MARKET ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITY Parliamentary Agents – Adapted High Speed Rail (Crewe – Manchester) Bill, supporting NPR

Tender description

The Department for Transport (DfT) is considering procuring a new contract for the legal services of Roll A Parliamentary Agents in relation to the High-Speed Rail (Crewe - Manchester) Bill, to be adapted to deliver part of the Northern Powerhouse Rail programme, hereafter called the NPR Bill Scheme. The DfT is looking to engage with Roll A Parliamentary Agent suppliers to understand market interest in delivering the contract of legal services for the NPR Bill scheme. The DfT will be looking to meet virtually with interested suppliers in April 2024 to outline the requirements for the new contract. This notice is not a call for competition and responses to this pre-market engagement will be used to inform the DfT's decisions on market capability to deliver legal services for the NPR Bill scheme. Lot 1: The High Speed Rail (Crewe - Manchester) Bill is currently partway through its progress through Parliament. In October 2023, the Government announced the cancellation of the HS2 Phase 2b scheme being delivered by this Bill. In March 2024, the Secretary of State for Transport confirmed the decision to adapt the Bill to help deliver part of the NPR scheme. The Department is reliant on the advice and expertise of Roll A Parliamentary Agents (PAs) to ensure the necessary Parliamentary (and post-Royal Assent) commitments and processes in relation to the Bill are satisfied in an effective and timely manner. Without such advice, there is likely to be an adverse impact in meeting the key timescales for the acquisition of land, planning matters, appeals, and Undertakings and Assurances. There is currently an extension to the contract that is due to expire by September 2024 at the latest. The DfT is looking to engage with Roll A Parliamentary Agent suppliers on the procurement of a new contract that will deliver the provision of legal services for the NPR Bill scheme. The DfT will be holding engagement sessions for this tender with interested suppliers virtually to outline the requirements, monetary value and initial length of the new contract. Meetings will be held for individual interested suppliers in April 2024. No more than 3 people may attend per supplier. Sessions will be a maximum of 30 minutes long. The sessions available are as follows: Wednesday 24 April 2024 Supplier session 1: 13.00 - 13.30 Supplier session 2: 13.45 - 14.15 Supplier session 3: 14.30 - 15.00 Supplier session 4: 15.15 - 15.45 Supplier session 5: 16.00 - 16.30 Thursday 25 April 2024 Supplier session 6: 13.00 - 13.30 Supplier session 7: 13.45 - 14.15 Supplier session 8: 14.30 - 15.00 Supplier session 9: 15.15 - 15.45 Supplier session 10: 16.00 - 16.30 Suppliers who are interested in attending the supplier engagement sessions are asked to express their interest via the DfT Jaggaer Portal by Tuesday 23 April 2024, 15:00. Interested suppliers should provide their preferred individual slot along with the names and email addresses of up to 3 attendees. The project is titled 'TRHS0004 Parliamentary Agents - Adapted High Speed Rail (Crewe – Manchester) Bill, supporting NPR.' These will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.