Planning

Supply Chain Event 14/05/2025

EAST WEST RAIL COMPANY LIMITED

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

02 May 2025 at 08:56

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

30 Apr 2025 at 11:40

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The East West Rail Company Limited, a central government public authority, is planning a market engagement event as part of the East West Rail (EWR) Project connecting Oxford to Cambridge. This rail infrastructure project aims to foster seamless connectivity among key UK cities while promoting regional economic growth. The engagement is scheduled to commence with a virtual briefing session on 14th May 2025 from 12:30 to 13:30, which will outline the company’s proposed commercial strategy. Interested suppliers must register on the Jaggaer portal by 9th May 2025 at noon. This procurement process is currently in the planning stage, focusing on works in the construction and transportation categories within the UK.

This procurement initiative presents significant opportunities for businesses in the construction and engineering sectors, particularly those specialising in railway infrastructure, as it includes the provision of professional services, civil engineering works, stations, railway systems, rolling stock, and depots. Companies that are well-versed in developing advanced rail systems and constructing complex infrastructure are encouraged to participate, as the project aims to build a collaborative supply chain model. Given the project's magnitude and strategic importance, it could attract businesses looking to expand their market share and showcase their capabilities in large-scale public utilities and transportation projects. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can find opportunities tailored for them in this competitive procurement landscape.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Supply Chain Event 14/05/2025

Notice Description

The East West Railway Company (EWR Co.) is responsible for the delivery of East West Rail (EWR), a rail project providing infrastructure to enable services to link Oxford to Cambridge. The scale of the EWR project and the complexity of developing new line and structures (stations & depots) with existing track means it is critical to ensure we have the best suppliers on board. To achieve this we recognise the importance of building the right commercial model to attract strong competition and incentivise collaborative working across the supply chain. This Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) Notice is to inform the market that EWR Co. intends to commence market engagement to support the development of our Commercial Strategy for the delivery of EWR. The EWR requirements will include professional services (client-side support services), enabling works, main works civil engineering, stations, railway systems, rolling stock and depots. The market engagement will commence with an initial virtual briefing session setting out EWR Co's proposed Commercial Strategy on the 14th May 2025 at 12:30 - 13:30pm. This will be followed by a Market Sounding Briefing and Questionnaire inviting potential suppliers to provide their feedback on our proposed approach. To participate in the event please register as a supplier on our Jaggaer portal by the 9th May at 12pm (noon): East West https://eastwestrail.ukp.app.jaggaer.com/esop/ogc-host/public/eastwestrail/web/login.jst# Rail If you have registered as a supplier, please hold the time in your diary and formal invites will be issued to the event on the 12th May. All registered suppliers will receive an email confirming whether they have been invited to the event. If you have previously registered as a supplier on the portal, please ensure your details are up to date in order to receive the invitation. Registration deadline is 9th May 2025 at 12pm (noon).

