East Midlands, West Midlands and Cross Country Rail franchises advertisement

East Midlands, West Midlands and Cross Country Rail Franchises

The Department for Transport ('the Department') invites expressions of interest in the East Midlands, West Midlands and Cross Country passenger rail franchises.

The process will commence immediately with three new franchises scheduled to start on Sunday 11 November 2007.

The Department

The Department's objective is to oversee the delivery of a reliable, safe and secure transport system that responds efficiently to the needs of individuals and business whilst safeguarding our environment.

Further information on the Department may be found on its website: www.dft.gov.uk. Attention is drawn to the 'A Guide to the Railway Franchise Procurement Process' which can be found under "Rail Franchises" in the Railways section of the site: www.dft.gov.uk/railways/franchises. The Department is committed to a process of continuous review and improvement of the franchising process and intends to make the procurement process as simple and transparent as possible. The Department believes that this approach will most likely secure best value for money bids on behalf of rail passengers and taxpayers.

The Franchises

There are three franchises to tender for: East Midlands, West Midlands and Cross Country. The planned start date for these franchises is Sunday 11 November 2007. The Secretary of State for Transport set out his intention to remap and let them in an announcement of 18 October 2005. Attention is drawn to the 'Media briefing: Central Trains remapping' which can also be found in the Railways section of the Department's website.

Information about each franchise was published in 'Prior Information Notices' on 9 February 2006 and can also be found in the Railways section of the Department's website. The future franchisees should have sufficient financial backing to place performance bonds. These should be in the order of 18 000 000 Pounds Sterling each for the East Midlands and West Midlands franchises and 22 500 000 Pounds Sterling in respect of the Cross Country franchise.

The Pre-Qualification Process

All the franchises will be let by an Invitation to Tender (ITT) process. Details of the process are available in 'A Guide to the Railway Franchise Procurement Process' referred to above.

Interested parties will, from 19 June 2006, be able to download a 'Pre-qualification Documentation Pack' containing further information on the franchises together with a Pre Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ), Confidentiality and Non-Collusion undertakings which can also be found in the Railways section of the Department's website. The purpose of pre- qualification is to select those to whom the Department would be content to award the franchises, subject to them submitting the best value bid. The applicants who pre qualify will receive an ITT to operate the franchises.

Completed PQQs must be delivered to Andrew Rowland, Department for Transport, 3/27 Great Minster House, 76 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DR no later than 12 noon GMT on 31 July 2006. Enquiries regarding this advert should be e-mailed to franchises@dft.gsi.gov.uk.