Planning

Bus Franchising - Leigh Small Franchise

  • Transport for Greater Manchester

UK2: Preliminary market engagement notice - Procurement Act 2023 - view information about notice types

Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-021861

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-0514cb (view related notices)

Published 15 May 2025, 3:29pm



Scope

Reference

DN773100

Description

Following the implementation of Bus Franchising across Greater Manchester, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), on behalf of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), is seeking an Operator to provide bus passenger services for the Leigh small franchise from March 2027, with an estimated Peak Vehicle Requirement (PVR) of 15.

Through this procurement process, TfGM is engaging with potential suppliers to participate in a preliminary market engagement exercise, to provide TfGM with an understanding of the current marketplace.

This market engagement exercise will be conducted via a non-interactive webinar which will be advertised through the ProContract e-tender portal. Suppliers can register for free using the following link: https://procontract.due north.com/Register.

Upon registration, the market engagement information (including how to register attendance at the webinar) can be found using the following project reference: DN773100.

Please note the market engagement event will be held via Microsoft Teams on 4th June 2025 any suppliers wishing to attend must register their interest by 27th May 2025, via the messaging facility on ProContract. Please ensure you provide attendee names, business name and email address and TfGM will forward you the link to the market engagement webinar session.

Total value (estimated)

  • £27,551,000 excluding VAT
  • £33,061,200 including VAT

Above the relevant threshold

Contract dates (estimated)

  • 7 March 2027 to 27 September 2030
  • Possible extension to 27 September 2032
  • 5 years, 6 months, 21 days

Main procurement category

Services

CPV classifications

  • 60112000 - Public road transport services

Contract locations

  • UKD3 - Greater Manchester

Engagement

Engagement deadline

27 June 2025

Engagement process description

Operators will be invited to attend an online Market Engagement Webinar whereby TfGM will provide an overview of the franchise requirements and the procurement process.

Operators wishing to attend this Webinar should provide the name(s), position and email addresses of attendees by the 27th May 2025 12.00 noon.

Please note this will not be interactive, however, the webinar will be recorded and the recording will be made available via the ProContract portal.

Following the Market Engagement Webinar, TfGM will issue a short questionnaire requesting feedback from potential bidders alongside the recording of the Market Engagement session. Deadline for responses will be 11th June 2025.

Should operators have any queries, please raise a clarification question via ProContract messaging service by 9th June 2025. TfGM will respond to all Market Engagement questions by the 23rd June 2025.

TfGM intends to send the Tender notice on the 7th July 2025. There will be a supplier Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) process in order to get through to final tender submission. This will be explained in the Market Engagement Webinar.


Participation

Particular suitability

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)


Submission

Publication date of tender notice (estimated)

7 July 2025


Procedure

Special regime

Utilities


Contracting authority

Transport for Greater Manchester

  • Public Procurement Organisation Number: PNJQ-2746-NWYT

2 Piccadilly Place

Manchester

M1 3BG

United Kingdom

Contact name: Kirk Boulton

Email: procurement@tfgm.com

Website: https://www.tfgm.com

Region: UKD33 - Manchester

Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government