Section one: Contracting entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Greater Manchester Combined Authority
Tootal Buildings, 56 Oxford Street
MANCHESTER
M1 6EU
Contact
Joe Thompson
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKD3 - Greater Manchester
Internet address(es)
Main address
www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
one.6) Main activity
Urban railway, tramway, trolleybus or bus services
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Greater Manchester Bus Franchising
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 60112000 - Public road transport services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 60000000 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKD3 - Greater Manchester
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
General
In accordance with the provisions of the Transport Act 2000 (as amended by the Bus Services Act 2017) and having followed the legislative procedure set out within the same, the Mayor of Greater Manchester decided on 25th March 2021 to introduce a bus franchising scheme for the entire Greater Manchester Combined Authority ('GMCA') area. The GMCA will be the contracting entity and the bus franchising scheme will be overseen and managed by Transport for Greater Manchester ('TfGM'), including the procurement of franchise operators, on behalf of the GMCA.
The Franchise Network and Packaging Strategy
Franchise Network
• The bus network in Greater Manchester comprises circa 2000 buses delivering circa 620 local services and school services which have a PVR of circa 300.
• With a few limited exceptions, all local bus services provided within Greater Manchester will be provided under franchise contracts.
Packaging strategy
• The franchise network will be split into a number of franchises. At the outset of franchising it is anticipated that there will be 10 large franchise contracts ('Large Franchises') and 25 small franchise contracts ('Small Franchises').
• Large Franchises will have a peak vehicle requirement of a minimum of 34 up to circa 200 buses. In the long-term Large Franchises will have a minimum term of five years, with an option to extend by two years. During transition the maximum term of the Large Franchises, including any extension periods, will be ten years. Small Franchises will typically have a peak vehicle requirement of up to 33 buses and will have a minimum term of three years and a maximum term of five years.
• Bus franchising will be implemented across three tranches (otherwise called Sub-Areas) of procurement.
Franchise contract dates
The current indicative dates on which a franchise contract may first be entered into for each of the three tranches are:
• Tranche 1 (Sub-Area A) - 30th April 2022
• Tranche 2 (Sub-Area B) - 17th April 2023
• Tranche 3 (Sub-Area C) - 1st April 2024
Franchising Key Principles
The key elements of the commercial approach to franchising in Greater Manchester are summarised below. Further detail can be found in the associated document QSN II.2.4 Supplement - Description of the procurement, which can be found on the Pro-Contract E-Tendering portal (https://procontract.due-north.com/register).
Depots: Large Franchises will be operated out of a depot provided by GMCA. For Small Franchises, operators will be required to provide their own depot facilities.
Fleet: GMCA will introduce a residual value (RV) mechanism that establishes a fleet of RV mechanism buses which, in a franchise competition, may be provided to all bidders on equal terms with ownership transferring to the successful bidder at the operational commencement date of that franchise. Operators will be responsible for the maintenance and repair of fleet in the RV mechanism, and the RV mechanism will provide a guaranteed residual value at the end of a franchise term. Operators will also be responsible for both the provision, maintenance and repair of any additional fleet required to operate the franchise.
Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS): TfGM/GMCA will procure contracts for the supply and maintenance of some aspects of the required ITS solution (such as vehicle location, ticketing and driver communications systems) to ensure a standardised approach, which would then be made available to franchise operators who would be required to utilise this equipment.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
two.2.8) Duration of the qualification system
Start date
7 August 2021
End date
7 August 2026
three.1) Conditions for participation
three.1.9) Qualification for the system
Conditions to be fulfilled by economic operators in view of their qualification
The Qualification System will involve different stages as described below and in the documents referred to in this notice and allows for registered and qualified suppliers to be considered for contract opportunities without further calls for competition for such contracts.
1. Passport System Stage
TfGM has established a Passport System by which potential suppliers can apply for inclusion on the Qualification System and pre-qualify so that they can bid for Greater Manchester Bus Franchises.
Potential suppliers who wish to apply to become a Passport Holder are required to provide a submission in accordance with the Passport Selection Questionnaire (containing selection questions and criteria relating to mandatory and discretionary exclusion grounds, economic and financial standing, Modern Slavery Act 2015, Compliance with Equality Legislation, Health and Safety, Environmental Management, PSV Operator's Licence requirements) and should do so with reference to the Passport Process Document which provides further detail on the application process and the criteria and requirements. These documents can be found on the Pro-Contract E-Tendering portal (https://procontract.due-north.com/register) and responses must be uploaded to the Pro-Contract e-tendering portal
A potential Supplier wishing to participate in a particular Greater Manchester Bus Franchise competition for a contract in Sub -Area A, Sub-Area B and/or Sub-Area C must have submitted an application to join the Passport System on or before the relevant date for each Sub-Area, with those dates currently being:
• Sub-Area A: Friday 3rd September 2021
• Sub-Area B: Friday 13th May 2022
• Sub-Area C: Friday 28th April 2023
2. Franchise Expression of Interest (EoI) Stage
TfGM will issue to those potential Suppliers which have successfully qualified in the Passport System stage and have become a "Passport Holder", (ie, have met all of the necessary criteria stated in the PSQ and supporting documents) a Franchise EoI as a further qualification process to determine those to be invited to tender or negotiate.
Further qualification criteria in the EoI will relate to economic and financial standing and technical and professional ability. Responses to a Franchise EoI will be evaluated in accordance with the qualification criteria as specified in the relevant Franchise EoI.
3.Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) and/or Invitation to Tender (ITT) Stage
An ITN or ITT will be issued to successful Passport Holders and those that have met the requirements of the Franchise EoI (with the qualification criteria being specified in the Franchise EoI)
Section four. Procedure
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
This notice is a call for competition and cancels and supersedes all previous Qualification System Notices issued for the Greater Manchester Bus Franchise Qualification System which were not expressly stated to be a call for competition. Any applicant that has previously applied for inclusion on the Greater Manchester Bus Franchise Qualification System will therefore need to access the updated Passport Selection Questionnaire from Pro-Contract and submit an application in response to this call for competition.
For the avoidance of doubt, potential Suppliers should note that alongside this QSN, updates have also been made to the QSN Supplement, Passport Selection Questionnaire (PSQ) and Passport Process Document (PPD). Some amendments have been made to the qualification criteria in the updated PSQ. As such, potential Suppliers who have responded to the previous QSN and PSQ will need to submit a response to the updated PSQ (including all updated qualification criteria).
Applicants may apply for inclusion on the Qualification System at any time during the period of its validity.
The GMCA and TfGM are using the Pro-Contract e-tendering portal (https://procontract.due-north.com) to conduct and administer this procurement exercise.
Applicants will need to register their details on the Pro-Contract e-tendering portal. Once registered, applicants will be emailed a log-in and password which will allow applicants to gain access to the documents. All submissions at whatever stage of the Qualification System must be submitted through the Pro-Contract e-tendering portal.
Further detail can be found in the associated document QSN II.2.4 Supplement - Description of the procurement, which can be found on the Pro-Contract E-Tendering portal (https://procontract.due-north.com/register).
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
The High Court (England, Wales and Northern Ireland)
The Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
Country
United Kingdom