Transport for Wales Rail (TfWRL) are in-housing the co-ordination and management of Rail Replacement Service (RRS) across Wales and Border routes operated by TfWRL within Wales and between Wales and England. Or any such route operated by TfW as may arise in future. This means that all pre-planned and emergency rail replacement services currently provided by coach and bus operators through an aggregator agreement, will be contracted for as services, directly by TfWRL. This procurement also includes the requirement for adhoc travel services to be commissioned via this framework as they arise. Based upon 25/26 Financial year data, approximately 6,000 emergency duties and 21,000 planned duties were delivered by circa 110 different operators. It is currently intended the Open Framework will run for the maximum 8 year term. This procurement relates to the second opening of the Rail Replacement Services Open Framework and provides an opportunity for additional operators to apply for the framework and current operators to update their submissions. Full information of how to do so is included in the ITT pack.

Duties to be offered with up to 48 Hours Notice.

Part 2 Lot 2: Pre-Planned (48 hours to 14 days) Part 3 Lot 2: Pre-Planned (over 14 days)

Larger groups of duties/blockades over a longer period of time. Each variable, dependant upon the specific need for rail replacement services at the time.

Procurement Act 2023

Competitive flexible procedure

Utilities

Operators will be required to pass all of the first stage selection questions to be appointed to the framework. The operators technical and commercial submissions for Lot 1 and Lot 2 shall be imported into the end to end system on a weighted basis and used to determine the ranked order for calling off under the Framework taking into account relevant information regarding the location and delivery of the services where appropriate. Lot 1 - Emergency - For each duty or group of duties, Operators will be contacted by telephone, email or text message to offer the duty. The nature of the emergency will determine how much time Operators have to respond e.g. If a higher ranked operator is contacted and fails to accept the duty within the prescribed timescale, the duty will be offered to the next highest ranked operator. Operators may also be contacted simultaneously and the duty offered to the first to respond regardless of ranked position. Lot 2 - Pre-Planned - For each duty or group of duties, Operators will be requested to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) within a prescribed timeframe. Upon receipt of the EOI, the duty will be offered in line with the ranked order. Lot 3 - Mini Competition - All Operators appointed to Lot 2, will automatically be invited to mini competitions under Lot 3. The quality scores for the technical questions at the time the framework was established will be carried forward and added to the price score on a weighted basis to create the combined ranking. The duty/blockade will be offered to the highest ranked operator. In all cases, duties/blockades will only be offered to operators with the vehicle and disc capacity. Full details of the process are explained in the ITT pack.

https://tfw.my.site.com/login

All documents will be released at the same time the tender notice is published. If additional documents are identified as being needed, these will be made available via the nominated e-procurement portal - Atamis.: https://tfw.my.site.com/login As described in the ITT pack.: https://tfw.my.site.com/login

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