GWR requires the provision of specialist fuel management, fuel quality and fuel infrastructure support services across five engineering depots. The scope of the requirement includes the provision, maintenance and support of inline fuel filtration systems; fuel monitoring software and associated equipment for monitoring fuel storage tank levels; fuel metering equipment to measure and report fuel throughput; tank cleaning services; and biocide injection equipment and maintenance to prevent fuel contamination. The services also include routine inspections, preventative maintenance, technical support, fuel quality monitoring, testing and reporting to ensure fuel systems remain operational, compliant and fit for purpose. The supplier will provide all necessary equipment, consumables, maintenance, repairs and reporting required to support the continued operation of GWR's fuel infrastructure and engineering depot activities.

Procurement Act 2023

Direct award Fuelcare currently provides a highly specialised fuel management solution that is integrated with GWR's existing fuel infrastructure across five engineering depots. The services encompass proprietary fuel monitoring software, fuel metering equipment, inline filtration systems, tank cleaning services and biocide injection equipment that have been installed, configured and maintained by Fuelcare. The supplier possesses detailed technical knowledge of the existing assets, system configurations, operating parameters and historical maintenance records associated with these installations. Continuity of service is essential to ensure fuel quality, maintain operational availability of depot fuelling facilities and mitigate the risk of contamination-related fleet failures. The existing monitoring, filtration and treatment systems form a critical element of GWR's fuel assurance regime, with failure or interruption of these services presenting a significant risk to fleet reliability and depot operations. A change of supplier at this stage would require a comprehensive review of the existing equipment, software interfaces, asset condition and depot-specific operating arrangements. This would introduce technical and operational risks, including potential incompatibilities with existing infrastructure, disruption to established maintenance regimes, increased onboarding requirements and the loss of asset-specific knowledge held by the incumbent supplier. GWR intends to undertake a competitive tender exercise for the longer-term provision of these services. The proposed direct award will provide the necessary continuity of support whilst GWR completes a full market assessment, develops an appropriate procurement strategy and conducts a compliant procurement process. This approach will ensure uninterrupted operation of critical fuel management services and provide sufficient time for an orderly transition to any future contractual arrangements without compromising fleet availability or operational performance.

Utilities