Tender

Bus Fleet Diesel and Electric Vehicles

LIVERPOOL CITY REGION COMBINED AUTHORITY

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Tender

10 Feb 2026 at 16:07

Planning

01 Dec 2025 at 16:24

Summary of the contracting process

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority is actively engaged in a tender process aimed at acquiring a fleet of diesel and electric vehicles for its franchised bus service network. This procurement occurs under an open procedure with a total estimated gross value of £118,800,000. The procurement focuses primarily on goods, specifically motor vehicles designed to transport ten or more passengers, covering areas including Liverpool, Sefton, and Knowsley. The tender process is currently in the 'tender' stage and is in line with the legal basis laid out in the Transport Act 2000. Submission deadlines are set for 9th March 2026, with the enquiry period closing on 27th February 2026. The awarded contracts are expected to be announced by 30th April 2026, with delivery of the vehicles anticipated by May 2027.

This tender represents a substantial business opportunity, particularly for companies specialising in the manufacture and supply of motor vehicles, with a potential for substantial growth in partnership with public transport initiatives. Opportunities abound for businesses skilled in producing diesel and electric buses, catering to a client seeking a transition to a more sustainable fleet. As the region prioritises quality and price equally, businesses focusing on delivering innovative, cost-effective solutions could find themselves well-placed to benefit from this procurement. Moreover, the limitation of a maximum of two lots per supplier encourages smaller businesses to compete alongside larger firms, supporting a diverse supplier base.

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Notice Title

Bus Fleet Diesel and Electric Vehicles

Notice Description

In April 2023, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) published an Assessment on Bus Franchising in the Liverpool City Region, which set out a proposed bus Franchising Scheme in accordance with the Transport Act 2000. In October 2023, the Liverpool City Region Mayor made the decision to introduce a Franchising Scheme covering the Liverpool City Region. Franchising is a legal model where buses are under the control of a public sector authority (LCRCA) who set the routes, frequency, fares and overall standard of buses in the region. The existing commercially led market will be replaced and private bus operators will no longer be able to run most services independently. Instead, bus services will be operated under franchise contracts and bus operators will bid to run the services through a competitive procurement process managed by the Combined Authority. LCRCA intend to introduce the second Tranche of franchised bus services from September 2027, covering Liverpool, Sefton and Knowsley. This follows the first Tranche of franchised bus services introduced in September 2026 covering St Helens and the Wirral. For Category 1 franchise contracts, LCRCA will provide the successful operator with a fleet of vehicles which the operator will then operate, manage and maintain the fleet throughout the franchise term. In preparation for the commencement of the Tranche 2 bus franchising programme in September 2027, LCRCA wish to procure a fleet of new vehicles including diesel and electric vehicles. A number of double-decker, single-decker and midi-sized buses are required to be delivered in May 2027 ahead of the commencement date of franchised services.

Lot Information

Double Decker Bus - Diesel

Quantum (Base): 130 Double Decker Vehicles Quantum (Max): 155 Double Decker Vehicles

Renewal: 1 x 12 month Extension

Diesel - Double Decker Bus

Quantum (Base): 117 Double Decker Vehicles Quantum (Max): 152 Double Decker Vehicles

Renewal: 1 x 12 month Extension

Single Decker Bus - Diesel

Quantum (Base) - 55 Single Decker Vehicles Quantum (Max) - 115 Single Decker Vehicles

Renewal: 1 x 12 month Extension

Midi Bus - Electric

Purchase of Electric Vehicles Quantum (Base) - 24 Midi Vehicles Quantum (Max) - 40 Midi Vehicles

Renewal: 1 x 12 month Extension

Midi Bus - Diesel

Quantum (Base) - 24 Midi Vehicles Quantum (Max) - 40 Midi Vehicles

Renewal: 1 x 12 month Extension

Single Decker Bus - Electric

Quantum (Base) - 4 Single Decker Vehicles Quantum (Max) - 10 Single Decker Vehicles

Renewal: 1 x 12 month Extension

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05ec46
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/012075-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

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

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation


CPV Codes

34120000 - Motor vehicles for the transport of 10 or more persons

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£99,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
£99,000,000 £10M-£100M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
10 Feb 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
9 Mar 20262 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
31 Jan 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
30 Apr 2026 - 30 Apr 2031 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
LIVERPOOL CITY REGION COMBINED AUTHORITY
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
procurement@liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
LIVERPOOL
Postcode
L3 1BP
Post Town
Liverpool
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD7 Merseyside
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD72 Liverpool
Delivery Location
TLD7 Merseyside

Local Authority
Liverpool
Electoral Ward
Waterfront South
Westminster Constituency
Liverpool Riverside

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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        "value": {
            "amountGross": 118800000,
            "amount": 99000000,
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        "submissionMethodDetails": "Submissions must be made via The Chest: https://www.the-chest.org.uk/ DN Ref: DN801648",
        "lotDetails": {
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            "awardCriteriaDetails": "Potential Suppliers are invited to tender for any combination of Lots. Each Lot shall be evaluated on an individual basis, with the Most Advantageous Tender (MAT) being selected as the preferred tender for each Lot, subject to the following restrictions: - A Supplier may only be awarded one of the Lots for the supply of double decker vehicles - A Supplier may only be selected as the preferred tenderer for a maximum of two Lots - The preferred tenderer for each Lot will be determined by reference to a Lot hierarchy, from Lot 1, to Lot 6, in order. - Where, due to the restrictions above, LCRCA finds itself unable to award a Lot to a Supplier that would otherwise have been awarded the Lot, and there are no alternative eligible bids, LCRCA may award the Lot to the Supplier in excess of the restriction of the number of Lots that may be awarded to a single Supplier. - Should a Supplier withdraw a tender from a Lot subsequent to the evaluation of tenders and selection of preferred bidder for each Lot, the preferred bidder for each Lot will not be reevaluated."
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