Public procurement notice: Qualification System With Call For Competition
Published: 2017-03-17
Buyer: Achilles Information Limited
Country: UK
Contract type: Supplies
CPV classification: 03000000 | 09000000 | 14000000 | 15000000 | 16000000
Award criteria: The most economic tender
EU fund: EU Fund

Technical requirements: This notice announces the existence of the qualification/registration scheme operated by Achilles Information Ltd and known as RISQS (formerly known as Link-up) on behalf of the contracting entities listed in Section VI.2, hereinafter referred to as ‘subscribers’. This notice incorporates any changes that have occurred since the previous qualification system notice (QSN) published for RISQS for supplies and supersedes all previous QSNs for RISQS for supplies.
RISQS has been developed from the GB rail industry's Achilles Link-up community. RISQS services are provided by Achilles, and include the industry's supplier pre-qualification questionnaire and audit
This has now been updated with the new product codes featured in RISQS. Further details of the transport companies that subscribe to RISQS are given in Section VI.2 of this notice. The RISQS coding structure, against which suppliers indicate their areas of capability, is based on a hierarchy and is driven by a combination of industry assets, products and services with associated lifecycle activities. There are 13 level 1 codes supported by a series of level 2 and 3 codes. For example:
Level 2 codes (shown under the level 1 code 01 — Signalling): 01.01 — Train Detection Systems 01.02 — Lineside Signals and Indicators etc. Each level 2 code has one or more detailed level 3 codes, in turn each level 3 code is associated with one or more possible lifecycle activities covering consultancy through to repair and ultimately disposal. Only the Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 Codes are shown here and demonstrate the scope of the coding structure, the Activity Lifecycle codes are shown in the Product Code Booklet that is available for download on the Achilles Rail Portal (www.rail.achilles.com).
The Level 3s can have both open and closed activities as appropriate for the intersection. For example, it is not possible to operate a Track Circuit in the true sense of the word, so the OPT (Operate) activity will be closed and it will not be possible for suppliers to select it during the application process. Every open intersection of a Level 3 code and lifecycle activity has one of the following levels of qualification: R — Registration or A — Auditable.
The codes may change as a result of periodic system updates and those changes are summarised in the notes towards the front of the booklet. It is therefore advisable to always download the most up to date booklet rather than referring to a previously downloaded or printed version.
07.09.02 Lookout Operated Warning Systems (LOWS), (LOWS LKT), (LOWS CTR) & Semi-Automatic Train Warning Systems (SATWS)
08.04.09 Special Installations (including Window Cleaning Cradles, Water Treatment Systems, Refrigeration)
13.05.01 CIS Systems (including Control Equipment, CIS Displays, Public Address, Voice Alarms & Station Clocks)
RISQS has been established as an industry-based service to assist the UK rail companies, and their associated transport activities, by providing efficiencies through the administration of a single qualification scheme and database. For all of the product and service categories listed, RISQS will provide a register of suppliers and contractors to the subscribers listed in Section VI.2, and for some of the categories a second stage qualification will be applied as part of the scheme. Registered and qualified suppliers may be considered by subscribers for contract opportunities, without further notification of requirements in the ‘Supplement to the Official Journal of the European Union’. Each subscriber may impose further qualification stages and in addition certain contract opportunities may be published separately, even though they relate to the product and service categories listed in Section II.3. Each subscriber may also, at its own discretion, use the system as the basis for selection of tender lists below EU thresholds. Each subscriber may use the database for contracts not subject to EU rules.
There is an annual fee for registration to RISQS, this fee is dependant on the number of product codes selected at Level 3, see below:
Those Suppliers wishing to register on the RISQS database should reply to the address in Section I.1 or visit the Rail.Achilles.com webpage for contact details, otherwise applicants can complete the initial registration process online via the Achilles website. On receipt of the registration fee access to an online questionnaire will be made available to applicants. Applying companies should be aware that once the questionnaire is fully completed there is a period of time necessary for processing applications prior to making company details available to Buyers. A visit to the applicant's premises may be necessary to confirm responses made in the questionnaire, such visits may be charged to the applicant. Applications to supply safety critical products and/or services will be subject to an audit before qualification will be awarded — all applicants will receive full details on application. The requirement for an audit will be established upon completion of the questionnaire form which can be accessed via the Rail.Achilles.com webpage. Suppliers or contractors must ensure they have completed the information required in the Online questionnaire in order to be available for selection by the transport organisations that use RISQS for information needed to award contracts. Failure to complete the Online questionnaire may affect a supplier's ability to work on rail infrastructure and will affect business prospects with subscribers who use the scheme.
Further details are available from the Achilles Customer Care team at the contact details shown in Section I.1.
The organisations that subscribe to RISQS as Buyers and therefore have the ability to source suppliers using the information within are listed below:
Arriva UK Trains Limited, 1 Admiral Way, Doxford International Business, Park Sunderland, Tyne & Wear, SR3 3XP, UK