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Bus Franchising in the Liverpool City Region Tranche 1 Category 1 - St Helens

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

17 Feb 2026 at 15:52

Award Notice
Award

17 Feb 2026 at 15:50

Award Notice
Planning

10 Feb 2025 at 13:23

Planning Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority is overseeing a procurement process for bus franchising within the region. The tender focuses on the Category 1 franchise, covering locations such as St Helens and Wirral, as part of the long-term transport improvement scheme initiated under the Transport Act. This operation is part of a broader programme intended to revolutionise local transport services by introducing franchised contracts in multiple tranches. The procurement is in the planning stage, with key processes like the Passport System Stage and Franchise Expression of Interest set to determine eligible suppliers. The procurement employs a selective method known as a negotiated procedure with a prior call for competition. Suppliers are expected to meet strict qualification criteria to be involved in the bidding process, with initial deadlines set for 24 February 2025. The initiative falls under the public road transport services category according to the CPV classification system.

This tender represents a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in transport services to expand their operations in the Liverpool City Region. By participating in the Category 1 franchise system, companies can benefit from assured revenue as the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority will primarily assume revenue risk, proving advantageous for companies wary of fiscal uncertainty. Ideal candidates for this tender would be large-scale transport providers that can deliver bus services from depots provided by the LCRCA, and have the capabilities to oversee the repair and maintenance of vehicles, whilst ensuring recruitment and staffing align with operational needs. Companies that have the infrastructure for fleet management and a strategic approach to the competitive negotiated procedure will find this tender well-suited for growth in public transport service provisions.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Bus Franchising in the Liverpool City Region Tranche 1 Category 1 - St Helens

Notice Description

On 25 April 2023, LCRCA published an Assessment on Bus Franchising in the Liverpool City Region which sets out the proposed bus Franchising Scheme in accordance with the Transport Act. In October 2023, the Liverpool City Region Mayor made a Franchising Scheme covering the Liverpool City Region. Franchising is to be introduced over a number of tranches of procurement. Franchised contracts will be let in two categories: i. Category 1 franchises, which are those Franchise Agreements involving multiple services that will operate from a depot provided by LCRCA. LCRCA will provide the depot from which the services relating to the Category 1 franchise must be operated. LCRCA will predominately provide the fleet that must be used on the Category 1 franchise. ii. Category 2 franchises, which are those Franchise Agreements which either i) provide services to serve schools or ii) provide other local services. In both cases the franchises will be delivered from an operator's own depot. This notice relates to the Category 1 franchise for St Helens. Key elements of Category 1 franchises include: Delivery of requirement: the operator of the franchise will be required to provide bus services in accordance with the detailed franchise package specifications. Revenue risk: the operator will not be required to assume revenue risk. Revenue risk will be primarily taken by LCRCA. Depots: LCRCA will provide the depots from which the Category 1 franchises will be operated. Buses: LCRCA will primarily be responsible for providing the vehicles which will operate Category 1 contacts. Repair, maintenance and servicing of buses: the operator will be responsible for the repair, maintenance and servicing of vehicles whilst ensuring that there are in a roadworthy condition. Staff: the operator is responsible for ensuring that it has all necessary and suitably trained staff to deliver the requirement detailed in the individual franchise specifications.

Lot Information

Lot 1

On 25 April 2023, LCRCA published an Assessment on Bus Franchising in the Liverpool City Region which sets out the proposed bus Franchising Scheme in accordance with the Transport Act. In October 2023, the Liverpool City Region Mayor made a Franchising Scheme covering the Liverpool City Region. Franchising is to be introduced over a number of tranches of procurement. Franchised contracts will be let in two categories: i. Category 1 franchises, which are those Franchise Agreements involving multiple services that will operate from a depot provided by LCRCA. LCRCA will provide the depot from which the services relating to the Category 1 franchise must be operated. LCRCA will predominately provide the fleet that must be used on the Category 1 franchise. ii. Category 2 franchises, which are those Franchise Agreements which either i) provide services to serve schools or ii) provide other local services. In both cases the franchises will be delivered from an operator's own depot. This notice relates to the Category 1 franchise for St Helens. Key elements of Category 1 franchises include: Delivery of requirement: the operator of the franchise will be required to provide bus services in accordance with the detailed franchise package specifications. Revenue risk: the operator will not be required to assume revenue risk. Revenue risk will be primarily taken by LCRCA. Depots: LCRCA will provide the depots from which the Category 1 franchises will be operated. Buses: LCRCA will primarily be responsible for providing the vehicles which will operate Category 1 contacts. Repair, maintenance and servicing of buses: the operator will be responsible for the repair, maintenance and servicing of vehicles whilst ensuring that there are in a roadworthy condition. Staff: the operator is responsible for ensuring that it has all necessary and suitably trained staff to deliver the requirement detailed in the individual franchise specifications.

Options: Category 1 franchises include options for a) the initial term to be extended for up to two (2) additional years and b) additional services to be introduced as set out in the Franchise Agreements as priced options

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04dd3f
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/014464-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Planning Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Negotiated procedure with prior call for competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

CPV Codes

60000000 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

60112000 - Public road transport services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£392,472,811 £100M-£1B

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Feb 20266 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
21 Jan 20267 months ago
Contract Period
11 Feb 2025 - 23 Feb 2029 4-5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Cancelled
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LIVERPOOL
Postcode
L3 1BP
Postcode Area
Liverpool
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD7 Merseyside
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD72 Liverpool
Delivery Location
TLD7 Merseyside
Local Authority
Liverpool
Electoral Ward
Waterfront South
Westminster Constituency
Liverpool Riverside

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
2
Supplier Names

Go North West (Merseyside) Limited

Ribble Motor Services Limited

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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