Class 777 CRE Thermal Imaging ISM

This award is compliant with the Procurement Act 2023 under schedule 5 paragraph 5; competition is absent for technical reasons and NR's C&P Policy. The Rationale is as follows:

• the aim of the procurement is the creation or acquisition of a unique work of art or artistic performance.
• competition is absent for technical reasons.
• the protection of exclusive rights, including intellectual property rights, but only in the case of paragraphs.

MerseyRail, as the owner and lessor of the Class 777 fleet, is uniquely positioned to provide this CRE monitoring service. The rationale for a direct award is based on the following:

• Existing Asset Knowledge and Access: MerseyRail possesses in-depth knowledge of the Class 777 fleet and has established access to the trains for the necessary design and installation of the monitoring equipment. This eliminates the need for a separate procurement process to identify and contract with a third party for train access and modification.
• Service Integration: Awarding the entire service to MerseyRail ensures seamless integration of the technology selection, installation, maintenance, and data provision aspects. This streamlined approach minimizes potential interface issues and simplifies contract management.
• Efficiency and Time Savings: A direct award to MerseyRail leverages their existing relationship and knowledge, significantly reducing the time and resources required for a full competitive tender process. This allows for a faster implementation of the vital CRE monitoring capability.
• Upgrade of Existing Equipment: MerseyRail already has a previous generation of CRE monitoring equipment fitted to these trains, which can be upgraded to provide the latest technology.

By awarding this contract directly to MerseyRail, Network Rail can efficiently implement a well-established and effective CRE monitoring solution, leveraging the asset owner's unique position and existing service delivery capabilities.