Earthing and Bonding

This requirement is needed to enable the successful electrification of the Core Valley Lines. E&B will play a key part in ensuring the safety of all personnel working on or near the rail, and of rail service users and customers once the line sections are energised. An effective E&B system will assist in minimising any identified Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) issues across an installation.

Earthing and Bonding will need to be installed across the route, on all OLE assets, stations, bridges, fences and other metal assets to:

• Ensure personal safety for those located on or about the railway,
• Provide a safe return path for current in the event of an electrical fault,
• Provide a return current path for normal load current; and
• Ensure the correct operation of electrical protection systems.

The purpose of this tender is to identify and appoint competent contractors to undertake works in relation to Earthing and Boding in a live/working rail environment.

This work is required to provide key installations and allow access to the rail for incumbent TfW Infrastructure Delivery Partners (IDPs) to complete their works, and ensure the network is compliant to standards applicable to an electrified railway.

Mini-competition will be utilised as the primary call-off process under this Framework, with a direct award allocation process reserved for urgent requirements only.

Should the need arise for this work outside of CVL, the Buyer and their subsidiaries reserve the right to utilise this framework for works appropriate to the scope within this framework as long as value for money can be demonstrated. For the avoidance of doubt this may include similar works on alternative lines and locations not within the CVL.

The potential work to be procured via this framework covers E&B works at various locations including:

• Signalling power supplies (FSP)
• Points heating
• Telecoms equipment
• Traction bonding
• Junction lighting
• OCS motorized switches
• Signalling structures & trackside equipment
• Stations
• Depots
• DNO cubicles
• Bridges and other metal/steel structures
• Metal/steel fencing
• Arbitrary metal/steel trackside enclosures
• Third party assets outside the WCB and CVL -Boundaries
• Metal / Steel Handrails
• IBJ’s / IRJ’s
• Sidings