---
title: "Variable Message Signs"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-02f095"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-02f095"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02f095.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02f095.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "BRADFORD METROPOLITAN DISTRICT COUNCIL"
published: "2021-10-27"
---

# Variable Message Signs

Buyer: BRADFORD METROPOLITAN DISTRICT COUNCIL  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-02f095

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## Summary

The Bradford Metropolitan District Council is seeking to procure an additional 30 Variable Message Signs (VMS) as part of its efforts to enhance its traffic management systems. This procurement falls under the goods category, specifically targeting the implementation and expansion of VMS infrastructure. The procurement is currently at the Award stage, with the contract signed on 27th October 2021, amounting to £600,000. The procurement process was conducted via a limited method, specifically a negotiated process without the prior publication of a contract notice, due to the Council's need for compatibility with existing systems. The delivery addresses are located within the Bradford region (UKE41).

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in traffic management systems, software integration, and ancillary products. Companies capable of providing compatible Variable Message Signs and associated technological solutions—preferably those with experience in working with Swarco Ltd.—would be particularly well-suited to compete. With the requirement for modernisation and expansion of the existing VMS infrastructure, suppliers that can offer seamless integration and compatibility with the Council's current systems stand to gain from this contract opportunity.

## Notice

The Council needs to procure an additional 30 Variable Message Signs. The Council currently has 56 variable message signs (VMS) and 9 car park signs that are controlled by its Swarco Ltd., PGS software. The Council requires a further 5 VMS signs for the perimeter of its newly established, and soon to be implemented Clean Air Zone and to also generally supplement its existing VMS infrastructure. 25 of the Council's current VMS signs are old and need replacing as they are 4 x 16 character signs, which are mounted on flanged poles. The 4 x 16 character signs need to be replaced as they do not synchronise and follow the same commands for displaying a message as the remainder of the Council's newer type RGB (Red, Green, Blue) VMS signs. All of the Council's VMS signs connect to Swarco Ltd., provided software from which the Council controls the signs, with the ability to send single sign messages or group messages. The Council does not want additional software/programs to run the new and replacement VMS signs and requires a single solution signal software to control all of its existing and additionally required signs. The Council therefore proposed to purchase an additional 30 signs and associated additional software and other ancillary products from Swarco Ltd.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

The Council is notifying the market of its intention to procure an additional 30 Variable Message Signs without prior publication of a contract notice. The Council currently has 56 variable message signs (VMS) and 9 car park signs that are controlled by its Swarco Ltd., PGS software. The Council requires a further 5 VMS signs for the perimeter of its newly established, and soon to be implemented Clean Air Zone and to also generally supplement its existing VMS infrastructure. 25 of the Council's current VMS signs are old and need replacing as they are 4 x 16 character signs, which are mounted on flanged poles. The 4 x 16 character signs need to be replaced as they do not synchronise and follow the same commands for displaying a message as the remainder of the Council's newer type RGB (Red, Green, Blue) VMS signs. All of the Council's VMS signs connect to Swarco Ltd., provided software from which the Council controls the signs, with the ability to send single sign messages or group messages. The Council does not want additional software/programs to run the new and replacement VMS signs and requires a single solution signal software to control all of its existing and additionally required signs. The Council therefore proposed to purchase an additional 30 signs and associated additional software and other ancillary products from Swarco Ltd, after the 30th of November 2021.

### Procurement Information

For additional deliveries by the original supplier which are intended either as a partial replacement of supplies or installations or as the extension of existing supplies or installations where a change of supplier would oblige the contracting authority to acquire supplies having different technical characteristics which would result in incompatibility or disproportionate technical difficulties in operation and maintenance; The Council intends to award a contract for the supply of variable messages signs, associated additional software and ancillary products to Swaroc Ltd., without prior publication of a contract notice in accordance with the ground set out in Reg. 32, paragraph 5(b) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. As set out above the Council requires additional supplies from Swarco Ltd., to partially replace and supplement its existing variable message sign infrastructure. The Council wishes to avoid issues of operational non-compatibility and maintenance that would arise from adding signs and equipment to its estate of variable message signs equipment from a manufacturer other than Swarco Ltd.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026920-2021 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Limited |
| Procurement method details | Negotiated without publication of a contract notice |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 27 Oct 2021 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 26 Oct 2021 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £600,000 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | BRADFORD METROPOLITAN DISTRICT COUNCIL |
| Locality | BRADFORD |
| Post town | Bradford |
| Postcode | BD1 1HX |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLE Yorkshire and The Humber |
| ITL 2 | TLE4 West Yorkshire |
| ITL 3 | TLE41 Bradford |
| Local authority | Bradford |
| Electoral ward | City |
| Westminster constituency | Bradford West |
| Delivery location | TLE41 Bradford |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | SWARCO TRAFFIC |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation

### Codes

- 34924000 - Variable message signs

## Release History

- 27 Oct 2021 at 13:15 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026920-2021

## Notice URLs

- http://www.bradford.gov.uk/bmdc

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-02f095. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02f095.json.