15.03.18
NR warns suppliers not to get left behind
Network Rail is warning suppliers to act now or risk being locked out of the rail market.
With less than 50 days until the enhanced Railway Industry Supplier Qualification Scheme (RISQS) goes live, the infrastructure manager has told its supply train to sign in to the new RISQS portal and check their data by 13 April in order to guarantee continued visibility to buyers.
The enhanced RISQS system goes live on 1 May, and Network Rail says that it will provide buyers with benefits such as a new configurable platform that is more responsible to industry and legal changes, the ability to integrate the new software with their own systems, auto alerts and buyer-specific questioning.
In addition, suppliers will see improvements such as the new configurable platform, providing prompt updates for industry requirements and notice of EU tenders provided for free.
Network Rail’s assurance manager, Gillian Scott, explained: “We have made clear that to maintain their Sentinel status, suppliers will need to be RISQS-assured, and that means signing in to the RISQS portal now.
“For most suppliers signing in and checking their data in the new portal is quick and simple, but if companies leave it to the end of April they risk being invisible to buyers from 1 May.”
Graeme Cox, Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) head of supplier assurance, said: “Thousands of suppliers have already accessed the enhanced RISQS portal but we do not want a single supplier left behind.
“To be sure we can support suppliers with any queries they may have they should log in to the new portal by mid-April.
“We continue to work closely with infrastructure managers and across the rail industry, providing training and support to members to make sure no one finds themselves locked out of the rail market on 1 May.”
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