Award

Ticket Vending Machines (Retail Systems)

THE CHILTERN RAILWAY COMPANY LIMITED

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

17 Oct 2025 at 12:39

Summary of the contracting process

The Chiltern Railway Company Limited has completed a direct award contract for the maintenance of Ticket Vending Machines (TVMs) under the title "Ticket Vending Machines (Retail Systems)." The procurement process falls under the industry category of railway transport services and transport tickets. The contract location covers several regions across the United Kingdom, including regions such as UKC, UKD, and UKK. The procurement stage is currently marked as complete with the contract period set to commence on the 1st of December 2025 and is expected to conclude by the 1st of December 2029, with the possibility of a two-year extension. This procurement method was implemented under the regime for private utilities, justified by the exclusive intellectual property rights held by the supplier, Flowbird Transport Limited, who also originally built and installed the TVMs.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses within the railway services and technological maintenance sectors, particularly those specialising in the provision and upkeep of ticket-issuing machines. The contract, with its value exceeding £2.9 million, is a lucrative opportunity for suppliers who can demonstrate capability in maintaining existing infrastructure. Companies similar in profile to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that can operate within the predefined service agreements and capex limitations, may find growth prospects in forming strategic partnerships or subcontracting arrangements under the purview of Flowbird Transport Limited or in similar future contracts. The maintenance of technical services in public transportation is an arena ripe for innovation and efficiency, inviting businesses that focus on maintaining and advancing mid-life technology infrastructure.

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Notice Title

Ticket Vending Machines (Retail Systems)

Notice Description

Chiltern owns and operates 80 Ticket Vending Machines (TVMs) across the stations it operates. This direct award agreement is with the existing supplier who built, installed and maintained the TVMs, and is for the continued maintenance only of the existing TVMs. In addition to the existing service level agreements, which we intend to keep as is, a number of additional requirements have been proposed.

Procurement Information

The supplier is the only supplier who can maintain the TVMs as it holds the intellectual property rights which are required to be able to maintain the TVMs. The TVMs are mid-life (and not life expired) and therefore significant capex investment would be required in order to procure new TVMS which could be maintained by an alternative suppliers. As a result, there is no reasonable alternative available.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05ced9
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/066319-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK5 - Transparency Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

30 - Office and computing machinery, equipment and supplies except furniture and software packages

34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation

60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)


CPV Codes

30144200 - Ticket-issuing machines

34980000 - Transport tickets

60200000 - Railway transport services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£2,909,562 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Oct 20254 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
17 Oct 20254 months ago
Contract Period
1 Dec 2025 - 1 Dec 2029 4-5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
THE CHILTERN RAILWAY COMPANY LIMITED
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
daisy.corner@chilternrailways.co.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
SUNDERLAND
Postcode
SR3 3XP
Post Town
Sunderland
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC44 Sunderland
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Sunderland
Electoral Ward
Doxford
Westminster Constituency
Houghton and Sunderland South

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

FLOWBIRD TRANSPORT

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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