40% of spend to be earmarked for SMEs

Network Rail

The government has issued a call for consultants to bid for its new rail specialist advisory framework.

The Department for Transport’s (DfT) recently established Rail Executive is seeking specialist railway technical and commercial advisory services to support its rail contracting, major rail projects and other rail-related activities.

The executive has said that, in line with the government’s wider policy to increase the depth of its supply chain, that 40% of spending under the STAR (Specialist Technical Advice for Rail) framework will go to small and medium enterprises.

The deadline for pre-qualification questionnaire responses to the authority is 30 January with invitations for shortlisted bidders due to be released by 23 March. The DfT plans to appoint suppliers to the framework by the week beginning 22 June.