Planning Information

The East West Rail Project The East West Rail Project is a once in a generation opportunity to connect people and businesses between Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge through a new direct rail line. It is a railway with community at its heart that will open up new journeys, cut travel times, and ease congestion on local roads. The route will connect people to the things and places that matter, bringing local benefit and sustainable growth by unlocking the social and economic potential of the area. The East West Rail Project will be delivered in three Connection Stages:  Connection Stage One: Oxford to Bletchley and Milton Keynes  Connection Stage Two: Oxford to Bedford  Connection Stage Three: Oxford to Cambridge  About East West Railway Company      The East West Railway Company (EWR Co) is a non-departmental public body with limited company status set up by the Secretary of State for Transport in 2017 to deliver the East West Rail (EWR) Project. EWR Co aims to bring fresh thinking to the Project, challenging the industry status quo, leading to more efficient and cost-effective project delivery and better outcomes for the communities in and around the Project. The corridor, which runs from Oxford through Milton Keynes and Bedford to Cambridge, is an economic artery that makes the UK a global leader in life sciences, technology and innovation, with the potential to create jobs, drive growth and attract investment for the entire country. EWR Co’s ambition is to unlock the full potential of this region that is vital to keeping the UK globally competitive in a way that considers the environment and offers value for taxpayers.   Preliminary Market Engagement EWR Co. is initiating this preliminary market engagement exercise intended to: - raise market awareness of the potential opportunities associated with the EWR project; and - to engage directly with interested potential suppliers to gain their feedback on our proposed commercial approach to the procurement of the services and works associated with the EWR project, including professional services, main works civils, stations, railway systems and rolling stock. EWR Co. are currently developing the Commercial Strategy for the procurement of the services and works needed to complete the EWR project, and would like to present our proposed commercial approach, including contracting and packaging strategy, to the market to encourage industry feedback. Market engagement will commence with an initial virtual event on the 14th May at 12:30-13:30pm. Following the event interested potential suppliers will be invited to provide feedback on our proposed approach via a Market Sounding Questionnaire. To register your interest, please use the following link to register as a potential supplier on our e-procurement platform Jaggaer: East West https://eastwestrail.ukp.app.jaggaer.com/esop/ogc-host/public/eastwestrail/web/login.jst# Rail Registration deadline is 9th May at 12pm (noon). If you have registered as a supplier, please hold the time in your diary and formal invites will be issued on the 12th May. All registered individuals will receive an email confirming whether they have been invited to the event Points to Note: Please also note the following important notices before registering an interest: 1) This PME is not a call for competition and is not published with the intention of reducing any time limits for the receipt of tenders. 2) EWR Co. reserves the right not to commence any procurement process or award any contracts in respect of the EWR project and to amend the requirements stated in this PME (or as stated in any pre-procurement market engagement documents). 3) EWR Co. will provide information on its emerging thinking on packaging and contracting approach for the EWR project at the virtual briefing event and within the pre-procurement market engagement documents which will be made available to relevant registered suppliers by EWR Co. EWR Co. reserves the right to further develop and change the commercial strategy and/or other aspects of the proposed procurement and delivery strategy as a result of pre-procurement market engagement or otherwise. 4) EWR Co. may undertake further and other pre-procurement market consultation exercises but, initially, the market engagement briefing event is to commence market engagement and give suppliers emerging information about the requirements. 5) Publication of this PME is part of the normal EWR Co. due diligence process on its options, and the publication of this PME does not indicate that a decision has been made on a particular route for a procurement and/or subsequent contract award, if any. 6) Registration does not bind EWR Co. to include any party/economic operator in the pre-procurement market engagement exercise. 7) EWR Co. is not obliged to communicate with any parties /economic operators that register after the deadline for registration has passed. 8) EWR Co. is not obliged to respond to any correspondence on this notice or any matter related to this preliminary market engagement exercise and the decision to accept the registration of any interested party/economic operator, and subsequent inclusion in any engagement process shall remain with EWR Co. alone. 9) Non-participation in this process will not prevent any party/economic operator from participating in any procurement process in due course. 10) Given the early stage of the project, and the anticipated impact of the market engagement process, and other internal processes, any information provided to the market shall be subject to change and EWR Co. (insofar as it is permitted by law) shall not be liable for any losses incurred by any party/economic operator as a result of reliance on such information. 11) Any values set out in this PME are indicative and is subject to revision and is subject to confirmation in any future notices in relation to EWR procurement.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-050a1d
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/018652-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Works
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation

44 - Construction structures and materials; auxiliary products to construction (except electric apparatus)

45 - Construction work

60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

65 - Public utilities

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

CPV Codes

34620000 - Rolling stock

34632200 - Electrical signalling equipment for railways

34946000 - Railway-track construction materials and supplies

44000000 - Construction structures and materials; auxiliary products to construction (except electric apparatus)

45000000 - Construction work

45200000 - Works for complete or part construction and civil engineering work

45213321 - Railway station construction work

45234100 - Railway construction works

45234112 - Railway depot construction work

45234115 - Railway signalling works

45234116 - Track construction works

60000000 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

65000000 - Public utilities

71311230 - Railway engineering services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
2 May 20259 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
9 May 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
13 May 2025 - 14 May 2025 24 hours
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
EAST WEST RAIL COMPANY LIMITED
Contact Name
Mark Ollerton
Contact Email
mark.ollerton@eastwestrail.co.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
MILTON KEYNES
Postcode
MK9 1EN
Post Town
Milton Keynes
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ12 Milton Keynes
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Milton Keynes
Electoral Ward
Central Milton Keynes
Westminster Constituency
Milton Keynes Central

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts. 

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