AGENDA ITEM: B3
MEETING:
RSSB Board Meeting
DATE:
08 May 2014
SUBJECT: RISQS First stewardship report including appointment of Scheme
Manager
SPONSOR: Chris Fenton
AUTHORS: John Abbott, Don Clarke and Richard Sharp
1.
Purpose
1.1
To inform the board of:




The staged plan developed by the Rail Industry Supplier Qualification
Scheme (RISQS) board to improve the performance and value for
money of the GB rail supplier qualification scheme;
Progress over the first year of operation;
Objectives for 2014/15;
The need to appointment a scheme manager to deliver the plan.
1.2
The board is reminded that RISQS forms one component of the wider industry
arrangements for supplier assurance. As noted in Paper A2, there is
considerable potential to develop more effective risk based arrangements in
the longer term and a board sponsored project to specify these is now
underway. In the meantime, RISQS is a large operational scheme which
requires competent management and development to efficiently meet industry
needs.
2.
Background
2.1
RISQS provides suppliers with a single GB rail entry point to engage buyers
through the provision of a registration, desk top qualification and enhance
qualification (verified by audit) service. It origins date back to the late British
Rail era and on privatisation was adopted by most buying organisations to
help comply with European procurement legislation and to meet Railway
Safety Case requirements. The scheme was subsequently branded ‘Link-up’
and to date has been supplied by a third party service provider, Achilles.
2.2
Following the initial findings of the RSSB board sponsored supplier assurance
project, industry resolved to review and improve operation of the scheme in
response to long standing issues such as performance of the IT platform,
structure of product groups, duplication of interventions and audit reliability.
Following initial project work, it was identified that formal scheme governance
arrangements were required and in January 2013 the RSSB board approved
RSSB Board Meeting Final: 08 May 2014
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AGENDA ITEM: B3
the creation of the RISQS board to own and develop the scheme on behalf of
all buyers and suppliers. This decision was endorsed by RDG.
2.3
RSSB board approval stipulated the need for an annual stewardship report
and reserved authority to appoint formal scheme management.
2.4
The board are reminded that RSSB also deliver the Rail Industry Supplier
Approval Scheme (RISAS) for the assessment of critical rolling stock product
and service suppliers.
3.
Strategy for development of RISQS
3.1
The RISQS board recognise that GB mainline rail and TfL share a common
supply chain and the RISQS scheme has considerable potential to improve
the efficiency of buyer and supplier capability understanding and engagement.
Accordingly a 3 stage plan has been developed for the scheme.
3.2
Stage 1 – Gain control and improve value for money
Stage 2 – Improve performance offered to buyers and suppliers
Stage 3 – Specify and replace with a risk based supplier assurance
framework
4.
Year 1 progress report
The key objectives and outcomes for the first year are summarised in Table 1.
Ref
Objectives
Stage 1 - Gain control
1.1
Scheme governance documents
1.2
Specify and implement improved
IT platform
1.3
Implement simplified product
code structure
1.4
Redefine qualification and audit
process to concentrate on basic
capability assessment
Secure IPR
1.5
1.6
Establish effective control over
service provider
1.7
Reduce cost to the scheme
RSSB Board Meeting Final: 08 May 2014
Outcome
Scheme principles and RISQS Board
arrangement documents drafted,
consulted and published
New IT platform, researched specified
and launched in May 2013. Transition
programme successfully completed.
Following review and rationalistion, a
new product code structure briefed
and implemented
Audit programme respecified to focus
on supplier capability assessment
Following extensive negotiations IPR
ownership now established for all
scheme protocols and supplier data
Heads of terms developed, negotiated
and signed. Detailed service provision
contract in final stages of negotiation
Cost of scheme registration and
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AGENDA ITEM: B3
1.8
Establish new website and
communications protocol
Stage 2 - Improve performance
2.1
Recognise RISAS
2.2
Recognise other third party
schemes
2.3
Support Network Rail’s
assurance requirement
2.4
Review rolling stock supplier
qualification
qualification application reduced by 535%. Cost of capability assessment
audit reduced by 25%
New website www.risqs.org launched.
Communications protocol and plan
agreed
Mutual recognition protocol agreed
and implemented. Duplication ceased
Qualification protocols rationalised to
recognise relevant third party
certification
MOU agreed for provision of Sentinel
sponsor, infrastructure planning and
OTP support
Complete review undertaken of
scheme approach and audits ceased
An overview of the scheme at the end of its first year of operation is contained
in Annex A.
5.
Objectives for 2014-15
During year 2 it is planned to complete Stage 1, drive forward with Stage 2
and begin enabling work on Stage 3. The headline objectives for the next 12
months are summarised in Table 2 and a detailed business plan has been
prepared in support.
Ref
Objectives
Stage 1 – Gain control
1.1
Develop and publish remaining documents
1.2
Develop and implement performance metrics and dashboard
1.3
Implement service provider performance review process
1.4
Maintain and review scheme risk register
Stage 2 – Improve performance
2.1
Integrate product code structure with RSSB RICCL
2.2
Programme manage TfL adoption of the scheme
2.3
Support Network Rail by undertaking smart audit of training providers
2.4
Design and implement robust training audit management regime
2.5
Specify and implement new rolling stock supplier capability
assessment module
2.6
Develop formal third party recognition policy
2.6
Implement communications plan including buyer and supplier
capability understanding of scheme and performance feedback
Stage 3 – Specify the future
3.1
Develop road map to 2017
3.2
Undertake review of alternative schemes and service providers
3.3
Develop jointly with RISAS board risk based specification
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AGENDA ITEM: B3
The board are invited to note that a strategic discussion on the longer term
future of supplier assurance in GB rail is to be organised later in the year.
6.
Scheme Manager
The board were informed in November 2013 that the RISQS board had
requested that RSSB support the Stage 1 and 2 work programme through
provision of interim scheme management support. Recognising the need to
complete Stage 1, progress Stage 2 and 3 and manage delivery of a large
operational scheme, the RISQS board and RSSB are now seeking board
approval for the appointment of a full time scheme manager. The scheme
manager is to be directly funded through the new 3 year service provision
contract with Achilles, which provides RSSB with a minimum of £150k annual
income.
7.
Recommendations
7.1
The board is asked to:




NOTE progress with RISQS
ENDORSE the 2014/15 objectives
DELEGATE AUTHORITY to the RISQS board to appoint a dedicated
scheme manager in conjunction with the RSSB executive.
SUPPORT a future strategic discussion item about longer term plans for
supplier assurance in GB rail.
RSSB Board Meeting Final: 08 May 2014
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Annex A
RISQS Governance and Management
27/01/2014
RSSB Board (RISQS/001)
Oversees
Working
Groups
RISQS Board (RISQS/002)
Directs and Supervises
Other
Schemes
Scheme Management
User Forums
(RISQS/003 and RISQS/005)
Accreditation
Agency 
Information
Platform
(RISQS/004)
Qualification
(RISQS/004)
Audit
(RISQS/004)



View Public Data
(Sub-contracted)
System Suppliers
Accredits
Visitors
Customers
Suppliers
Place Contracts
Notes:
 Accreditation Agency function has yet to be established as of November 2013
 Sentinel Sponsor Control is delivered by RISQS on behalf of Network Rail in accordance with a Memorandum of
Understanding.
 RTAS Assessment of Training Providers is delivered on behalf of Network Rail in accordance with a Memorandum of
Understanding.
 Rolling Stock basic assurance gathering in place of audit and RISAS supplier assessment module stage 1
RSSB Board Meeting Final: 08 May 2014
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