Network Rail has signed framework agreements with five major IT suppliers as it begins to simplify its computing relationships.
With more than 270 individual IT suppliers, Network Rail manages a variety of systems of varying complexity, including some that were designed as far back as the 1970s.
The new zero-value IT Solutions and System Integrator framework agreements, with Accenture, BAE Systems Detica, Cognizant, CSC and TCS, are designed to allow suppliers to take more ownership of designing, building and implementing IT solutions to support Network Rail.
Network Rail’s chief information officer Susan Cooklin said: “We run one of the busiest railway networks in the world and rely heavily on IT to keep everything moving. By creating this framework we will be able to scale more flexibly our resources to meet demand, while retaining our vital assurance role. In this way we can improve our efficiency while continuing to allow 24,000 trains a day across the rail network.”
The five suppliers for the framework agreement were selected following a competition which was run in accordance with the standard OJEU procurement process.
Source Network Rail press office
