GWR Catering Service - Service Centre Operations & Delivery, and Catering Products & Supply

This procurement process is being advertised and run by First Greater Western Limited on its own behalf and on behalf of the successor operator of the rail passenger transport services in respect of National Rail Contract area. That successor operator will be a public sector company, is expected to be a wholly owned subsidiary of Department for Transport Operator (DfTO) and will be ultimately owned by the Secretary of State for Transport. The date for transfer of the current operations to the successor operator is not yet confirmed. Where the transfer is completed before contract award under this procurement process, the successor operator may elect (but will not be obliged) to carry on with this procurement process in place of First Greater Western Limited, by taking on the role of contracting entity from the date of completion of the transfer (with this notice and all other procurement documents to be interpreted accordingly). Where the transfer is not yet completed by the time of contract award, contractual rights may be included in the contractual arrangements to enable transfer to the successor operator. Bidders should note that this procurement process (if ongoing), or any awarded contract, may be included in a transfer scheme made by the Secretary of State under section 12 of the Railways Act 2005, or the transfer may be effected outside of, or separate from, such a scheme.

GWR require Catering Services to be delivered across the network, which will be run under one contract. The catering service has two core functions and sections 1 and 2 of the specification covers both functions and the information is intended to provide the detail and requirement the supplier/s need in order to deliver this contract.

Specification structure:

This specification is structured into two distinct areas to detail the two service functions.

1. Service Centre Operations and Delivery

The supplier must be able to supply logistics operations and staff management to all GWR catered fleet.

2. Catering Products and Supply

The supplier must be able to supply all of GWR catering products, packaging and ancillary equipment.

Collaboration between the two functions:

To ensure productive, proactive and innovative working practices for this contract opportunity, GWR welcome individual entities as well as consortium bids (joint proposals).

If this contract is a joint venture, the successful suppliers will be expected to work collaboratively and seamlessly to ensure the integrated and efficient delivery of the overall catering service and both functions. This collaboration will be crucial for operational effectiveness, customer satisfaction, and for achieving the strategic objectives of the business. This will involve, but is not limited to, sharing relevant information (subject to confidentiality agreements), coordinating operational interfaces, and participating in joint planning and review meetings as required by the Client.

As detailed throughout this specification, Suppliers will need to work in collaboration throughout the lifetime of the contract if in a consortium working structure. The following requirements cover both service functions.

Route Details

GWR manage many stations on the route with catered first-class lounges in Paddington, Cardiff, Penzance, and Truro as part of the logistics supply.

Currently trains do not run on Christmas Day or Boxing Day, although some elements of the Service will be required on these days.

GWR run:

• 254 catered trains a day Monday - Friday,

• 280 catered trains on Saturday and

• 210 catered trains on a Sunday.