Session 1: Introduction to Tendering and Procurement in Railways
• Topics Covered:
o Overview of tendering and procurement processes in Metro and Mainline Railways.
o Importance and objectives of procurement management.
o Key stakeholders involved.
o Procurement lifecycle.
• Case Study: Introduction to a successful procurement project in a Metro or Mainline Railway system.

Session 2: Procurement Planning and Strategy
• Topics Covered:
o Understanding procurement needs and objectives.
o Developing a procurement strategy.
o Risk management in procurement.
o Market research and supplier analysis.
• Case Study: Strategic procurement planning in a major railway project.

Session 3: Tendering Processes and Documentation
• Topics Covered:
o Types of tendering processes (open, restricted, negotiated, competitive dialogue).
o Essential tender documentation (RFP, RFQ, ITT).
o Drafting specifications and scope of work.
• Case Study: Analysis of tender documents from a high-profile railway project.

Session 4: Supplier Prequalification and Evaluation
• Topics Covered:
o Criteria for supplier prequalification.
o Vendor evaluation methods.
o Ensuring compliance with technical and financial requirements.
• Case Study: A review of supplier selection in a complex railway procurement scenario.

Session 5: Contract Management in Railways
• Topics Covered:
o Types of contracts (lump sum, unit price, cost-plus, turnkey).
o Key clauses in railway contracts.
o Managing contract performance and variations.
• Case Study: Contract management challenges in a large-scale metro project.

Session 6: E-Procurement and Digital Platforms
• Topics Covered:
o Introduction to e-procurement in the railway sector.
o Advantages of digital procurement platforms.
o Legal and regulatory considerations for e-tendering.
• Case Study: Implementation of an e-procurement system in a national railway network.

Session 7: Bid Evaluation and Awarding Process
• Topics Covered:
o Bid evaluation techniques.
o Technical and financial evaluation criteria.
o Best value vs. lowest cost approaches.
o Awarding the contract.
• Case Study: A comparative analysis of bid evaluation methods used in different rail projects.

Session 8: Procurement of Specialized Rail Systems
• Topics Covered:
o Procurement of signaling, rolling stock, and other specialized rail systems.
o Challenges and best practices.
o Coordination between different procurement packages.
• Case Study: Successful procurement of rolling stock for a metro project.

Session 9: Risk Management in Procurement
• Topics Covered:
o Identifying and mitigating procurement risks.
o Contractual and operational risks in railway projects.
o Managing disputes and claims.
• Case Study: Risk management in the procurement of a critical rail infrastructure component.

Session 10: Legal and Regulatory Framework
• Topics Covered:
o Understanding the legal environment for procurement in railways.
o Key regulations and compliance requirements.
o Ethical considerations in tendering and procurement.
• Case Study: A legal dispute in a railway procurement contract and its resolution.

Session 11: International Procurement and Global Best Practices
• Topics Covered:
o International procurement processes and standards.
o Procurement for cross-border rail projects.
o Learning from global best practices in rail procurement.
• Case Study: A case study on international procurement for a high-speed rail project.

Session 12: Case Study Review and Course Summary
• Topics Covered:
o In-depth review and analysis of multiple case studies discussed throughout the course.
o Summary of key takeaways and best practices in tendering and procurement for Metro & Mainline Railways.
o Final Q&A session and course wrap-up.