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GWR - Legacy fleet MRO & Engineering Parts

FIRST GREATER WESTERN LIMITED

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

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21 Sep 2026 at 15:11

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

First Greater Western Limited (GWR) procured railway engineering maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) parts and components for its legacy rolling-stock fleets. The requirement covers consumable parts through to complete electrical and mechanical assemblies used to maintain relevant vehicles. The supplier delivers goods from its own location to GWR depots across England within agreed timescales. This is a goods requirement in the railway equipment category (CPV 34940000), supporting fleet maintenance and continuity of existing rolling-stock operations. The buying organisation is GWR, a private utility. The requirement covers established components and compatible replacements for the various fleets rather than a general engineering service, so it is most relevant to businesses supplying rail maintenance parts, assemblies and associated technical support for operational rolling stock.

The procurement is complete and was awarded by direct award to Unipart Rail Limited. The award is pending in the published outcome, with a value of £15 million excluding VAT (£18 million including VAT). The award date is 21 September 2026. The initial contract period runs from 1 November 2026 to 31 October 2027, with an option to extend to 31 October 2028. GWR used a direct-award route as an interim arrangement while undertaking a competitive procurement for the longer-term requirement, citing the need to retain existing and compatible components and avoid disproportionate engineering, testing and inventory changes. The contract has one lot and is subject to the utilities regime. A future signature milestone was scheduled for 30 October 2026.

This award demonstrates substantial, recurring demand from GWR for railway MRO parts across legacy rolling-stock fleets, from consumables to complete electrical and mechanical assemblies. A credible future competitor would need reliable access to compatible rail components, strong product and fleet knowledge, and the technical ability to support established maintenance arrangements without introducing avoidable compatibility risks. Relevant capability includes engineering assessment, compatibility verification, product substitution approval and testing, alongside disciplined inventory and supply-chain management. Suppliers would also need the capacity to deliver consistently from their facilities to multiple GWR depots within agreed timescales, maintaining continuity for operational fleet maintenance. The buyer’s stated longer-term competitive requirement indicates that businesses with established rail-sector experience, broad component coverage and dependable logistics are the closest fit for this market.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

GWR - Legacy fleet MRO & Engineering Parts

Notice Description

GWR requires a contract to ensure the continued provision of engineering maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) parts and components across its various rolling stock fleets. The requirement ranges from consumable parts to complete electrical and mechanical assemblies for relevant vehicles, with goods delivered from the supplier's location to GWR depots within agreed timescales.

Procurement Information

The interim arrangement is required to maintain the supply of existing and compatible components while GWR undertakes a competitive procurement for the longer-term requirement. GWR intends to commence that competitive procurement during the lifetime of this contract, with the new competitively awarded arrangement replacing the interim contract once completed. During this interim period, changing the existing supply arrangements may result in different or incompatible products being introduced into established fleet maintenance arrangements. This could require additional engineering assessment, compatibility verification, product substitution approval, testing and changes to existing maintenance and inventory arrangements, creating disproportionate technical difficulties in the operation and maintenance of GWR's rolling stock. The direct award is therefore intended only as an interim arrangement to maintain compatibility and continuity of supply while the competitive procurement is undertaken. The proposed contract is for 12 months, with an option to extend for a further 12 months only where required to allow completion and implementation of the competitive procurement.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0776b2
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/089268-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK5 - Transparency 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

34940000 - Railway equipment

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£15,000,000 £10M-£100M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 Sep 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Nov 2026 - 31 Oct 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Pending
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
FIRST GREATER WESTERN LIMITED
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
WILTSHIRE
Postcode
SN1 1HL
Postcode Area
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
Not specified
Local Authority
Swindon
Electoral Ward
Central
Westminster Constituency
Swindon South

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Unipart Rail

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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