge of the Class 357 fleet and has established access to the trains for the necessary design and installation of the monitoring equipment. This eliminates the need for a separate procurement process to identify and contract with a third party for train access and modification.
• Service Integration: Awarding the entire service to Angel Trains ensures seamless integration of the technology selection, installation, maintenance, and data provision aspects. This streamlined approach minimizes potential interface issues and simplifies contract management.
• Established Service Delivery: Angel Trains has a proven track record of delivering similar OLE monitoring services for other train operators. This existing experience and infrastructure reduce the risk associated with implementing a new service and ensure a level of expertise and efficiency from the outset.
• Efficiency and Time Savings: A direct award to Angel Trains leverages their existing relationship and knowledge, significantly reducing the time and resources required for a full competitive tender process. This allows for a faster implementation of the vital OLE monitoring capability.
• Upgrade of Existing Equipment: Angel Trains already has a previous generation of OLE monitoring equipment fitted to these trains, which can be upgraded to provide the latest technology.

By awarding this contract directly to Angel Trains, Network Rail can efficiently implement a well-established and effective OLE monitoring solution, leveraging the asset owner's unique position and existing service delivery capabilities.