Planning

Barcode Ticketing for London - Market Sounding Questionnaire (MSQ)

TRANSPORT TRADING LIMITED

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

13 Feb 2026 at 18:00

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

13 Feb 2026 at 16:56

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

23 Jan 2026 at 14:09

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Transport Trading Limited, under the aegis of Transport for London (TfL), has initiated a Preliminary Market Engagement process for the future procurement of Barcode Ticketing services within the TfL network in London. The focus of this engagement is on understanding market capabilities and gathering feedback regarding delivery approaches and technical feasibility. As part of the planning stage, TfL invites suppliers to participate in a Market Sounding exercise by filling out a questionnaire by 12:00 pm on 13 March 2026. The timeline includes clarification sessions and a market information day, while confidentiality agreements are part of the process to protect sensitive information, but voluntary participation is non-binding and part of an early planning stage, not a formal procurement cycle. The anticipated contract period is June 2027 to January 2033, with a possibility of extension until January 2038.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses within the ticketing and transport services industry to expand their reach and capabilities. Companies specialising in digital ticketing solutions, automatic fare collection, and maintenance of ticketing machinery are particularly suited to respond to this call. The engagement encourages suppliers to showcase their potential strategies for integrating barcode solutions at scale, alongside technical and security standards set by TfL and RDG. As this forms part of a wider initiative to unify railway systems under Great British Railways, it positions businesses to potentially play a key role in transforming urban transport ticketing methods, making them more accessible and efficient. Interested parties can leverage this opportunity to propose innovative solutions and demonstrate their ability to support TfL in achieving a seamless transition to digital ticketing.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Barcode Ticketing for London - Market Sounding Questionnaire (MSQ)

Notice Description

Transport for London (TfL) is undertaking Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) relating to the future delivery of Barcode Ticketing across the TfL network. This engagement aims to gather insight on market capability, delivery approaches, commercial considerations, contracting models, and technical feasibility to help inform TfL's future strategy. TfL is now progressing the Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) for Barcode Ticketing. This notice follows the initial PME notice published on 23 January 2026 and the Supplier Briefing Event held on 4 February 2026. TfL will now be issuing the Market Sounding Questionnaire (MSQ), which will be available by email request. The MSQ contains no confidential content and is intended to gather supplier insight to inform TfL's early planning. It also provides further information on the MSQ process. In addition, TfL has prepared several technical appendices which contain operationally sensitive information (including architecture options, volumetrics, high level requirements, service model information and relevant ticketing specifications). These appendices will only be shared once a supplier has signed TfL's Confidentiality Agreement / NDA. This PME exercise is voluntary, non binding and does not form part of any formal procurement process. All engagement will be conducted in line with the principles of transparency, fairness, equal treatment and proportionality under the Procurement Act 2023. 1.Introduction This Market Sounding Questionnaire (MSQ) is issued by Transport for London (TfL) and seeks to obtain market feedback to inform TfL's thinking regarding a potential future procurement for Barcode Ticketing in London. Its primary focus is to better understand market interest, capacity and capability, and gather market feedback on risks and opportunities associated with the potential procurement of Barcode Ticketing in London. There is a shared ambition across TfL and the wider rail industry to move more passengers to digital ticketing in all its forms, to deliver strategic, operational and customer benefits - while ensuring that the retail experience remains inclusive and accessible for those who rely on paper tickets or cash. To enable delivery of these benefits, TfL is seeking to deliver a ticketing solution for the acceptance of barcode tickets in London. Barcode ticketing has been rolled out nationally on rail, further accelerating the adoption of digital retailing and acceptance. TfL's proposed expansion of barcode ticketing in London aligns with the broader rail industry led reform of fares, ticketing and retail - making fares easier to understand, ticketing simpler, and delivering improvements to passenger experience now, ahead of a more unified railway under Great British Railways. 2. Feedback Request Feedback is requested in relation to the questions in the MSQ. Your feedback is important as it will allow views from the market to inform the development and finalisation of the procurement strategy. TfL would greatly appreciate your feedback in the form of a response to the instructions mentioned in the MSQ document. The feedback we receive will be reviewed, analysed and taken into account in understanding the market appetite, and subsequent possible procurement activity for Barcode Ticketing in London for TfL. All responses will be treated confidentially. Summary analysis, including general themes and findings may be used as part of participant and market engagement. All responses are provided on a non-binding basis and will not be used for selection or exclusion at this point. This exercise does not form part of any formal procurement process. All responses will be carefully considered but will not bind TfL to any particular approach to the procurement, nor will responses be treated as conveying any promise or commitment on the part of the respondent. This engagement will be conducted in line with the principles of equal treatment, non-discrimination and proportionality under the Procurement Act 2023. 3.Proposals for Consideration and Feedback Additional information is available in the appendices to the MSQ. A supplier must describe their capacity and capability to provide Barcode Ticketing in London and any similar products they may have manufactured/supplied previously to customers. Additional information in relation to barcode ticketing, acceptance and retailing would also be beneficial to TfL. The supplier can recommend alternatives to the solutions that are already available on the market, but this must comply with the specification required.

Planning Information

As part of this market sounding exercise, TfL seek your views on your capabilities and appetite to take part in a future competitive procurement for Barcode Ticketing in London. For your feedback to be taken into account, your completed MSQ must be received by 12:00pm on 13 March 2026.Please email TomThomas@tfl.gov.uk, cc SarahAdedeji@tfl.gov.uk, using the subject line:[Barcode Ticketing 2026/S 000-006236] The process will include several key steps in addition to the above. Please observe the following timeline: 1. To request the MSQ: Please email TomThomas@tfl.gov.uk, cc SarahAdedeji@tfl.gov.uk, using the subject line:[Barcode Ticketing MSQ Request - Your Organisation Name] 2. Upon receiving your request: TfL will provide you with the MSQ document together with TfL's Confidentiality Agreement / NDA. Suppliers must return a signed NDA to access the MSQ appendices. The NDA is solely to protect operationally sensitive material and does not restrict participation in any future procurement. Please submit the signed NDA via email to TomThomas@tfl.gov.uk, cc'ing SarahAdedeji@tfl.gov.uk, using the subject line: [Barcode Ticketing - Signed NDA] 3. Clarification Questions: Send any clarification questions (CQs) to TomThomas@tfl.gov.uk, cc'ing SarahAdedeji@tfl.gov.uk, by 17:00 on 20 February 2026. Responses will be issued by 17:00 on 6 March 2026. 4. 1 2 1 Sessions: Apply for a 1 2 1 session via the Doodle link provided in the MSQ document by 17:00 on 20 February 2026, should you require further clarification from TfL. 1 2 1 sessions will be allocated in a fair and transparent manner. The feedback we receive will be reviewed, analysed and taken into account in understanding market appetite and any subsequent potential procurement activity for Barcode Ticketing in London.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-060d70
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/013647-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

22 - Printed matter and related products

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

34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation

50 - Repair and maintenance services

51 - Installation services (except software)

CPV Codes

22459000 - Tickets

30144400 - Automatic fare collection

34980000 - Transport tickets

50316000 - Maintenance and repair of ticket-issuing machinery

50317000 - Maintenance and repair of ticket-validation machinery

51000000 - Installation services (except software)

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
13 Feb 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
13 Mar 20263 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 May 2027 - 3 Jan 2033 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
TRANSPORT TRADING LIMITED
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
bsfaribaadministration@tfl.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
E20 1JN
Post Town
East London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI4 Inner London - East
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI41 Hackney and Newham
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Newham
Electoral Ward
Stratford Olympic Park
Westminster Constituency
Stratford and Bow

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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