Extension of Lease Agreement with Nuclear Transport Solutions (NTS) for the Class 68 Locomotives already operated on the TPE rail network.

Description

The Contracting Authority intends to extend the Lease Agreement with Nuclear Transport Solutions (NTS) for the Class 68 Locomotives in accordance with Regulation 50(1)(c)(ii) of the Utilities Contract Regulations 2016 for technical reasons. There is no other UK based fleets available in sufficient quantities or within the requisite timeframe to meet TPE's needs for the National Rail Contract. TPE intend to award a Lease Agreement extension with Nuclear Transport Solutions (NTS) for the Class 68 Locomotives, the current Lease Agreement expires in May 2023 and it is intended to extend the lease until May 2024. The Contracting Authority will observe a 10 day standstill period from the date of issue of this notice prior to entering into the lease extensions with Nuclear Transport Solutions (NTS). The Standstill Period will end on 11th April 2023. Lot 1: In preparation for an award of a National Rail Contract from the Department for Transport to Transpennine Express Limited (operated by First Group), it is intended to extend the Lease Agreement with Nuclear Transport Solutions (NTS) for the Class 68 Locomotives. The Lease Agreement is expected to be extended as per below; The Contracting Authority intends to extend the rolling stock leases in accordance with Regulation 50(1)(c)(ii) of the Utilities Contract Regulations 2016 for technical reasons. There are no other UK based fleets available in sufficient quantities or within the requisite timeframe to meet TPE's needs for the National Rail Contract. TPE intend to award a Lease Extension with Nuclear Transport Solutions (NTS) for the Class 68 Locomotives, the current Lease-Maintenance Agreement expires in May 2023 and it is intended to extend the lease until May 2024. The Class 68's and the Mk5a operate as a SET (called Nova 3) but are maintained by different entities with the Class 68 Locomotives being leased and maintained by NTS. We consider that there is no suitable replacement available for the Nova 3 trains by May 2023 in their entirety. There are no Locomotives available in the UK market that can be used to power a Mk5a other than the Class 68 locomotive. The Mk5a coaches and class 68 locos were developed together as an integrated package for TPE. No other loco is currently compatible with the MK5a coaches. There, we conclude that there is no suitable replacement, either for the complete Nova 3 train, or for either of its constituent parts. NTS provides a turnkey solution for maintenance. NTS has the technical know-how to carry out this maintenance, and no other provider would be capable of providing this requirement without that technical information. The Standstill Period will end on 11th April 2023.