Award

Bus Franchising Contract Management System

  • Liverpool City Region Combined Authority

UK6: Contract award notice - Procurement Act 2023 - view information about notice types

Notice identifier: 2026/S 000-014240

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-058bbf (view related notices)

Published 17 February 2026, 11:57am



Scope

Reference

DN799484

Description

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) is preparing to implement bus franchising across the region, with the first franchised services scheduled to commence on 6 September 2026. As part of this transformation, LCRCA requires a robust, scalable and data-driven approach to contract management, payments and performance monitoring, with the system required to provide consistent, high-quality data across all operators, routes and reporting periods.

LCRCA requires a modern, cloud-based, fully auditable system that delivers end-to-end management of franchise contracts and ensures accurate, repeatable and reliable calculation of operator payments. The CMS and PPC (Payment Performance Calculator)

must give LCRCA and franchise operators a clear, shared view of live performance, contractual obligations, lost mileage, variations, KPI outcomes and payment adjustments.

The solution must reduce manual intervention, increase operational efficiency, and support the delivery of a consistent, region-wide performance framework that helps improve service quality, reliability and customer experience.


Contract 1

Supplier

Contract value

  • £1,392,000 including VAT

Above the relevant threshold

Award decision date

16 February 2026

Date assessment summaries were sent to tenderers

17 February 2026

Standstill period

  • End: 26 February 2026
  • 8 working days

Earliest date the contract will be signed

9 March 2026

Contract dates (estimated)

  • 10 March 2026 to 9 March 2031
  • Possible extension to 9 March 2033
  • 7 years

Description of possible extension:

The Authority may, by giving the Supplier not less than 14 days' written notice prior to expiry of the Initial Term, request the extension of this agreement in respect of the whole (or part) of the Services and on the same terms mutatis mutandis, for two periods of up to 12 months' each from the day following expiry of the Initial Term.

Main procurement category

Services

CPV classifications

  • 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

Contract locations

  • UKD7 - Merseyside

Information about tenders

  • 4 tenders received
  • 3 tenders assessed in the final stage:
    • 3 submitted by small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
    • 0 submitted by voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
  • 1 supplier awarded contracts
  • 2 suppliers unsuccessful (details included for contracts over £5 million)

Procedure

Procedure type

Open procedure


Supplier

netBI Pty Ltd

  • Public Procurement Organisation Number: PTHR-3778-DQNP

Suite 2A, Level 2, 143 Coronation Drive

Milton QLD

4064

Australia

Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): Yes

Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No

Supported employment provider: No

Public service mutual: No

Contract 1


Contracting authority

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority

  • Public Procurement Organisation Number: PNDZ-8253-CJJM

1 Mann Island

Liverpool

L3 1BP

United Kingdom

Region: UKD72 - Liverpool

Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government