Link-up is the UK rail industry supplier registration and qualification scheme. Originally established over a decade ago, Link-up has made a significant impact to the rail industry by providing a single common qualification process for suppliers that is shared by Network Rail and over 80 rail organisations including Infrastructure Management Contractors, Underground Infrastructure companies, Construction companies and all major Train and Freight Operators - a full list of Link-up's members can be found in the Customers sections.
The Link-up scheme has three clear objectives:
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Single shared qualification process amongst the rail community
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Reduced duplication & administrative effort - recognised as efficient and cost-effective
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Fair, open and transparent process, compliant with EC Procurement Legislation
In 2000, Achilles launched the Proof scheme, which took Link-up a stage further by providing a common auditing process for suppliers of safety-critical products and services. Link-up and Proof allow purchasers, engineers and other rail industry professionals to instantly access comprehensive qualification and audit results on suppliers via the Internet, whether for a pre-tender supplier selection exercise or to manage existing suppliers under contract.
To date more than 3500 suppliers and contractors are registered on the Link-up scheme, and over 1000 of these are also participating in the Proof scheme for products and services deemed critical to safety.
How Link-up is used
The Link-up scheme offers a comprehensive supplier management solution which includes (but is not limited to) the following key applications:
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Sourcing and qualification of suppliers in relation to specific contracts
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Market intelligence and competition analysis
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Compliance with EC Procurement Legislation & audit trail
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Monitoring and development of existing suppliers
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Integration with procurement strategy, procedures and systems
Sourcing and qualification of suppliers in relation to specific contracts
Link-up is primarily used to source and qualify suppliers in the rail industry in relation to a specific contract or tender to be awarded, but is also used by many members for their non-rail industry requirements too. The majority of Link-up users access the Achilles Railportal and use the available criteria selection tools to create list(s) of suppliers for further enquiry or tender. Achilles also provides additional support with sourcing suppliers for specific contracts through the Link-up 'Select' service, additional details of which are available upon request.
Market intelligence and competition analysis
More than 3500 suppliers of products, services and works are registered or qualified through Link-up. This includes suppliers of strategic products and services specific to the rail industry as well as suppliers of more generic products and services supplied to all industries. Link-up can be used to help identify where competition is poor and where development may be needed - Achilles can assist with this process. Link-up contains a global mix of suppliers and members have access to a community of more than 17,000 suppliers in multiple countries and industries.
Compliance with EC Procurement Legislation & audit trail
Using Link-up assists with compliance with EC Procurement Legislation by enabling all suppliers to be selected through a fair, open and transparent process, with the option of recording an audit trail as proof. Achilles publishes a QSN in the OJEU each quarter to inform suppliers' that Link-up is the means of qualification - this negates the need for individual calls for competition to be published though these may still be published if desired.
Monitoring and development of existing suppliers
Link-up includes a facility to monitor specific suppliers specified by a user for events such as changes in their qualification status or information, changes in financial risk score and addition or discontinuation of products or services. Notification is sent directly by email.
Suppliers that are qualified on Link-up are scored based on an industry-marking scheme agreed by Link-up members. This enables benchmarking of suppliers and the identification of specific areas where a supplier may need further development.
Integration with procurement strategy, procedures and systems
Link-up should be used as an integrated part of the procurement strategy and procedures, and us often used in conjunction with addition parts of the tender and contract award process including tools such as online tendering and reverse auctions. Link-up has the capability to integrate with other systems used in-house and often the nomenclature is used as a convenient means of reporting on spend.
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