Award

Pay and Display Machine Maintenance and Associated Back-office System, Hardware Upgrades, and PSP Service

HEREFORDSHIRE COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

09 Dec 2025 at 14:54

Award

09 Dec 2025 at 09:54

Planning

30 May 2025 at 11:39

Summary of the contracting process

Herefordshire Council has awarded a contract through a direct award process related to the maintenance and hardware upgrades of existing pay and display machines across Herefordshire. The contract includes installing associated back-office systems and providing a payment service provider (PSP) service to facilitate contactless card payments. This decision was made under the Procurement Act 2023 due to technical reasons, as only the current supplier, Metric Group Limited, could meet the specific requirements. The contract, valued at £475,000, will begin on 3rd January 2026 and end on 2nd January 2029, with a possibility of a 12-month extension. The industry categories include parking meters, financial transaction processing services, and car park management, and the procurement stage is currently complete.

This contract presents significant opportunities for businesses involved in the provision and maintenance of parking meters, particularly those experienced in upgrading payment systems and associated hardware. Companies capable of supplying spare and replacement parts or offering improved technological solutions for car parks could also find valuable growth opportunities. Although the direct award has been given to Metric Group Limited, other businesses in related sectors may anticipate future collaborations or potential tenders in system enhancements or technical innovations offering compatible solutions.

Find more tenders on our Open Data Platform.
How relevant is this notice?

D3 Tenders Premium

Win More Public Sector Contracts

AI-powered tender discovery, pipeline management, and market intelligence — everything you need to grow your public sector business.

Notice Title

Pay and Display Machine Maintenance and Associated Back-office System, Hardware Upgrades, and PSP Service

Notice Description

Contract for maintenance and hardware upgrades for the council's existing stock of 73 pay and display machines. To Include associated back-office systems, and Payment Service Provider service to facilitate contactless card payments. Background: Herefordshire Council currently owns 73 pay and display machines of varying age for its off-street and on-street car parks within Herefordshire. A recent review of the machines, manufactured and maintained by Metric Group Ltd, has found that most are anticipated to have a few years of operational use remaining. The council therefore needs to ensure continued maintenance of the existing machines and associated back-office system, as well a number of hardware upgrades and compatible Payment Service Provider service (PSP) for pay-by-card options. Appointing a new supplier would require either wholescale replacement or significant overhauls to the existing machines, resulting in wasted utility of the current stock and disproportionate costs and operational disruption. This award is being made under s41(1)(a) of the Procurement Act 2023 with reference to Schedule 5. Paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 provides that a direct award is permitted when: The following conditions are met in relation to the public contract- (a)due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only a particular supplier can supply the goods, services or works required, and (b)there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works. Paragraph 7 of Schedule 5 provides that direct award is permitted when: The public contract concerns the supply of goods, services or works by the existing supplier which are intended as an extension to, or partial replacement of, existing goods, services or works in circumstances where- (a) a change in supplier would result in the contracting authority receiving goods, services or works that are different from, or incompatible with, the existing goods, services or works, and (b) the difference or incompatibility would result in disproportionate technical difficulties in operation or maintenance.

Planning Information

Herefordshire Council has published this Request for Information on the 'Supplying the Southwest Portal'. To view the documentation related to this market engagement activity you will need to register on the portal if you are not already registered with Procontract, and express an interest in the opportunity. To register with Procontract on the Supplying the Southwest Portal, click on the link below or copy and paste the link into your browser's address bar: https://www.supplyingthesouthwest.org.uk

Procurement Information

Background: Herefordshire Council currently owns 73 pay and display machines of varying age for its off-street and on-street car parks within Herefordshire. A recent review of the machines, manufactured and maintained by Metric Group Ltd, has found that most are anticipated to have a few years of operational use remaining. The council therefore needs to ensure continued maintenance of the existing machines and associated back-office system, as well a number of hardware upgrades and compatible Payment Service Provider service (PSP) for pay-by-card options. Appointing a new supplier would require either wholescale replacement or significant overhauls to the existing machines, resulting in wasted utility of the current stock and disproportionate costs and operational disruption. Paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 provides that a direct award is permitted when: The following conditions are met in relation to the public contract- (a)due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only a particular supplier can supply the goods, services or works required, and (b)there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works. Paragraph 7 of Schedule 5 provides that direct award is permitted when: The public contract concerns the supply of goods, services or works by the existing supplier which are intended as an extension to, or partial replacement of, existing goods, services or works in circumstances where- (a) a change in supplier would result in the contracting authority receiving goods, services or works that are different from, or incompatible with, the existing goods, services or works, and (b) the difference or incompatibility would result in disproportionate technical difficulties in operation or maintenance.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0529a9
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/081102-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

66 - Financial and insurance services

98 - Other community, social and personal services


CPV Codes

38730000 - Parking meters

66172000 - Financial transaction processing and clearing-house services

98351000 - Car park management services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£475,000 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
9 Dec 20252 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
20 Jun 2025Expired
Award Date
19 Nov 20253 months ago
Contract Period
3 Jan 2026 - 2 Jan 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Pending
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
HEREFORDSHIRE COUNCIL
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
commercialservices@herefordshire.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
HEREFORD
Postcode
HR4 0LE
Post Town
Hereford
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLG West Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLG1 Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLG11 Herefordshire, County of
Delivery Location
TLG11 Herefordshire, County of

Local Authority
Herefordshire, County of
Electoral Ward
Widemarsh
Westminster Constituency
Hereford and South Herefordshire

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

METRIC GROUP

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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.

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-0529a9-2025-12-09T14:54:16Z",
    "date": "2025-12-09T14:54:16Z",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-0529a9",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PDTG-2978-LHCN",
            "name": "Herefordshire Council",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PDTG-2978-LHCN"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Herefordshire Council, Plough Lane",
                "locality": "Hereford",
                "postalCode": "HR4 0LE",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKG11"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "commercialservices@herefordshire.gov.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Public authority - sub-central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-COH-02560839",
            "name": "METRIC GROUP LIMITED",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-COH",
                "id": "02560839"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Metric House Westmead Drive",
                "locality": "Swindon",
                "postalCode": "SN5 7AD",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKK14"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "Sales@metricgroup.co.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "supplier"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "http://www.metricgroup.co.uk",
                "scale": "sme",
                "vcse": false,
                "publicServiceMissionOrganization": false,
                "shelteredWorkshop": false
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PDTG-2978-LHCN",
        "name": "Herefordshire Council"
    },
    "planning": {
        "milestones": [
            {
                "id": "engagement",
                "type": "engagement",
                "description": "Herefordshire Council has published this Request for Information on the 'Supplying the Southwest Portal'. To view the documentation related to this market engagement activity you will need to register on the portal if you are not already registered with Procontract, and express an interest in the opportunity. To register with Procontract on the Supplying the Southwest Portal, click on the link below or copy and paste the link into your browser's address bar: https://www.supplyingthesouthwest.org.uk",
                "dueDate": "2025-06-20T23:59:59+01:00",
                "status": "scheduled"
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "028766-2025",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/028766-2025",
                "datePublished": "2025-05-30T12:39:05+01:00",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ]
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-0529a9",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "Pay and Display Machine Maintenance and Associated Back-office System, Hardware Upgrades, and PSP Service",
        "description": "Contract for maintenance and hardware upgrades for the council's existing stock of 73 pay and display machines. To Include associated back-office systems, and Payment Service Provider service to facilitate contactless card payments. Background: Herefordshire Council currently owns 73 pay and display machines of varying age for its off-street and on-street car parks within Herefordshire. A recent review of the machines, manufactured and maintained by Metric Group Ltd, has found that most are anticipated to have a few years of operational use remaining. The council therefore needs to ensure continued maintenance of the existing machines and associated back-office system, as well a number of hardware upgrades and compatible Payment Service Provider service (PSP) for pay-by-card options. Appointing a new supplier would require either wholescale replacement or significant overhauls to the existing machines, resulting in wasted utility of the current stock and disproportionate costs and operational disruption. This award is being made under s41(1)(a) of the Procurement Act 2023 with reference to Schedule 5. Paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 provides that a direct award is permitted when: The following conditions are met in relation to the public contract- (a)due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only a particular supplier can supply the goods, services or works required, and (b)there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works. Paragraph 7 of Schedule 5 provides that direct award is permitted when: The public contract concerns the supply of goods, services or works by the existing supplier which are intended as an extension to, or partial replacement of, existing goods, services or works in circumstances where- (a) a change in supplier would result in the contracting authority receiving goods, services or works that are different from, or incompatible with, the existing goods, services or works, and (b) the difference or incompatibility would result in disproportionate technical difficulties in operation or maintenance.",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "38730000",
                        "description": "Parking meters"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "98351000",
                        "description": "Car park management services"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UKG11",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2025-11-01T00:00:00Z",
                    "endDate": "2028-10-31T23:59:59Z"
                },
                "status": "complete"
            }
        ],
        "status": "complete",
        "procurementMethod": "direct",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Direct award",
        "procurementMethodRationale": "Background: Herefordshire Council currently owns 73 pay and display machines of varying age for its off-street and on-street car parks within Herefordshire. A recent review of the machines, manufactured and maintained by Metric Group Ltd, has found that most are anticipated to have a few years of operational use remaining. The council therefore needs to ensure continued maintenance of the existing machines and associated back-office system, as well a number of hardware upgrades and compatible Payment Service Provider service (PSP) for pay-by-card options. Appointing a new supplier would require either wholescale replacement or significant overhauls to the existing machines, resulting in wasted utility of the current stock and disproportionate costs and operational disruption. Paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 provides that a direct award is permitted when: The following conditions are met in relation to the public contract- (a)due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only a particular supplier can supply the goods, services or works required, and (b)there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works. Paragraph 7 of Schedule 5 provides that direct award is permitted when: The public contract concerns the supply of goods, services or works by the existing supplier which are intended as an extension to, or partial replacement of, existing goods, services or works in circumstances where- (a) a change in supplier would result in the contracting authority receiving goods, services or works that are different from, or incompatible with, the existing goods, services or works, and (b) the difference or incompatibility would result in disproportionate technical difficulties in operation or maintenance.",
        "procurementMethodRationaleClassifications": [
            {
                "id": "singleSuppliersTechnicalReasons"
            },
            {
                "id": "additionalRepeatExtensionPartialReplacement"
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "conflictOfInterest",
                "documentType": "conflictOfInterest",
                "description": "Not published"
            }
        ]
    },
    "language": "en",
    "awards": [
        {
            "id": "1",
            "status": "pending",
            "value": {
                "amountGross": 570000,
                "amount": 475000,
                "currency": "GBP"
            },
            "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
            "aboveThreshold": true,
            "suppliers": [
                {
                    "id": "GB-COH-02560839",
                    "name": "METRIC GROUP LIMITED"
                }
            ],
            "items": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "additionalClassifications": [
                        {
                            "scheme": "CPV",
                            "id": "38730000",
                            "description": "Parking meters"
                        },
                        {
                            "scheme": "CPV",
                            "id": "66172000",
                            "description": "Financial transaction processing and clearing-house services"
                        },
                        {
                            "scheme": "CPV",
                            "id": "98351000",
                            "description": "Car park management services"
                        }
                    ],
                    "deliveryAddresses": [
                        {
                            "region": "UKG11",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKG11",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        }
                    ],
                    "relatedLot": "1"
                }
            ],
            "contractPeriod": {
                "startDate": "2026-01-03T00:00:00Z",
                "endDate": "2029-01-02T23:59:59Z",
                "maxExtentDate": "2030-01-02T23:59:59Z"
            },
            "hasRenewal": true,
            "renewal": {
                "description": "One possible extension of up to 12 month."
            },
            "hasOptions": true,
            "options": {
                "description": "Spare and replacement parts will be available for purchase if required (where not covered by the maintenance agreement)."
            },
            "relatedLots": [
                "1"
            ],
            "documents": [
                {
                    "id": "080911-2025",
                    "documentType": "awardNotice",
                    "noticeType": "UK5",
                    "description": "Transparency notice on Find a Tender",
                    "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/080911-2025",
                    "datePublished": "2025-12-09T09:54:21Z",
                    "format": "text/html"
                },
                {
                    "id": "081102-2025",
                    "documentType": "awardNotice",
                    "noticeType": "UK6",
                    "description": "Contract award notice on Find a Tender",
                    "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/081102-2025",
                    "datePublished": "2025-12-09T14:54:16Z",
                    "format": "text/html"
                }
            ],
            "milestones": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "type": "futureSignatureDate",
                    "dueDate": "2026-01-02T23:59:59Z",
                    "status": "scheduled"
                }
            ],
            "date": "2025-11-19T00:00:00Z",
            "standstillPeriod": {
                "endDate": "2025-12-18T23:59:59+00:00"
            }
        }
    ]
}