---
title: "Supply of Bus Rapid Transit (Glider) Vehicles"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0504ec"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0504ec"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0504ec.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0504ec.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "TRANSLINK"
published: "2025-04-17"
---

# Supply of Bus Rapid Transit (Glider) Vehicles

Buyer: TRANSLINK  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0504ec

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## Summary

Translink is currently in the planning stage for the procurement of Bus Rapid Transit (Glider) vehicles. This procurement relates to the expansion of the existing Glider service in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The buying organisation, Translink, is looking to engage with interested Economic Operators to present their capabilities in providing low floor, wheelchair accessible, zero emission articulated vehicles. This market engagement exercise will take place in Quarter 2 of 2025, and interested parties are required to express their interest by 3pm on Thursday, 8 May 2025. The objectives include understanding the market capabilities, informing the future tender structure, and potentially forming a Single Supplier Framework for the procurement process. The industry category for this procurement is primarily focused on the provision of buses and public-service vehicles, in accordance with Northern Irish devolved regulations.

This tender offers significant opportunities for businesses specialising in the manufacturing and supply of innovative, sustainable public transport solutions. Companies with a strong track record in providing high-quality, reliable, and environmentally friendly public transportation are well-suited to compete. This framework has the potential for long-term partnerships, offering a cost-effective procurement channel and the possibility of supplying additional fleet vehicles and replacing existing hybrid electric vehicles over time. By participating, businesses can influence the tender requirements and duration, making it a valuable opportunity for those looking to expand their market presence in Northern Ireland's public transportation sector.

## Notice

Glider is the brand name for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system which came into operation in 2018 with an innovative mode of travel for Belfast which resulted in significant increases in patronage levels. The introduction of Glider provided a modern, safe, accessible, efficient and high quality public transport service which has encouraged more people to travel by public transport instead of the private car. Glider has helped to support sustainable economic growth and regeneration, and has helped to integrate communities though linking people to jobs, shops, leisure, health and educational services. There are plans to extend the existing Glider service and introduce new corridors into operation in Belfast. To facilitate the expansion of the Glider network, Translink are intending to establish a framework aimed at delivering a cost effective and agile means to purchase low floor, wheelchair accessible, zero emission, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) articulated vehicles for use on urban operations in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Translink would use this framework to purchase the additional fleet and potentially, in time, replace the existing hybrid electric BRT vehicles. The duration of the framework has not been confirmed but it is anticipated it will be a Single Supplier Framework. There are a number of key principles underpinning the characteristics of a BRT system such as the Glider: * a strong brand image that delivers a clear identity for the system * high quality in all aspects of the system, including the fixed infrastructure, vehicles, operations and customer services * high standards of reliability with punctual service operation and predictable journey times * integration with other modes of sustainable transport * high quality environment for passengers in terms of space, security and on-board information To that end Translink wishes to invite suitably interested Economic Operators to present their current and future capability and capacity in these areas in Belfast in Quarter 2 2025. The objectives of this exercise are to: - understand the views from the Economic Operators that will or may be interested in this procurement opportunity, - understand the capabilities of Economic Operators to meet Translink's requirements, and - provide interested Economic Operators with an opportunity to inform the tender structure and the duration of any awarded Framework Agreement Translink reserve the right to request further information from respondents in order to short list interested Economic Operators. Interested Economic Operators should reply in writing to David Lowry at david.lowry@translink.co.uk by 3pm on Thursday 08 May 2025.

### Planning Information

Translink wishes to invite suitably interested Economic Operators to present their current and future capability and capacity in these areas in Belfast in Quarter 2 2025.
The objectives of this exercise are to: 
- understand the views from the Economic Operators that will or may be interested in this procurement opportunity,
- understand the capabilities of Economic Operators to meet Translink’s requirements, and 
- provide interested Economic Operators with an opportunity to inform the tender structure and the duration of any awarded Framework Agreement 
Translink reserve the right to request further information from respondents in order to short list interested Economic Operators. 
Interested Economic Operators should reply in writing to David Lowry at david.lowry@translink.co.uk by 3pm on Thursday 08 May 2025.
**************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Suppliers registering their interest in participating in this exercise should note that:. 
1. This Notice is to initiate a market engagement and information gathering exercise and does not indicate the start of a procurement exercise. It is instead intended to act as an informal market research document providing a brief synopsis of Translink’s future requirements. This document is not intended to provide a definitive list of requirements.. 
2. We intend to invite interested suppliers to present to a range of Translink personnel and discuss Bus Rapid Transit (Glider) Vehicles. 
3. This document is not a tender specification nor request for quotation. Translink is merely investigating market opportunities at this stage without entering into any contractual or financial commitments.. 
4. Please note, progress in the project will be subject to the availability and timing of funding. If this requirement is given financial approval, it will be tendered under the Procurement Act 2023. Any documents, discussions, presentations, demonstrations, or clarifications submitted for this Market Research will not be considered as any part of the tender exercise. If Translink does decide to proceed with a competitive tender process, a separate detailed tender specification document will be produced as part of that process.. 
5. Nothing in this advertisement or any other documents or information provided by Translink or any of its advisers or agents is to be construed as implying a commitment by Translink to place any Contract, now or in the future with any participating supplier in respect of the requirement under consideration.. 
6. Translink takes no responsibility for any actions or decisions taken, costs incurred, or commitments made by interested parties in responding to this notice or by being involved in any subsequent discussions in this market engagement and information gathering exercise.. 
7. At this stage it is not possible to give an accurate timeframe for this requirement..

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/015940-2025 |
| Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice |
| Procurement type | Framework |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Not specified |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 17 Apr 2025 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 8 May 2025 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 1 Feb 2026 - 31 Jan 2031 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Planning |
| Lots status | Planning |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | TRANSLINK |
| Locality | BELFAST |
| Post town | Northern Ireland |
| Postcode | BT2 7LX |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| ITL 1 | TLN Northern Ireland |
| ITL 2 | TLN0 Northern Ireland |
| ITL 3 | TLN06 Belfast |
| Local authority | Belfast |
| Electoral ward | Central |
| Westminster constituency | Belfast South and Mid Down |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation

### Codes

- 34121000 - Buses and coaches
- 34121100 - Public-service buses

## Release History

- 17 Apr 2025 at 13:21 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/015940-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/015940-2025
  17th April 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## 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-0504ec. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0504ec.json.