Kingfisher200262
Member
DfT has published a tender notice in the European Journal, which provides more detail on the timetable for refranchising, as follows: -
The Department anticipates commencing the separate procurements of the Essex Thameside, Great Western, Thameslink, InterCity East Coast, South Eastern, Greater Anglia, Northern and TransPennine Express Franchises with the publication of OJEU notices between December 2011 and December 2012. Following publication of each notice, the Department will invite expressions of interest from potential bidders for the franchises in the form of responses to pre-qualification questionnaires. The questionnaires shall be made available following the publication of each OJEU notice.
The Department anticipates the following programme of publication of OJEU notices, issue of invitations to tender to shortlisted suppliers, announcement of franchise award and contract start date.
The Department anticipates commencing the separate procurements of the Essex Thameside, Great Western, Thameslink, InterCity East Coast, South Eastern, Greater Anglia, Northern and TransPennine Express Franchises with the publication of OJEU notices between December 2011 and December 2012. Following publication of each notice, the Department will invite expressions of interest from potential bidders for the franchises in the form of responses to pre-qualification questionnaires. The questionnaires shall be made available following the publication of each OJEU notice.
The Department anticipates the following programme of publication of OJEU notices, issue of invitations to tender to shortlisted suppliers, announcement of franchise award and contract start date.
- Great Western Franchise: OJEU notice published December 2011; invitation to tender issued May 2012; award announced end 2012; contract starts April 2013.
- Essex Thameside Franchise: OJEU notice published December 2011; invitation to tender issued May 2012; award announced end 2012; contract starts May 2013.
- Thameslink Franchise: OJEU notice published December 2011; invitation to tender issued October 2012; award announced spring 2013; contract starts September 2013.
- InterCity East Coast Franchise: OJEU notice published August 2012; invitation to tender issued January 2013; award announced summer 2013; contract starts December 2013.
- South Eastern Franchise: OJEU notice published December 2012; invitation to tender issued May 2013; award announced end 2013; contract starts April 2014.
- Greater Anglia Franchise: OJEU notice published December 2012; invitation to tender issued August 2013; award announced spring 2014; contract starts July 2014.
- Northern / TransPennine Express: The Department has extended the current First Keolis TransPennine Express rail franchise to 1.4.2015, with an option for the Department to terminate from 1.4.2014 to enable alignment of relevant timescales. It is anticipated (subject to discussions on the 7 month franchise extension for Northern and the exercise of the option relating to the TransPennine Express) the Northern and TransPennine Express Franchise(s) will be let as follows: OJEU notice published December 2012; invitation to tender(s) issued May 2013; award(s) announced end 2013; contract(s) start April 2014.
