---
title: "Provision of FOC driver and PIC services"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-055465"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-055465"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-055465.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-055465.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "FIRST GREATER WESTERN LIMITED"
published: "2025-06-26"
---

# Provision of FOC driver and PIC services

Buyer: FIRST GREATER WESTERN LIMITED  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-055465

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## Summary

The procurement process, initiated by First Greater Western Limited, centres on the provision of Freight Operating Company (FOC) driver and Person in Charge (PIC) services, critical for the management and servicing of its rolling stock. The procurement falls under the railway transport services industry category and involves various locations across the United Kingdom, including regions from UKC to UKK. The current stage is the award phase, with the contract period set to commence on 1st September 2025 and conclude by 31st March 2026, with potential extensions. The procurement method used was a direct award, justified by urgent operational requirements and scope changes, although a full tender process is promised for future compliance. Key dates include 29th August 2025 for signature milestones.

This tender offers significant business growth opportunities for companies experienced in rail transport services, particularly those capable of quickly adapting to direct awards and urgent demands. Organisations providing robust FOC driver and PIC services that align with Great Western Railway standards are ideal candidates. Given the planned future re-tender, businesses interested in railway transport services should prepare to engage in a competitive tender process, likely enhancing their chances for future collaborations and contracts, ensuring they meet the expanded scope and compliance requirements. Large-scale suppliers like GB Railfreight Limited are well-positioned to benefit due to their existing capabilities and operational scale.

## Notice

An immediate requirement has been identified for the provision of cl80x including Automatic Train Protection (ATP) competent Freight Operating Company (FOC) Drivers who are trained to Great Western Railway (GWR) standards. The FOC Drivers are required over 17 days to provide driving services to GWR for the management and servicing of its rolling stock to/from off network locations as mitigations to planned perturbation. In addition to driving services, there is also a requirement for Person in Charge (PICs) to work with the Drivers and operate off network facilities/locations on behalf of GWR. To ensure GWR can deliver for its customers, the route learning for the FOC Drivers must commence no later than August 2025. A tender will be published shortly for future requirements.

### Procurement Information

Due to substantial scope changes in GWR requirements GWR intends to re-tender the entire requirement to ensure compliance with procurement legislation and to uphold the principles of fairness, transparency, and equal opportunity for all potential bidders. However, due to time constraints preventing the completion of a full procurement process at this stage, a short-term direct award has been made to meet urgent operational requirements. A full tender process will be launched in due course.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/035497-2025 |
| Notice type | UK5 - Transparency Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Direct award |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 26 Jun 2025 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 26 Jun 2025 |
| Contract period | 31 Aug 2025 - 31 Mar 2026 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £1,500,000 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Pending |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | FIRST GREATER WESTERN LIMITED |
| Locality | WILTSHIRE |
| Post town | Swindon |
| Postcode | SN1 1HL |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLK7 Gloucestershire and Wiltshire |
| ITL 3 | TLK71 Swindon |
| Local authority | Swindon |
| Electoral ward | Central |
| Westminster constituency | Swindon South |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | GB RAILFREIGHT |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

### Codes

- 60200000 - Railway transport services

## Release History

- 26 Jun 2025 at 14:49 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/035497-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/035497-2025
  26th June 2025 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-055465. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-055465.json.