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Bus Replacement Services Ginn Consultants (CGC)

Train Information Services Limited

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

18 Sep 2026 at 15:46

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

18 Sep 2026 at 15:45

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Train Information Services Limited procured bus replacement services for use across distinct train operating company ecosystems. The requirement covers the software and related service capability needed to support bus replacement information, including integration with the Darwin rail information system and established bus service aggregator relationships. It is categorised as industry-specific software. The service is intended for train operating companies and their transport information arrangements, with additional train operating companies able to access or let the service as third parties. The buyer is a public authority operating in the utilities sector. This is a rail-sector information technology requirement rather than the provision of buses, driving services or general transport operations.

The procurement is complete and was awarded on 18 September 2026 to Ginn Consultants. It used a direct award under the utilities regime, covering one lot. The award is active and the contract runs from 30 September 2026 to 29 September 2029. Its value is £452,100 excluding tax, or £542,520 including tax. The award was made directly because the supplier is an incumbent embedded in the relevant train operating company ecosystem, with existing Darwin integrations and aggregator relationships. The buyer judged that using another supplier could create incompatibility, substantial redevelopment and disproportionate technical and operational difficulty. The contract includes an option allowing additional train operating companies to let and access the service.

This award demonstrates established demand for specialist rail information software supporting bus replacement arrangements. A credible competitor for a future requirement would need demonstrable experience of integrating with Darwin, working with train operating company systems and maintaining relationships with the bus service aggregators used by those operators. Technical interoperability and operational continuity are central: the buyer’s stated concern was that a new supplier could create incompatibility or require substantial redevelopment. Firms should therefore be able to show a mature, supportable product, relevant rail-sector delivery experience and the capacity to operate across distinct train operating company ecosystems. The procurement was suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises, indicating that scale alone is not the defining barrier, but embedded technical and operational capability is.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Bus Replacement Services Ginn Consultants (CGC)

Notice Description

This is not a "sole source" in market terms. This paper recommends direct awards to the two incumbent suppliers, each serving distinct TOC ecosystems. Alternative suppliers exist in the market; however, no alternative supplier has been identified that can currently deliver using the existing Darwin integrations and aggregator relationships without causing incompatibility and disproportionate technical and operational difficulty or requiring substantial redevelopment, due to their embedded position within each TOC and the TOCs' bus service aggregators.

Procurement Information

This is not a "sole source" in market terms. This paper recommends direct awards to the two incumbent suppliers, each serving distinct TOC ecosystems. Alternative suppliers exist in the market; however, no alternative supplier has been identified that can currently deliver using the existing Darwin integrations and aggregator relationships without causing incompatibility and disproportionate technical and operational difficulty or requiring substantial redevelopment, due to their embedded position within each TOC and the TOCs' bus service aggregators.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0775bb
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/088831-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

48 - Software package and information systems

CPV Codes

48100000 - Industry specific software package

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£452,100 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
18 Sep 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
18 Sep 20262 weeks ago
Contract Period
30 Sep 2026 - 29 Sep 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Train Information Services Limited
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
EC4V 3DS
Postcode Area
Central London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
City of London
Electoral Ward
Castle Baynard
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Ginn Consultants

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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