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Bus Fleet Diesel and Electric Vehicles

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

Award

01 Oct 2026 at 16:23

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

18 May 2026 at 20:27

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

10 Feb 2026 at 16:07

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

01 Dec 2025 at 16:24

UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority procured new buses for its franchised bus network: diesel double-dedeckers, diesel single-deckers, diesel midi buses, electric single-deckers and electric midi buses. The fleet supports the Authority’s plan to control routes, frequency, fares and vehicle standards through bus service franchises, replacing most independently operated commercial services. Vehicles are for use across the Liverpool City Region, including Liverpool, Sefton and Knowsley, where the second tranche of franchised services is planned. The requirement covered six separate vehicle lots, with suppliers able to tender for any combination. The Authority intended the vehicles to be delivered ahead of the franchise service commencement.

The procurement is complete and all six lots have been awarded. Bamford Bus Company Ltd won the diesel double-decker lot for £41,446,807 and the electric single-decker lot for £2,157,198. Alexander Dennis Limited won the second diesel double-decker lot for £36,369,500, the diesel single-decker lot for £14,812,691, the electric midi-bus lot for £9,727,507 and the diesel midi-bus lot for £6,561,737. Awards were made on 12 May 2026; contracts were signed on 5 August 2026. The contract periods run from 1 September 2026 to 31 May 2031, with one possible 12-month extension. The open procedure assessed each lot individually, weighting quality and price equally. Suppliers could win no more than two lots and only one double-decker lot. The original tender deadline was 9 March 2026.

This award shows a substantial, multi-vehicle requirement from a buyer establishing a franchised bus network, with demand spanning diesel and electric models and double-decker, single-decker and midi formats. Future competitors would need to demonstrate the ability to supply the relevant bus types and powertrains, and to compete on both vehicle quality and price. Credibility also depends on supporting fleet performance after delivery: the contracts include measures for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning standards, warranty response times and vehicle downtime. The delivery and operational context points to suppliers capable of fulfilling fleet-scale requirements for public transport use and maintaining dependable service over a multi-year contract. The lots were evaluated separately, but the buyer limited awards to two lots per supplier and one double-decker lot per supplier.

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Notice Information

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

Renewal: 1 x 12 month Extension

Diesel - Double Decker Bus

Renewal: 1 x 12 month Extension

Single Decker Bus - Diesel

Renewal: 1 x 12 month Extension

Midi Bus - Electric

Renewal: 1 x 12 month Extension

Midi Bus - Diesel

Renewal: 1 x 12 month Extension

Single Decker Bus - Electric

Renewal: 1 x 12 month Extension

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05ec46
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/093013-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

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
£111,075,440 £100M-£1B
Contracts Value
£111,075,440 £100M-£1B

Notice Dates

Publication Date
1 Oct 20263 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
9 Mar 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
31 Jan 2026Expired
Award Date
12 May 20265 months ago
Contract Period
1 Sep 2026 - 31 May 2031 4-5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LIVERPOOL
Postcode
L3 1BP
Postcode Area
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

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
2
Supplier Names

Bamford Bus Company Ltd

Alexander Dennis

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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