Network Rail awards 82 contracts to deliver design services across the UK

Network Rail has announced the awarding of 82 contracts, representing up to £640 million of investment, to deliver design services throughout the UK – the initiative is worth an estimated £400 million for Control Period 6 (2019-2024), and up to £640 million when including the options to extend the framework into Control Period 7 (2024-2029).

The Network Rail Design Services Framework (DSF) is divided into four multi-discipline frameworks and 78 single-discipline frameworks, which have been awarded to a total of 34 suppliers including Balfour Beatty Rail, Egis Rail UK Ltd and Ramboll UK Limited. The new DSF will aim to provide access to a wider range of multi-skilled suppliers, which includes small and medium enterprises (SMEs) who form approximately 25 per cent of the single-discipline suppliers listed on the DSF.

The framework went live on 1 January 2020 and replaces its predecessor, the Multi-Functional Design Framework. It outlines each supplier, which discipline they are involved in and what DSF region they are a part of. Suppliers include AECOM, Jacobs UK, Mott MacDonald and WSP.

Single disciplines of the Design Services Framework are separated into:

• Track
• Telecoms
• Signalling
• Electrification & Plant – Plant
• Electrification & Plant – Contact Systems
• Electrification & Plant – Distribution
• Civils & Structural
• Buildings & Architecture
• Geotechnical
• Consents & Environment.

Network Rail’s Commercial Director, Daljinder Chatta, said: “Network Rail will have greater access to a design support network providing mutual benefits to both Network Rail and the supply chain. Some of these include working more directly with suppliers, improved assurance, getting closer to experts, improved business and safety performance and enabling innovation to thrive.”