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Bus Franchising - North West Greater Manchester Small Franchises - 2 Lots

Transport for Greater Manchester

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

Award

30 Sep 2026 at 14:55

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

22 Jul 2026 at 15:28

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

21 Jul 2025 at 18:07

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

04 Jul 2025 at 13:42

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Transport for Greater Manchester, acting for the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, commissioned bus services under two small franchises in north-west Greater Manchester. The Bolton, Bury and Farnworth franchise covers one service, route 521, with an estimated peak vehicle requirement of 32 vehicles. The Leigh and Atherton franchise covers one service, route 553, with an estimated peak vehicle requirement of 22 vehicles. Both are public bus transport services delivered in Greater Manchester. The procurement forms part of the rollout of bus franchising across the area. The requirements centre on operating the specified routes as part of the franchised network, rather than supplying vehicles or providing transport services more generally.

The procurement has been awarded and both contracts have been signed. Go North West Limited won both lots: the Bolton, Bury and Farnworth franchise was awarded on 22 July 2026 for £36,968,000, and Leigh and Atherton on the same date for £27,031,000. Each contract runs from 7 March 2027 to 18 August 2030, with the buyer reserving the right to extend by multiple periods up to a total of 24 months, to 18 August 2032. The competitive flexible procedure used a preliminary supplier questionnaire to select bidders, followed by negotiation meetings and final tender submissions. Price counted for 40% and technical quality for 60% of the evaluation in each lot. Both lots were marked complete; six final-stage bids were received for the first and seven for the second.

This award shows that TfGM’s small bus franchises are substantial operating contracts, divided by local service area and route, and assessed on service quality as well as price. A credible future competitor would need the ability to resource and operate a scheduled bus service at the stated peak vehicle requirement: 32 vehicles for Bolton, Bury and Farnworth or 22 for Leigh and Atherton. The evaluation and contract performance measures point to the importance of dependable departures, safe operation, and delivery of social value commitments. Suppliers would also need to satisfy the buyer’s economic and technical participation requirements through its questionnaire process, and be equipped to engage in negotiations and submit a separate offer for each franchise sought. The field attracted both large operators and smaller businesses.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Bus Franchising - North West Greater Manchester Small Franchises - 2 Lots

Notice Description

Bus Franchising - North West Greater Manchester Small Franchises - 2 Lots Description: Following the implementation of Bus Franchising across Greater Manchester. Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) on behalf of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority is seeking Operators to provide bus services for these Small Franchises from March 2027, consisting of the following two lots: Lot 1. Bolton, Bury and Farnworth Small Franchise, estimated Peak Vehicle Requirement (PVR amended to 32) one service, i.e. Service 521 will start 19th September 2027. Lot 2. Leigh and Atherton Small Franchise, estimated (PVR amended to 22) one service, i.e. Service 553 will start operation on 19th September 2027.

Lot Information

Bolton, Bury, Farnworth Small Franchise

Renewal: TfGM reserve the right to extend this contract in multiple periods of up to 24 months (total).

Leigh and Atherton Small Franchise

Renewal: TfGM reserve the right to extend this contract in multiple periods of up to 24 months (total).

Planning Information

Operators will be sent a questionnaire to provide feedback on the request, please ensure all feedback is received by the 11th July 2025. All feedback should be sent via the messaging facility with ProContract. TfGM intends to send the Tender notice w/c 21st July 2025. There will be a supplier Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) process in which a potential bidder must successfully complete and pass in order to get through to final tender submission.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05592c
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/092454-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

CPV Codes

60112000 - Public road transport services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£90,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
£90,000,000 £10M-£100M
Awards Value
£63,999,000 £10M-£100M
Contracts Value
£63,999,000 £10M-£100M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
30 Sep 20263 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
21 Jul 2025Expired
Award Date
22 Jul 20263 months ago
Contract Period
7 Mar 2027 - 18 Aug 2030 3-4 years
Recurrence
2030-08-18

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Transport for Greater Manchester
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
MANCHESTER
Postcode
M1 3BG
Postcode Area
Manchester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD3 Greater Manchester
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD33 Manchester
Delivery Location
TLD3 Greater Manchester
Local Authority
Manchester
Electoral Ward
Piccadilly
Westminster Constituency
Manchester Central

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Go North West

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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