RISQS service provider agreement extended for 12 months

The rail industry has extended the arrangements with its current service provider for the Railway Industry Supplier Qualification Scheme (RISQS) for a further 12 months.

The contract has been extended for one year to now run until April 2018 this will allow additional time to create the new arrangements for supplier assurance, and complete relevant public procurement processes. The current agreement is with Achilles to provide the IT platform, verification and audit services for RISQS as part of a contract with the rail industry overseen by the RISQS Board and RSSB.

RISQS board Chair John Green said: “The extension of the current arrangements is important to make sure that the procurement of the new arrangements will deliver an effective and efficient scheme that works for buyers and suppliers alike. The need to deliver a scheme that takes advantage of the improved technology available in order ensure that is easy to use and helps buyers with their needs whilst not being seen as a burden to the supply chain is at the heart of the boards strategy for improvement”

RISQS, supported by RSSB, currently provides a supplier registration and qualification service for over 4,200 suppliers and services 118 major buyers in rail, and is governed by an industry board which is ultimately responsible for overseeing the scheme, and appointing the service provider.

RISQS scheme manager Richard Sharp said: “RISQS scheme users have benefitted from short term improvements and savings ahead of the changes in 2018 thanks to the creation of the cross industry governance through the RISQS board and the change it has brought to the current processes. However, key improvements will be seen following procurement of the new arrangements enabling the scheme to swiftly adapt to the industry’s requirements” 

Tom Grand, Achilles’ UK Regional Director stated that ‘Achilles are delighted to be extending the collaboration between RSSB, and Achilles that is serving to strengthen and improve the delivery of RISQS in the interest of the rail Industry. Since the introduction of the agreement the combination of formalised industry governance with Achilles’ established operational and audit ability has driven tangible improvements helping RISQS to play its part in making the UK rail industry the safest in Europe.’