Award

Direct award of a Lease for Class 701 rolling stock

SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY LIMITED

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

ContractAmendment

22 Aug 2025 at 15:21

Award

02 Jul 2025 at 13:33

Award

12 May 2025 at 13:03

Award

11 May 2025 at 13:32

Summary of the contracting process

South Western Railway Limited has engaged in a public procurement process for the direct award of a lease for Class 701 rolling stock. This procurement falls under the industry category of railway and tramway locomotives and rolling stock, servicing regions within the United Kingdom. The contract covers a 5-year lease for 60 ten-car units and 30 five-car units, with related spares and special tools. South Western Railway is the buyer based in London, and the procurement process has reached the contract amendment stage as of August 2025. The contract, initially planned for commencement on 25th May 2025, reflects a procurement method that is a direct award due to technical reasons, as no other fleet can meet the operational needs specified by the contracting authority.

This tender represents significant business growth opportunities, particularly for companies involved in the rail transport industry. Firms with strong capabilities in rolling stock management, maintenance, and related technology provision will find the leasing agreement particularly favourable. Given the direct nature of this award to Rock Rail South Western PLC, companies with expertise in negotiation for sub-letting or potential modifications of rolling stock might also discover opportunities, as the contract includes clauses for adjustments based on structural changes. Businesses looking to engage with public undertakings or participate in large-scale transport projects would benefit from analysing similar market opportunities.

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Notice Title

Direct award of a Lease for Class 701 rolling stock

Notice Description

Direct award of a 5 year contract for the leasing of 60 x 10 car units and 30 x 5 car units of Class 701 rolling stock and related spares and special tools. The lease of the rolling stock is on the basis that the contracting authority (rather than the supplier) is responsible for all maintenance of the vehicles. The Lease also contains a right to transfer or sub-let the contract to certain third parties and an obligation for the supplier to enter into a direct agreement with the Secretary of State in parallel to the Lease. The direct agreement permits the Secretary of State to call for a New Contract in the event of the termination or expiry of the contracting authority's services agreement with the Secretary of State. The duration of the New Contract would typically be up to 3 years and the terms of the New Contract and the circumstances in which the direct agreement can be relied upon are all unambiguously set out in the direct agreement. The Lease also contains provisions addressing adjustments to monthly rentals on the basis specified in the Lease if certain modifications to the rolling stock are required which are to be funded by the Lessor. In the event that the contract is transferred or sub-let to a third party, a direct agreement is relied upon by the Secretary of State or modifications to the rolling stock are required and are to be funded by the Lessor, it is considered that these would be permitted modifications provided for in the contract.

Procurement Information

No fleet other than the Rock Rail Class 701 is able to meet the operational and/or capacity requirements that the contracting authority needs from this rolling stock for the necessary contract duration to meet its public passenger rail transport obligations. There is therefore an absence of competition for technical reasons. Any alternatives identified created operational constraints due to unit configuration and a large shortfall in the number of available units. There are therefore no reasonable alternatives to the Class 701 rolling stock.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-051056
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/051008-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK10 - Contract Change Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation


CPV Codes

34600000 - Railway and tramway locomotives and rolling stock and associated parts

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£493,605,000 £100M-£1B
Contracts Value
£493,605,000 £100M-£1B

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 Aug 20256 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
8 May 20259 months ago
Contract Period
21 Aug 2025 - 25 May 2030 4-5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY LIMITED
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
procurement@dftoperator.co.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1P 4DR
Post Town
South West London
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
Vincent Square
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

ROCK RAIL SOUTH WESTERN

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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