Substation Securing · UK public procurement notice

The Direct Award is compliant with Schedule 5 of c54 of the Procurement Act. It meets two sub criteria, details of which and justification for each point is listed below.

6The following conditions are met in relation to the public contract—

(a)due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only a particular supplier can supply the goods, services or works required, and

(b)there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works.

The proposed supplier previously delivered the services as the specialist subcontractor and therefore possesses unique operational knowledge, technical understanding, historical asset information and delivery experience associated with the requirement. Network Rail has assessed the market and considers that no reasonable alternative supplier could provide the services within the required timescales without significant technical risk, operational disruption and extensive mobilisation activity. Accordingly, Network Rail considers that the conditions in Schedule 5, Paragraph 6 of the Procurement Act 2023 are satisfied.

7The public contract concerns the supply of goods, services or works by the existing supplier which are intended as an extension to, or partial replacement of, existing goods, services or works in circumstances where—

(a)a change in supplier would result in the contracting authority receiving goods, services or works that are different from, or incompatible with, the existing goods, services or works, and

(b)the difference or incompatibility would result in disproportionate technical difficulties in operation or maintenance.

Appointing an alternative supplier would require significant mobilisation, knowledge transfer and familiarisation activities, resulting in delay, increased delivery risk and additional cost. The proposed supplier can deliver the requirement immediately and efficiently, reducing implementation risk and ensuring continuity of service while providing value for money for Network Rail.