Planning

Fixed Access Platforms at Laira Depot

FIRST GREATER WESTERN LIMITED

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

15 Dec 2025 at 10:51

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

This procurement process, initiated by First Greater Western Limited, involves the procurement of fixed access platforms at the Laira Depot. The buying organisation is looking to enhance access and safety for maintenance and cleaning colleagues within the railway sector. The tender is currently in the planning stage, with a focus on market engagement set to conclude by 30th January 2026. Located in Wiltshire, United Kingdom, this project falls under the industry categories of access platforms and railway depot construction work. Interested parties should be aware of plans for a Request for Quotation (RFQ) coming early 2026, with the supply and installation intended to be completed by December 2026.

This tender offers growth opportunities for businesses specialising in railway infrastructure, particularly those capable of designing, supplying, and installing specialised access platforms. Firms with expertise in safety-compliant installations stand to benefit, and SMEs are considered suitable for the contract, which has an estimated budget of £300,000. Companies experienced in delivering utility services and those skilled in handling JCT Design and Build contracts will find this project well-aligned with their capabilities. This prospect could be particularly appealing to businesses looking to expand their footprint in railway construction work and related services.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Fixed Access Platforms at Laira Depot

Notice Description

This procurement process is being advertised and run by First Greater Western Limited on its own behalf and on behalf of the successor operator of the rail passenger transport services in respect of Great Western Railway. That successor operator will be a public sector company, is expected to be a wholly owned subsidiary of DfT OLR Holdings Limited and will be ultimately owned by the Secretary of State for Transport. The date for transfer of the current operations to the successor operator is not yet confirmed. Where the transfer is completed before contract award under this procurement process, the successor operator may elect (but will not be obliged) to carry on with this procurement process in place of First Greater Western Limited, by taking on the role of contracting entity from the date of completion of the transfer (with this notice and all other procurement documents to be interpreted accordingly). Where the transfer is not yet completed by the time of contract award, contractual rights may be included in the contractual arrangements to enable transfer to the successor operator. Bidders should note that this procurement process (if ongoing), or any awarded contract, may be included in a transfer scheme made by the Secretary of State under section 12 of the Railways Act 2005, or the transfer may be effected outside of, or separate from, such a scheme. Background: First Greater Western Limited, trading as "Great Western Railway" (GWR), provides high speed, commuter, regional and branch line train services. We help over 100 million passengers reach their destinations every year - across South Wales, the West Country, the Cotswolds, and large parts of Southern England. Find out more here: https://www.gwr.com/about-us GWR are looking to better understand the market offer for suppliers who can supply and install a fixed access platform at GWRs Laira Traction & Rolling Stock Depot (T&RSD) by December 2026. GWR aim to conduct a Request for Quotation (RFQ) early 2026. Scope: GWR is currently reviewing the provision of Laira T&RSD High Speed Train (HST) Shed Fixed Access Platforms. As part of developing our plans to meet this requirement we are looking at issuing an RFQ early 2026. Laira T&RSD Fixed Access Platforms General Specification includes, but not limited to the following activities: * The design, supply and installation of access platforms at Laira T&RSD. Fixed access platforms are to be installed at the East and West ends of roads 7, 8, 9 and 10, and in the centre of roads 7 and 9 (not roads 8 and 10). * Platforms at the East and West end to be 6-7m in length, centre platforms to be 16m in length (if not viable an alternative is required). * This will improve access and egress of trains for maintenance and cleaning colleagues while not impeding other maintenance and service delivery activity in the HST Shed. * Fixed access platforms to be installed to provide door level access to the crew door and first saloon door. Design features as follows: * Sufficient width for cleaning equipment to be placed on the gantry by cleaning staff accessing or egressing from the saloon door (approx. 1.0 to 1.2m - dimensions to be confirmed with supplier and dependent on walkway width). * Inward opening gates at either end to prevent falls from height down the access gantry steps. This creates a safe work platform for cleaning colleagues. Gates must be self-closing. * Sufficient length to enable access to the crew door and the first saloon door of all classes of trains currently gauge cleared and in use at the depot (except Class 150/2). * Train-side access gates along the platform length that open inwards to prevent falls from height when a train is not berthed in the siding. The train-side access gates would be set back from the gantry edge to allow room for train doors to open. Gates must be self-closing. * The height of platforms in the HST shed must be set to allow colleagues sufficient headroom to work on the underframe of the berthed train. Supporting legs must be offset away from the train side to allow colleagues to walk alongside the berthed train without being impeded. * Vertical and horizontal stepping distances from train to gantry to be considered for all train types and optimised for safe access and egress. * Must allow access to underframe components including opening underframe panels. * Must be positioned such that access to the train refuel connection is not impeded. * Adequate corrosion protection for the environment. * Gantries in the HST shed are to be positioned at the west, centre, and east end to accommodate as many permutations of stabled trains as possible. Initial investigations have established 6-7m platforms are required at the east and west ends, and 16m in the centre. The centre platform should be positioned so that the centre of the platform aligns with the centre of a 10-car IET. Space is limited in the centre of the shed and if a 16m platform is not viable then alternative(s) should be recommended. Contract: The estimated budget is: PS300,000 Inc VAT The contract lifetime: 12 month. JCT Design and Build Contract 2016 Edition (with Landlord's Conditions of Consent) Contact: To register your interest if you feel you could offer this supply of goods and installation, please contact: Ben.Boatman@gwr.com This preliminary market engagement notice will expire on: 30.01.26 at 13:00

Planning Information

This market engagement is to gather market intelligence of who can provide the goods and services within the timescales. This will be conducted through a simple expression of interest through this Notice.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05f57b
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/082800-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
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

45 - Construction work

CPV Codes

34951000 - Access platforms

45234112 - Railway depot construction work

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£240,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
15 Dec 20252 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
30 Jan 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
2 Mar 2026 - 31 Dec 2026 6-12 months
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
FIRST GREATER WESTERN LIMITED
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
procurement@gwr.com
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
WILTSHIRE
Postcode
SN1 1HL
Post Town
Swindon
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK7 Gloucestershire and Wiltshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK71 Swindon
Delivery Location
TLK South West (England)
Local Authority
Swindon
Electoral Ward
Central
Westminster Constituency
Swindon South

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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