Award

Passenger Booking and Journey Planning App

TRANSPORT FOR WALES RAIL LIMITED (UTILITY BUYER)

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

06 Nov 2025 at 10:57

Award

27 Jun 2025 at 12:43

Award

23 Jun 2025 at 13:31

Summary of the contracting process

Transport for Wales Rail Limited has completed a direct award contract process for the development and maintenance of the Passenger Booking and Journey Planning App, engaging Imaginet Limited as the supplier. The buying organisation, based in Pontypridd, UK, awarded this contract under the utilities special regime. The procurement method was justified by technical reasons, as no reasonable alternatives or competition exist, given the unique intellectual property involved. This contract commenced on 5th November 2025 and is set to end on 4th November 2027, with options for extension until November 2029. The contract, with a total gross value of GBP 4,392,462.08, is aimed at maintaining uninterrupted service for passengers when booking tickets and planning journeys.

This tender presents significant growth opportunities for businesses specialised in software development, IT services, and consulting, particularly those with skills in developing industry-specific software packages and managing information systems. Companies that can deliver technically sophisticated and integrated travel solutions without disrupting ongoing operations would be well-suited to participate in similar tenders. As the current agreement with Imaginet Limited demonstrates a critical dependency on the supplier's bespoke solution, businesses with the capability to manage similar IP and development complexities can effectively position themselves for future opportunities with public sector utility buyers like Transport for Wales Rail Limited.

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Notice Title

Passenger Booking and Journey Planning App

Notice Description

Service support and maintenance for the current Passenger Booking and Journey Planning App. Plus continued support for 'in flight' development and limited essential development to ensure passenger needs for booking tickets and planning journeys are supported.

Procurement Information

In accordance with Section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023, a direct award is justified to Imaginet as the existing supplier, due to the absence of competition for technical reasons and there is no reasonable alternative currently. In accordance with Schedule 5: Section 7 - 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. The supplier has developed the TfW passenger application, as a bespoke solution and the application IP is owned by TfW, however the content management IP is owned by the supplier. No other supplier can provide a comparable solution at this time: 1) within the required timescales 2) without causing significant disruption to the business and passengers Page 6 to 7 3)) without undermining the delivery of value for money at a critical stage of technological development. The renewal of this maintenance and support agreement is essential to ensure passengers continue to have the ability to book tickets via the app and that this service provisions continues uninterrupted to avoid disruption to an essential public transport service. During the term of this new agreement, further investment to support the completion of 'in flight' development is necessary and further limited essential development to support passenger use of the application.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0551d5
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/071534-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

48 - Software package and information systems

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support


CPV Codes

48000000 - Software package and information systems

72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£2,451,780 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
£3,660,385 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
6 Nov 20253 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
23 Jun 20258 months ago
Contract Period
5 Nov 2025 - 4 Nov 2027 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
TRANSPORT FOR WALES RAIL LIMITED (UTILITY BUYER)
Contact Name
Christine Thorne
Contact Email
christine.thorne@tfw.wales
Contact Phone
+447890661824

Buyer Location

Locality
PONTYPRIDD
Postcode
CF37 4TH
Post Town
Cardiff
Country
Wales

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLL Wales
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLL5 South East Wales
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLL51 Central Valleys and Bridgend
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Rhondda Cynon Taf
Electoral Ward
Pontypridd Town
Westminster Constituency
Pontypridd

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

IMAGINET

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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