---
title: "Contract for the supply of a bus communications and information system and related services."
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-03335a"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-03335a"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-03335a.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-03335a.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "LONDON BUS SERVICES LIMITED (\"LBSL\"), A SUBSIDIARY OF TRANSPORT FOR LONDON (\"TFL\")"
published: "2022-05-04"
---

# Contract for the supply of a bus communications and information system and related services.

Buyer: LONDON BUS SERVICES LIMITED ("LBSL"), A SUBSIDIARY OF TRANSPORT FOR LONDON ("TFL")  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-03335a

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## Summary

The London Bus Services Limited (LBSL), a subsidiary of Transport for London (TfL), is undertaking a procurement process for the extension of the iBus communications and information system contract. This contract, crucial for managing approximately 9,000 buses in London, is currently in the award stage, following a limited procurement method that allows for a contract extension without prior publication of a call for competition. The initial term of the contract extension is set for three years, with options for two additional one-year extensions, targeting a completion date of May 2027. The procurement process addresses ongoing complexities related to the iBus2 transition and is pivotal for ensuring uninterrupted service during the procurement process.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in IT services, particularly those involved in software development, consulting, and support for transport systems. Companies that offer solutions related to communications technology, database systems, and traffic monitoring equipment would be particularly well-suited to compete in this tender process. By participating, businesses can not only secure lucrative contracts but also contribute to the enhancement of public transportation services within London, thereby fostering long-term growth and partnership opportunities with a major public sector employer.

## Notice

In 2005 LBSL awarded a 10-year contract to Siemens for the bus communication system known as iBus (the Contract). The Contract was novated to Trapeze ITS Switzerland GmBH Limited (Trapeze) in October 2009. In 2015, the parties agreed to extend the Contract from May 2015 for up to 7 years, such that it would terminate in May 2022. TfL is competitively procuring the next generation system, iBus2, under the PCR 2015. TfL initially expected the iBus2 procurement to be completed before 2022. However, the iBus2 procurement has taken longer than foreseen and is still ongoing. Consequently, LBSL now needs to extend the Contract term for up to a further 5 years (3 years initial term, plus options for two one-year extensions) until May 2027 (the "Extension") to allow for completion of the iBus2 procurement and transition to the resulting new arrangements. As explained at IV.1.1 below, TfL and LBSL consider that the Extension benefits from the exemption in Reg. 72(1)(b) PCR.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

As noted at II.1.4) above, in 2005 LBSL awarded a 10-year contract to Siemens for the bus communication system known as iBus (the Contract). The iBus system is the Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) system for the London bus network and London Trams. It supports approximately 9,000 buses (and their associated infrastructure such as garages and Service Control Centres) across Greater London and provides critical functionality including Real Time Passenger Information and facilitating emergency response services. The Contract was novated to Trapeze in October 2009. In 2015, the parties agreed to extend the Contract from May 2015 for up to 7 years, such that it would terminate in May 2022. TfL is competitively procuring the next generation system, iBus2, under the PCR 2015. The iBus2 procurement is comprised as two lots: the on-bus systems and the back-office systems (both of which are currently provided by Trapeze). TfL initially expected the iBus2 procurement to be completed before 2022. However, the iBus2 procurement has taken longer than foreseen and is still ongoing. Consequently, LBSL now needs to extend the Contract term for up to a further 5 years (3 years initial term, plus options for two one-year extensions) until May 2027 (the "Extension") to allow for completion of the iBus2 procurement and orderly transition to the resulting new arrangements. The Extension comprises the following steps: 1. As a first step, on 27 April 2022, TfL and Trapeze entered into an agreement to extend the Contract for a period of eight weeks from 4 May 2022, expiring on 30 June 2022 ("the Short-term Extension"). The purpose of the Short-term Extension is to continue the Contract while LBSL and TfL consider the terms of a Medium-term Extension offered by Trapeze to LBSL (see below). 2. As a second step, LBSL and Trapeze expect to enter into a further agreement which will extend the Contract for up to a further 5 years (an initial term that takes the duration of the Short-term Extension plus the further extension to a total of 3 years, plus options for two additional one-year extensions) until May 2027 ("the Medium-term Extension"). The proposed commercial terms for that extension have recently been agreed with Trapeze and reflected in a binding offer by Trapeze capable of acceptance by LBSL during a limited period. The parties will enter into the Medium-term Extension if and when LBSL's acceptance of Trapeze's offer is approved following associated LBSL and TfL governance activities. As explained at IV.1.1 and VI.3 below, TfL and LBSL consider that the Extension benefits from the exemption for "additional services" in Regulation 72(1)(b) of the PCR. This exemption allows for the non-competitive procurement of additional services that have become necessary, where a change of contractor cannot be made for economic or technical reasons and where such a change would cause significant inconvenience or duplication of costs. Additional information: The total value of the Extension (as specified at II.1.7 and V.2.4) includes the value of both the Short-term Extension and the Medium-term Extension and assumes that the options for two one-year extensions are exercised.

