Flying Scotsman

With a wide firebox loco you can usually get away with leaving the boiler in situ IF there isn't too much required. Not very easy if the foundation ring has to come out, though.
Is 60103 fitted with a manhole in the bottom of the barrel for easy access once the tubes are out. The original boilers certainly had this. That can save a lot of time and effort when it comes to doing the internal exams

 

Or stuck in that "black hole" that is an approved budget to re tender the support and maintenance contract.

 

True, but with the contract due to expire in a few days normal good purchasing practice would have a new one in place. Of course there may be and it has just not been announced, or it may have been forgotten about and not completed yet. Have to admit I embarrassingly did that more than once.

 

As I have said in another thread, it is not unusual for radio silence when another contract is bring negotiated - indeed it is called commercial confidentiality. It is also respectful of the current contract holder who may, or may not, be the next contract holder.
The NRM statement is carefully worded, it states they are considering the next stage of the loco's future and will look to build on the success of this year - it does not state the loco is going to be retired or anything else shock and awe. Indeed it suggests they are considering options - which you can read into whatever you want, but only those who are actually evaluating the options know the reality!
I would suggest people step back, are patient and let the process complete. I doubt there will be any big announcements this side of Christmas, quite a few people are already on holiday!

 

As we know, Riley’s rebuilt the loco and have been operating it on behalf of the NRM since; nobody knows it better. And as far as I can tell, aside from the issues last year which I thought were due to supply chain problems, it’s been pretty solidly available during that time. Has anything happened (that’s public knowledge) that would cast doubt on the ongoing relationship between the NRM and Rileys?

 

You can have a perfectly productive relationship with a supplier, but if the contract has reached the end of its term, it typically has to be re-procured - particularly given that the public sector has fairly tight procurement rules that stop contracts being simply rolled over beyond a certain limit. (I'm not a procurement expert, but it is generally cumulative value that starts getting important). In the public sector, if you have a contract that has a time or financial limit, then some extensions beyond those limits are normally possible, but eventually you get to a point where re-tendering is required. Of course, nothing prevents the original supplier entering that re-procurement competition.

Disclaimer: I have no specific knowledge of this case, but just answering the question about one possible reason why a successful relationship may nonetheless need to be ended or at least renegotiated.

Tom

 

To build on this, again focusing on general principles and with no specific knowledge, there are a couple of additional factors that may (or may not) be relevant in this instance.

First is that government bodies have limited authority to commit spend, so may have to seek higher approval having made a decision about what they want to do following a procurement tender. The recent LNER order for new trains with CAF took a year before that authority was given.

Second, many procurement managers believe that the way to get best value out of suppliers is to make them compete for new contracts. This belief often goes alongside a belief that incumbent suppliers are ripping off the customer, and can't be trusted to deliver good value. It also, not entirely coincidentally, ensures that the procurement function are at the centre of decision making.

In all of this, it's worth bearing in mind that the contract was signed the best part of 10 years ago, and would have been based on a number of assumptions about conditions at that time. It's reasonable for both supplier and customer to revisit that contract and agree on how it should be updated (e.g. scope, price).

 

I used to have a tangential involvement in public sector tender evaluation. To a very large extent our hands were tied, and the rules had to be followed. I recall one occasion where we techies started quietly preparing to deal with what we considered an inevitable flawed delivery as soon as the only supplier we had confidence in failed to win the tender.

 

If we think what has happened to input prices (energy, materials) it may very well be that Rileys need a new contract with revised base prices every bit as much as the NRM.

 

I have some involvement in low level public procurement, your summary there is pretty much spot on to my experiences. Many contracts have the option of time limited extensions (subject to both parties being happy), but beyond that the contract must be retendered to an open market.
@30567 makes a very important point about rising costs and the effects on Riley's as well as the NRM.

 

Here's my snapshots of Flying Scotsman on the Royal Duchy last April being one of the highlights of Flying Scotsman's centenary year. I made a video of all of the footage I've got of her this year. I hope you enjoy the video.

 

According to Rail Advent The National Railway Museum have announced their plans for Flying Scotsman for 2024.
Apparently she will be returning to the main line later this year:

https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2024/01/flying-scotsman-plans-for-2024-announced.html

 

LSL possibly, if WCR don't have any stock for her to pull?

 

I know it'll go to tender etc but they'd be crackers not to choose Rileys (if of course Rileys puts in a tender),no one has better experience of keeping the old girl running. She must be the oldest mainline registered loco now?

 

Assuming Riley’s still want it of course.

I have no idea either way, but periodically reprocuring can have benefits for both sides, not least if one or the other side wishes to change the scope of what is delivered.

Tom

 

LSL don't have the stock either. One set of Mk1s out twice a week, likewise a set of Mk2s out once or twice a week. Though they do have the Intercity Mk3 set not being used that often...

 

Didn't Hosking buy up an old Caledonian sleeper set not too long ago?...

 

They’re currently in the cattle dock/run round loop of platform 2 of Kidderminster Town atm

 

Official announcement from the NRM: