This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

Tender

29 Jun 2026 at 14:57

PlanningUpdate

13 Nov 2025 at 11:12

Planning

13 Nov 2025 at 10:53

Planning

10 Jun 2025 at 13:26

Summary of the contracting process

Essex County Council is currently in the tender stage of the procurement process for the "Real Time Passenger Information System." This contract involves providing RTPI Software and Equipment across Essex, with an aim to improve access to real-time passenger information and increase bus travel. The procurement, categorised under services, invites a single contractor to supply, maintain, install, and manage RTPI software and equipment from the contract’s commencement until 30 June 2034, with an extension possibility of five years. Located in the UKH3 region, this initiative comes with a gross contract value of £12,000,000 and follows an open procedure method under the legal basis of UKPGA 2023/54. Key dates include the tender period ending on 7 August 2026, while enquiries close on 31 July 2026. The anticipated award date is 4 September 2026, and the contract is planned to begin on 18 September 2026.

This tender presents substantial growth opportunities for businesses specialising in passenger information systems, communications equipment installation, and software management. Firms with experience in maintaining and enhancing public transport infrastructures, offering innovative solutions, and improving public accessibility and data accuracy can particularly benefit from this contract. The criteria set for this tender include economic, legal, and technical requirements, ensuring that capable and competitive bidders can make significant contributions to transport services in Essex. Businesses that excel in delivering such comprehensive transportation solutions and have a track record of technical innovation, data management, and equipment maintenance will find this opportunity advantageous for expanding their portfolios and securing a long-term partnership with a public authority.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Real Time Passenger Information System

Notice Description

The Authority requires a single Contractor to provide Real Time Passenger Information (RTPI) Software and Equipment across Essex, through delivering the following requirements: 1. The Contractor must provide RTPI Software, used across existing and new RTPI Equipment and other locations 2. The Contractor must provide maintenance of RTPI Equipment as required to maintain functionality of the Authority's RTPI Estate 3. The Contractor must provide, install and manage any new or replacement RTPI Equipment purchased by the Authority. The initial term for this Contract is from the date of Contract Signature, through to the 30th of June 2034. This Contract has the option to be extended for a further five years, with the extension decision being at the sole discretion of the Authority. The purpose of this Contract is to continue and improve access to real time passenger information across Essex, with the aim of increasing the number of people travelling by bus. A strong public transport network helps enable access to jobs, education, shops and health services, and provides an alternative to car travel.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Options: The Authority may require that this Contract be modified to include the RTPI Estates of Southend Council and Thurrock Council. More information can be found in the tender documentation.

Renewal: This Contract has the option to be extended for a further five years, with the extension decision being at the sole discretion of the Authority.

Planning Information

The Real Time Passenger Information team here at Essex County Council would be grateful for virtual demonstrations of RTPI systems to aid with further defining our specification for this upcoming requirement, which we intend to tender next February/March. The functionality they would wish to view is: 1) Core system: * How to enter a disruption or curtailment manually, including a polygon area, list of bus stops or a whole bus service route on a map. Show a disruption or curtailment automatically entering the system (e.g from SIRI SX) * How the system receives and processes incoming feeds e.g. TransXchange, SIRI, road closures, API etc. Show how the system produces an outgoing feed e.g. to populate on-street displays, websites etc * The fault reporting system * The ability to 'snail trail' a journey * The bus service routes on a map 2) Display system * The fault reporting system - tracking of process of first report to repair * The Asset Management function * The data export function (AMX, Travel Essex etc) * Adding a message; including emergency messages, including selecting a cluster of displays, a polygon area or a whole bus service route on a map * How a display shows a disruption message produced from the core system * How to change a Layout * A representation of the passenger's view of the display To book time in with the Real Time Passenger Information team, please contact sonya.sparks@essex.gov.uk before the 30th November 2025. N.B there is a ProContract portal page for ongoing communication on the early market engagement for this - please request to join via DN713073 Real Time Passenger Information and Advertising Request for Information *Soft Market Testing*.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05461e
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/060880-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

48 - Software package and information systems

51 - Installation services (except software)


CPV Codes

48813000 - Passenger information system

51300000 - Installation services of communications equipment

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£10,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
£10,000,000 £10M-£100M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
29 Jun 20263 days ago
Submission Deadline
7 Aug 20262 months to go
Future Notice Date
15 Feb 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
17 Sep 2026 - 30 Jun 2034 Over 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
ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
CHELMSFORD
Postcode
CM1 1QH
Post Town
Chelmsford
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH3 Essex
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH36 Heart of Essex
Delivery Location
TLH3 Essex

Local Authority
Chelmsford
Electoral Ward
Moulsham and Central
Westminster Constituency
Chelmsford

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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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        "submissionMethodDetails": "https://open-uk.org/opportunities/overview/public/01759344-9e33-400b-8eda-29cb78e8a4d3 This tender can be found on https://open-uk.org/opportunities, under the project name PL0078 Real Time Passenger Information Installation and System, or the opportunity number #OPEN2026952.",
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        },
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            "endDate": "2026-09-04T23:59:59+01:00"
        },
        "lotDetails": {
            "noLotsDivisionRationale": "The Authority made the decision not to Lot this Contract, primarily due to the commercial and technical efficiencies that can be delivered through providing the RTPI System under one Contract. Commercial value can be achieved through a single provider being best placed to deliver a lower revenue price through the opportunity for them to commercialise the displays. Technical efficiencies can be achieved through the same Contractor delivering the RTPI Software and providing and maintaining the RTPI Equipment."
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        "riskDetails": "There are two known risks for this Contract: 1) That the Authority will require this Contract be modified to include the RTPI Estates of Southend Council and/or Thurrock Council. The displays within these Estates would become subject to the same Maintenance and operational requirements as detailed throughout this Specification and in the Contractor's Offer. The Contractor would receive increased Maintenance and Management Service Payments proportionate to the increased number of displays, and the Authority would receive increased income proportionate to the increased number of any commercialised displays in this/these areas. 2) That Devolution and Local Government reform have the implication that the Authority requires this Contract to novate to ECC's Successor Authority."
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}