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Find a TenderAwarded without competitionContract award notice
Published 8 Jul 2025, 22:34 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Hire of McCulloch Unimog, Trailer System and Track Rail Transporter (TRT)

Official notice

Authority: Docklands Light Railway Limited (Public body)

Direct awardUtilities
Sectors: Transport Equipment & Vehicles (34)Public utilities (65) Delivery: North East (UKC)North West (UKD)Yorkshire & Humber (UKE)
+6 moreEast Midlands (UKF)West Midlands (UKG)East of England (UKH)London (UKI)South East (UKJ)South West (UKK)
Awarded value£950,000published award · exc. VAT
Awarded 5 Sept 2025no call for competition
Awarded to McCulloch Group

What is being bought

Published requirement description

Contract award for:

  1. Hire of McCulloch Unimog and Trailer System (including Operator, machine controller and fitter) to support Elizabeth Line re-railing programme.
  2. Hire of McCulloch Trac Rail Transposer (TRT) (including Operator and fitter) to support London Underground ballasted track renewal programme.

Both products were developed by McCulloch Group.

Hire of McCulloch Unimog and Trailer System

The Unimog and Trailer System is a road rail vehicle specifically adapted for rail operations, including the removal, transportation, and installation of 108m rail lengths, and the movement of Switches & Crossings (S&C).

Based on the current access opportunities over the next 2 years, the Elizabeth Line requires the supply of Unimog and Trailer system for 16 possession shifts as prescribed within the Elizabeth Line Re-railing Strategy in appendix 2.

Hire of McCulloch Trac Rail Transposer (TRT)

TRTs were used historically for track renewals delivered by Integrated Track Team (Balfour Beatty). It is a compact, rubber-tracked machine designed for transporting to and removing long rail around a work site. For ballasted track renewal sites with access constraints, where rail cannot be delivered to the work location by LU Engineering Vehicles (e.g single track, island platform), a TRT is the only option to transport the rail in and the availability of this type of machine is critical for the completion of the works.

A breakdown of the requested DPA is provided below:

  1. Supply of McCulloch Unimog and Trailer System for Elizabeth Line: £800,000. This is based on 16 possession shifts with an estimate of £50,000 per possession
  2. Supply of Track Rail Transporter for the Ballasted Track Renewals: £150,000. This is based on 13 delivery projects with an estimate of £11,300 per possession

Total: £950,000

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · no lot value published
Lot #1Awarded
Delivery: North East, North West, Yorkshire & Humber, East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, South East, South West
34000000 Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation65000000 Public utilities

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record
Procedure method
Direct award
Legal basis
UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
Notice status
Awarded without competition
Procurement threshold
Unspecified in notice
Regulatory regime
Utilities
Commercial structure
Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type
Direct award (no call for competition)
GPA / WTO covered
Unspecified in notice
Recurring procurement
Unspecified in notice
First published
8 Jul 2025, 22:34 BST
Last source update
8 Sept 2025, 09:50 BST
Authority reference
WS2415749302
FTS notice number
2025/S 000-054514
Latest notice
Contract award notice (UK6)
Delivery area
North East (UKC)North West (UKD)Yorkshire & Humber (UKE)East Midlands (UKF)West Midlands (UKG)East of England (UKH)London (UKI)South East (UKJ)
+1 moreSouth West (UKK)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-055b8f Find a Tender
Why no open competition
Single Suppliers Intellectual Property Exclusive Rights; Single Suppliers Technical Reasons; Urgency
Published justification

Elizabeth Line have contacted the rail suppliers and unable to find any other trailer system or plant based options to transport 108m lengths of rail across the market.

The system used are a McCulloch design and build so aren't available by other suppliers.

The re-rail works are necessary to maintain the public safety on the operation of Elizabeth Line.

Notice history

3 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 8 Jul 2025
  1. Transparency notice published
    8 Jul 2025, 22:34 BST
    UK5
  2. Contract award notice published
    8 Sept 2025, 09:50 BST
    UK6
  3. Contract signature expected
    1 Oct 2025, 23:59 BST
    scheduled

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 1
Awarded value £950,0001 award exc. VAT
Awarded toValueDateStatus
McCulloch GroupHire of McCulloch Unimog, trailer and Trac rail transposer (TRT)1 Oct 2025 – 1 Oct 2027 · up to 1 Oct 2030Extensions: Extensions are subject to business requirement and budget availability after contract expiry date. · Options: Options are allowed should there are additional equipment/ machines required to facilitate the delivery.£950,0005 Sept 2025Awarded

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Transport for London

Contracting authorityPublic authority - central government GB-PPON: PHMT-6197-NWNZ 5 Endeavour Square, London, London, E20 1JNContact email

Bidders & participating suppliers

2 commercial parties on the notice
  • McCulloch GroupAwarded supplierGB-COH: Anne McCulloch 8 Main Street,, Ballantrae, Girvan, Scotland, KA260NBContact email
  • McCulloch Group LimitedAwarded supplierGB-COH: MCCULLOCH, Anne Agnes 8 Main Street, Ballantrae, Girvan,, Scotland, Scotland, KA26 0NBContact email

Official documents & specifications (2)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure

  • Contract award notice awardContract award noticeUK6Contract award notice on Find a Tender
  • Transparency notice awardTransparency noticeUK5Transparency notice on Find a Tender