ScotRail suburban fleet (EMU and BEMU) financier procurement

This Contract Notice formally commences the procurement process for the financing of a new fleet of trains (the "Suburban Fleet"), comprising Electric Multiple Units ("EMU") and Battery Electric Multiple Units ("BEMU"). ScotRail Trains Limited ("ScotRail") intends to procure a financier / owner who will fund and retain ownership of the Suburban Fleet and subsequently lease it to ScotRail for operational use for a duration of up to 30 years via a rolling stock lease ("Lease").

The Suburban Fleet will be supplied under a Manufacture and Supply Agreement ("MSA"), which is the subject of a separate procurement process (the “Suburban Manufacturer procurement"), with Find a Tender reference 2025/S 000-071234. The financier / owner will be a party to the MSA.

The Suburban Fleet will comprise a minimum of 69 trains, with an option for additional orders of up to 37 trains. ScotRail will select economic operators to be invited to negotiate in this procurement process in accordance with the selection criteria detailed in the Pre-Qualification Pack which includes the pre-qualification questionnaire and procurement overview and instructions document (together the "PQQ").

The Lease will be awarded according to the criteria specified in the forthcoming Invitation to Negotiate (the "ITN"). The scope of services to be provided by the successful economic operator is anticipated to include the financing of the Suburban Fleet (manufactured via the MSA), with the successful Bidder taking ownership of the Suburban Fleet, and subsequently leasing it to ScotRail for a term of up to 30 years, via the Lease (such term being extendable - see II2.7).

It is anticipated that Transport Scotland will provide a Section 54 undertaking in respect of the Lease arrangements, covering the 30-year period. ScotRail is conducting the Suburban Manufacturer Procurement in parallel with this procurement process to secure a manufacturer to design, manufacture, test, certify, commission, sell, and deliver the new Suburban Fleet, as well as provide relevant inputs relating to infrastructure and depot/stabling works to accommodate the Suburban Fleet.

The owner / financier will be a party to the MSA alongside ScotRail and the successful manufacturer appointed under the Suburban Manufacturer Procurement. Please refer to the PQQ for a summary of the interface between this procurement process and the Manufacturer Procurement.

Economic operators will have their capability and financial standing evaluated at the PQQ stage, and those Economic operators that are successful will be invited to the ITN stage, as outlined in the procurement documents. This procurement is being run by ScotRail under the terms of its Grant Agreement with the Scottish Ministers and Scottish Rail Holdings Limited ("SRH").

It is anticipated that the contract subject to this procurement process will be awarded and entered into by ScotRail. The aim of this procurement is to deliver Transport Scotland’s requirements as set out in Schedule 6 of the Grant Agreement.

Following receipt and evaluation of tenders, ScotRail will prepare a Final Business Case ("FBC") in line with the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance for SRH and Transport Scotland consideration. Progress to contract award is dependent on the approval by Transport Scotland of a compliant and affordable FBC.

Interested parties must sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) and will be granted access to the Pre-Qualification Event in Waxdigital once the signed NDA has been returned. Waxdigital Link: https://scotrail.wax-live.com/S2C/DisplayModules/TradeMod...