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Download resourceThe Client
The TransitLinX consortium comprising of John Holland, Alstom, Kellogg-Brown Root, WSP and RAPT Dev
Sector
Infrastructure | Procurement Strategy | Local and Social Procurement
The Challenge
The Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) is one of Victoria’s most ambitious infrastructure programs. The multi-generational project aims to deliver 90km of orbital rail loop from Cheltenham to Werribee. The scale and complexity of the program has necessitated the Suburban Rail Loop Authority has separated the program into seven packages of work.
The SRL Work Package G, valued at $9 billion, covers a significant portion of the program, including:
- Tunnel fit-out works and cross passage fit-out
- Permanent high and low voltage power supply
- Track sectioning equipment
- Communication systems, network control, including signalling
- Rolling stock
- Depot and maintenance facilities
- Overall responsibility for systems integration
- Operations and maintenance.
Tendering for such a large and complex contract required the TransitLinX consortium to demonstrate strong alignment with Victorian Government procurement frameworks, including the Social Procurement Framework, Local Jobs First and the Building Equality Policy.
The LIDP requirements addressed local industry engagement and sourcing, local steel use and innovation commitments. The consortium had to show clear social and local procurement outcomes while managing multiple consortium partners and tight deadlines.
Our Role in the Project
Sedo Group was engaged as a specialist advisor on procurement policy, with a particular focus on driving local industry development obligations and supporting workforce development and social procurement programs.
Our role included:
- Reviewing and strengthening the Local Industry Development Plan (LIDP) and the local industry engagement and sourcing plan as an additional requirement
- Ensuring responses addressed local steel requirements and were competitive against government benchmarks
- Assessing innovation commitments within the LIDP and aligning them with policy priorities
- Reviewing the social procurement strategy, with a strong emphasis on local procurement outcomes
- Enhancing bid schedules to demonstrate compliance and competitiveness
- Developing a consortium wide procurement plan to demonstrate how the bid would manage its procurements throughout the life-cycle of the project
- Facilitating effective collaboration across consortium members with different systems, styles and expectations
This work required close collaboration with multiple stakeholders across the consortium, balancing competing needs and expectations to deliver a unified and credible bid.
Our Client Results
In just six weeks, Sedo Group delivered all outputs on time and to a high standard.
Our involvement:
- Improved bid schedule compliance and quality by 30%
- Strengthened Local Industry Development Plan responses, including local engagement, local steel and innovation
- Ensured alignment with all relevant Victorian Government procurement policies
- Delivered a procurement plan that was essential to meeting milestones
- Helped consortium members present a unified and credible bid.
Most importantly, the TransitLinX consortium was successful in securing the $9 billion Suburban Rail Loop Work Package G contract.
Client Impact
John Holland commended Sedo Group for addressing critical gaps and expanding our role to meet project demands. The final submission not only achieved compliance but also highlighted the consortium’s ability to support local industry participation and deliver inclusive and sustainable outcomes for Victoria.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Suburban Rail Loop project align with the Victorian Government’s Social Procurement Framework?
The Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) is a major project that is required to Victorian Government’s Social Procurement Framework by embedding opportunities for local businesses and social benefit suppliers, and employment opportunities for priority jobseekers . The project prioritises inclusive employment, sustainable materials, and ethical supply chains, key principles Sedo Group helps clients integrate into their procurement strategies.
What kind of procurement policy support can Sedo Group provide for major infrastructure projects like SRL?
Sedo Group offers tailored procurement policy support that can help your business position itself to win major Government projects across all stages of tendering, from pre-qualification to reporting. We can support you by delivering bid writing, strategy development and compliance support. We specialise in local, social and sustainable policies, including the Victorian Local Jobs First Policy, Social Procurement Framework and Building Equality Equality Policy) and are experts in ensuring alignment with policy requirements and best-practice standards.
How can suppliers demonstrate compliance with policies such as Local Jobs First and the Building Equality Policy when bidding for SRL contracts?
Suppliers can demonstrate compliance through clear workforce data, targeted training and employment initiatives, and evidence of gender equality and local participation outcomes. Sedo Group helps businesses prepare supporting documentation and frameworks that meet evaluation criteria under these policies.
What are common challenges suppliers face when responding to SRL tenders, and how can Sedo Group help overcome them?
Common challenges include interpreting complex policy requirements, developing robust social procurement commitments, and maintaining compliance documentation. Sedo Group simplifies these processes by providing practical templates, hands-on training, and policy-aligned strategies that strengthen tender submissions and improve evaluation outcomes.
How does Sedo Group measure the social and economic impact of procurement activities for SRL suppliers?
We use outcome-based measurement frameworks that track both compliance and impact, such as local job creation, participation of priority cohorts, and engagement with diverse suppliers. Our reporting models align with Victorian Government standards, enabling clients to showcase tangible social and economic benefits within their contract performance reports.