01.03.07
Metronet awards first six station projects outside of its supply chain
Metronet Rail has announced that it has awarded the first tranche of six contracts for station upgrades outside of its tied supply chain. Following a competitive tender process in late 2006, initial contracts have now been awarded for the design and build of six station improvements, collectively valued at more than £150 million. This forms part of Metronet's initiative to further evolve its business structure and contractual relationships and addresses issues raised by the PPP Arbiter in his annual review, including the delivery of the stations and civils upgrade programme.
New processes, introduced progressively since early 2006, have significantly improved Metronet's stations and civils output during the past 12 months. With the continuing support and input from London Underground, Metronet and its tied supply chain organisation are continuing to refine and implement this work, which includes project scope, construction contract mechanisms, hand-back and close-out.
Stations programme
Until late 2006, the PPP commitment to deliver improvements to 143 stations by the end of the first contract period in 2010 was implemented solely through the tied supply chain contracts with ‘Trans4m Limited'.
By the end of March 2006, Metronet had completed 13 stations. To date, a total of 32 station improvement projects are now in public use, illustrating an accelerated delivery rate. Currently, Metronet has construction work under way at an additional 27 stations, and improvements to a further 48 stations are at the detail design stage.
The following initiatives are also well advanced:
• the embedding of key personnel from London Underground and Metronet at all points of the delivery process to accelerate approvals and sign-off
• a clearer route to scope definition
• the review and revision of close-out and hand-back routines
• an open market approach to procurement
Where existing refurbishment or modernisation work is already underway on the current package of 27 stations (numbered 33-59), delivery will continue to be wholly undertaken by Trans4m. Metronet/ Trans4m intend to complete the remaining stations (numbered 60-143) via competitively tendered design and build contracts and/ or through construction management package contractors. The first six such projects, competitively tendered, and adopting the design and build model, have been announced.
Civils programme
Within their civils organisation, Metronet/ Trans4m intend to enhance an existing and successful delivery by:
• shortening the links between the delivery units and the asset renewal and asset performance functions of Metronet
• securing further supply chain partners through open competitive tender, a process that will be in place by May 2007
Commenting on these new arrangements, Stephen Hall, Metronet's chief programmes officer, said: “For Metronet, these initiatives represent a significant step in the development of our stations and civils improvement programmes. We are determined to sustain this momentum, and to deliver significant improvements in an economic and efficient manner.”
Tell us what you think – have your say below, or email us directly at [email protected]