Scope
Description
Translink is a trading name used by any one or more of the companies under the ultimate ownership of the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company (NITHC) as parent company which owns Citybus Limited (which also trades as 'Metro'), Flexibus Limited, Ulsterbus Limited, Translink (NI) Limited, NIR Networks Limited, Northern Ireland Railways Company Limited and NIR Operations Limited The aim of this procurement exercise is to establish a Framework for the provision of Change Management, System Safety, Interoperability and Associated Services to support the delivery of Translink's programme of capital and maintenance works. wish to appoint 7 Suppliers onto each of the below 2 Framework Lots. • Lot 1: Change Management, CSM and Authorisations (5 Active and 2 Reserve Suppliers) • Lot 2: Change Management, CSM and Associated Services (5 Active and 2 Reserve Suppliers) The duration of this Framework will be a maximum of 8 years in total - a 4-year initial term with the option to extend by a further 48 months. No individual extension will be granted for a period longer than 24 months and any extension will be at the discretion of the Client. Any values provided for lots are indicative ONLY and are subject to change throughout the framework term. The anticipated commencement will be Quarter 2 2026. Your response must be submitted via the relevant Call for Tender (CfT) on the eTendersNI portal. Instructions on how to submit your response can be found within the Interactive Walkthrough on the eTendersNI Homepage. No other method of submission will be accepted.
Commercial tool
Establishes a framework
Total value (estimated)
- £7,200,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 June 2026 to 31 May 2030
- Possible extension to 31 May 2034
- 8 years
Description of possible extension:
48 month initial term with options to extend up to 48 months.
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 79417000 - Safety consultancy services
- 72224000 - Project management consultancy services
Lot 1. Change Management, System Safety and Interoperability Authorisation
Description
Change Management, System Safety and Interoperability Authorisation Delivering Change Management and Compliance with Safety and / or Interoperability Regulations
Lot value (estimated)
- £4,800,000 including VAT
Framework lot values may be shared with other lots
Same for all lots
CPV classifications and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 2. Change Management, System Safety and Associated Services
Description
Change Management, System Safety and Associated Services
Delivering Change Management, Consultancy Support and Associated Services.
Lot value (estimated)
- £2,400,000 including VAT
Framework lot values may be shared with other lots
Same for all lots
CPV classifications and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Framework
Maximum number of suppliers
Unlimited
Maximum percentage fee charged to suppliers
0%
Framework operation description
The aim of this procurement exercise is to establish a Framework for the provision of Change Management, System Safety, Interoperability and Associated Services to support the delivery of Translink's programme of capital and maintenance works. wish to appoint 7 Suppliers onto each of the below 2 Framework Lots. • Lot 1: Change Management, CSM and Authorisations (5 Active and 2 Reserve Suppliers) • Lot 2: Change Management, CSM and Associated Services (5 Active and 2 Reserve Suppliers) The duration of this Framework will be a maximum of 8 years in total - a 4-year initial term with the option to extend by a further 48 months. No individual extension will be granted for a period longer than 24 months and any extension will be at the discretion of the Client. The anticipated commencement will be Quarter 2 2026. For further information please see the Framework Information document.
Award method when using the framework
Either with or without competition
Contracting authorities that may use the framework
Establishing party only
Participation
Technical ability conditions of participation
Lot 1. Change Management, System Safety and Interoperability Authorisation
Lot 2. Change Management, System Safety and Associated Services
Refer to etendersni portal
Submission
Enquiry deadline
11 July 2025, 12:00pm
Submission type
Requests to participate
Deadline for requests to participate
18 July 2025, 3:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
1 May 2026
Recurring procurement
Publication date of next tender notice (estimated): 1 June 2029
Award criteria
| Name | Description | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 40% |
Cost |
| Quality | 60% including social value |
Quality |
| Price | Price | |
| Technical | Including Social Value |
Quality |
Weighting description
Cost/Quality
Other information
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Competitive flexible procedure
Special regime
Utilities
Competitive flexible procedure description
2 Stage Procurement exercise - Call for competition with qualification stage
Justification for not publishing a preliminary market engagement notice
PME was conducted in February 2025 under Utility Regulations 2016. As conducted before Procurement Act was live, there was no requirement to publish a PME notice.
Contracting authority
Translink
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PTMT-7134-NRMV
22 Great Victoria Street
Belfast
BT2 7LX
United Kingdom
Region: UKN06 - Belfast
Organisation type: Public undertaking (commercial organisation subject to public authority oversight)
Devolved regulations that apply: Northern Ireland