Tender

Bus Franchising in the Liverpool City Region - Category 2 Passport System

LIVERPOOL CITY REGION COMBINED AUTHORITY

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

10 Feb 2025 at 13:27

Summary of the contracting process

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) has initiated a procurement process for Bus Franchising in the Liverpool City Region under the Category 2 Passport System. The procurement, classified under CPV code 60112000 for public road transport services, covers a range of areas including St Helens, Wirral, Sefton, and South Liverpool. This process, currently in the tender stage, invites potential suppliers to apply for inclusion in the Category 2 Passport System. The first tranche has an indicative deadline of 31st July 2025 at 11:00am. The contract period is set to commence on 11th February 2025 and run until 23rd February 2029.

This tender offers substantial growth opportunities for businesses specialising in transport services, particularly those capable of providing bus services from their own depots. Companies that can ensure vehicle maintenance, have suitably trained staff, and can meet the specific franchise requirements will find this tender beneficial. The LCRCA will assume the revenue risk, making it an attractive proposal for operators with efficient service and operational capabilities. The structured stages of the qualification system ensure that only well-qualified suppliers are considered, optimising opportunities for competent bidders in the transport industry to secure long-term contracts within the Liverpool City Region.

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Notice Title

Bus Franchising in the Liverpool City Region - Category 2 Passport System

Notice Description

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 Category 2 franchises. The first tranche of Category 2 franchises are expected to relate to St Helens, Wirral and Sefton and South Liverpool. This notice relates to Category 2 franchises. Key elements of Category 2 franchises will include: Delivery of requirement: the operator of each franchise will be required to provide bus services in accordance with detailed individual franchise package specifications. Revenue risk: the operator will not be required to assume revenue risk. Revenue risk will be primarily taken by LCRCA. Depots: the operator of each franchise will be required to provide the depot(s) from which the Category 2 franchises will be operated. Buses: the operator of each franchise will primarily be responsible for providing the vehicles which will operate Category 2 franchises. 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.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04dd40
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/004341-2025
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Planning Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

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
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
10 Feb 20251 years ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
11 Feb 2025 - 23 Feb 2029 4-5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
LIVERPOOL CITY REGION COMBINED AUTHORITY
Contact Name
Procurement Team
Contact Email
tender@liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
LIVERPOOL
Postcode
L3 1BP
Post Town
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

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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