Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Transport for Greater Manchester
2 Piccadilly Place
Manchester
M13BG
Contact
Julian Benson
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKD3 - Greater Manchester
Justification for not providing organisation identifier
Not on any register
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Other type
Transport Authority
one.5) Main activity
Other activity
Transport
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Mobile Application Shell Delivery Requirements
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 72200000 - Software programming and consultancy services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
TfGM requires an extension of its current agreement with Softwire Ltd to maintain continuity of service for its BeeApp mobile application and to facilitate a low-risk, phased handover to an internal TfGM team when in place.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £1,650,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKD - North West (England)
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The original contract was awarded to Softwire Technology Limited following a mini-competition under the Crown Commercial Service's Digital Outcomes and Specialists 5 (DOS5) framework agreement (RM1043.7), Lot 1. The procurement was conducted by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) in full compliance with the framework terms and was established to cover the design, development, and early operational support of the Bee Network mobile application.
The Bee Network App forms a key element of TfGM's customer-facing digital proposition. It supports sustainable travel across Greater Manchester by enabling users to access real-time travel information, plan multimodal journeys, and interact with the wider Bee Network transport system. The app has become a high-profile and critical tool in delivering a seamless and integrated public transport experience to users.
The contract is structured around a Statement of Work (SOW) mechanism, with all work commissioned via TfGM-approved SOWs under agreed Time and Materials (T&M) rates. This ensures clear scope definition, milestone control, and cost transparency.
It was originally envisaged that the initial term (two-year) contract period would cover both the initial development and a short operational phase, with responsibility for all further development and maintenance of the app transitioning thereafter to an internal team within TfGM, however, the establishment of the internal capability has been delayed. As a result, TfGM is seeking to extend the current agreement with Softwire Ltd for a short, time-limited period of time to maintain continuity of service and facilitate a low-risk, phased handover to TfGM once the internal team is in place.
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below
- The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the regulations
Explanation:
This notice provides transparency around the reasons for this Direct Award of the Mobile App Shell Delivery Requirement.
The decision to enter into a further 18-month extension with Softwire beyond the current 2.5 years contract term with respect to the Mobile App Shell Delivery Requirement Agreement is necessary for the following reasons:
At the time the original contract was awarded, TfGM planned for internal resourcing to be in place to assume responsibility for the app's ongoing development and support by the end of the contract term. However, due to delays in recruitment and internal team setup, this transition has not yet occurred.
Conducting a new competitive procurement to cover this interim period is neither practical nor commercially sensible. Appointing a new supplier for a short-term arrangement would likely introduce significant inefficiencies and service risks due to the need for duplication of onboarding and knowledge transfer, only for the service to be transitioned again shortly thereafter to internal staff. Such a process would not represent good value for money and would not be feasible from both a practical and technical perspective.
Direct award of a further contract to Softwire Ltd, allows TfGM to retain continuity of service, avoid unnecessary transition risks, and maintain cost control via the existing T&M SOW mechanism. The extension is time-limited, consistent with the original contract scope.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
Section five. Award of contract/concession
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
19 June 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
Softwire Technology Limited
1st Floor Gallery Court, 28 Arcadia Avenue
London
N32FG
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKI - London
Companies House
03824658
Internet address
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot/concession: £1,650,000
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £1,650,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
The High Court of England and Wales
London
Country
United Kingdom