Options: Beyond the initial 3-year extension, the parties have options to extend the contract by two further one-year periods.

### Procurement Information

TfL considers that the Extension benefits from the exemption in Reg. 72(1)(b) PCR, for the following reasons. The provision of the additional iBus services over an additional 3 years (with options to extend for two further years) has become necessary for TfL to ensure continuation of the iBus services while the procurement of iBus2 is completed and to enable an orderly and low-risk transition to the iBus2 services. Running a competitive tender for a 3-year extension (with two one-year options to extend) ahead of completing the iBus2 procurement would involve significant inconvenience and substantial duplication of costs for TfL, particularly if the contractor who won the short-term tender was not the successful bidder for iBus2. It may also further delay completion of the iBus2 tender process. Given the complexity of the iBus system and number of buses in service in London, it is not viable for TfL to bring in a different contractor on a short-term basis in a way that safeguards the continued operation of TfL's iBus (and wider bus) services, pending completion of the iBus2 procurement. It would not be feasible for TfL to extend the Contract for only the on-bus services or only the back office services because, if TfL retained Trapeze to provide either only the on-bus services or only the back office services, the incoming supplier (potentially in cooperation with Trapeze) would need to provide an interfacing solution which is capable of interfacing with the remainder of Trapeze's services (iBus1) and in time with the procured replacement for the remainder of Trapeze's services (iBus2). TfL has concerns relating to the interoperability of any new on-bus/back office solution and the 'turnkey' Trapeze solution, i.e. the required interface may not be viable, such that the iBus2 procurement would still need to be for the whole of the current iBus2 scope and therefore any interim solution might need to be transitioned to a replacement iBus2 solution (leaving TfL bearing high capex costs for the interim solution which would not otherwise be incurred by TfL if it were to proceed with the Extension and then transition to the end-to-end iBus2 solution). Bringing in a different contractor on a short-term basis is not likely to achieve value for money for TfL. Indeed, the cost of swapping provider in such a situation would likely be prohibitive.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/011453-2022 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Limited |
| Procurement method details | Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 4 May 2022 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 26 Apr 2022 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £62,454,991 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | LONDON BUS SERVICES LIMITED ("LBSL"), A SUBSIDIARY OF TRANSPORT FOR LONDON ("TFL") |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Post town | East London |
| Postcode | E20 1JN |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI4 Inner London - East |
| ITL 3 | TLI41 Hackney and Newham |
| Local authority | Newham |
| Electoral ward | Stratford Olympic Park |
| Westminster constituency | Stratford and Bow |
| Delivery location | TLI London |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | TRAPEZE ITS SWITZERLAND |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 32 - Radio, television, communication, telecommunication and related equipment
- 34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation
- 44 - Construction structures and materials; auxiliary products to construction (except electric apparatus)
- 48 - Software package and information systems
- 51 - Installation services (except software)
- 63 - Supporting and auxiliary transport services; travel agencies services
- 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

### Codes

- 32427000 - Network system
- 34923000 - Road traffic-control equipment
- 34970000 - Traffic-monitoring equipment
- 44316400 - Hardware
- 48610000 - Database systems
- 48800000 - Information systems and servers
- 51611100 - Hardware installation services
- 63712000 - Support services for road transport
- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
- 72210000 - Programming services of packaged software products
- 72230000 - Custom software development services
- 72240000 - Systems analysis and programming services
- 72250000 - System and support services
- 72260000 - Software-related services
- 72310000 - Data-processing services
- 72320000 - Database services
- 72400000 - Internet services

## Release History

- 4 May 2022 at 09:45 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/011453-2022

## Notice URLs

- http://www.tfl.gov.uk
- https://judiciary.gov.uk
- https://ted.europa.eu/udl?uri=TED:NOTICE:090618-2005:TEXT:EN:HTML

## 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-03335a. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-03335a.json.