Southern Integrated Delivery awards civils and engineering contracts

Southern Integrated Delivery (SID) has awarded 15 suppliers a ten-year framework contract to deliver buildings and civil engineering works across the region as part of its ambitious renewals programme, spanning across both Control Period 7 (CP7) and Control Period 8 (CP8).

SID is part of the Southern Renewals Enterprise (SRE) within Network Rail’s Southern Region. The civil engineering framework is one of five frameworks and will oversee responsibility of planned and reactive maintenance.

SRE is a departure from typical renewals projects with a key element of the new approach focused on rewarding suppliers based on performance rather than turnover. It will also eradicate mini tendering competitions for each project, whether planned or reactive.

Engineering firm, VolkerFitzpatrick is the overall partner for the framework, with the 15 suppliers announced working with them.

Liz Baldwin, SID Director, said: “We’re excited to announce these new partnerships. This is a significant step forward in how we work with suppliers, with a clear focus on delivering value for money and improving the railway for passengers. By simplifying our approach and rewarding performance, we believe we can achieve significant improvements.”

The framework will also ensure a minimum of 40% of the contract value is committed to each supplier, which SID believes will provide stability and allow for investment.

It will also have one single ‘Reactive Generalist’ delivery partner appointed for Buildings and one ‘Reactive Generalist’ delivery partner for Civils. These generalists will be responsible for all reactive works (including emergency earthworks) and elements of planned maintenance.

Cameron Burns, Strategic Commercial Director, added: “This approach will foster a more collaborative working relationship, reduce bureaucracy, and create opportunities for local businesses to grow and thrive.”

SID will see partners pool together expertise across five different portfolios of work over the next two control periods; As well as working within the Building and Civils portfolio, which is being overseen by VolkerFitzpatrick, Octavius will be responsible for electrification. The signalling portfolio will be part of AtkinsRealis remit. VolkerRail will be responsible for track and Network Rail will be managing any minor works.

Further announcements of the other four frameworks and the suppliers involved is not expected until later in the year.