Scope
Description
The retail transaction network service is an integral part of the Swift Smartcard Offering across the West Midlands region, allowing users to top up their Swift Travel Cards in local shops.
The below services will be provided within this agreement:
• Terminals
• Payment Services
• ITSO Compliance
• Issuing of travel products
• Ticketing Paraphernalia
• Information for Agreed Agents
• Helpdesk and Complaints Handling
• Marketing and Publicity
• Settlement and Reporting
Contract 1
Supplier
Contract value
- £942,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Earliest date the contract will be signed
21 July 2025
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2028
- Possible extension to 31 July 2030
- 5 years
Description of possible extension:
Two optional extension periods are included within the contract of up to 12 months each. These optional extensions may be implemented dependent on the monitoring of customer behaviour and service profitability in line with market trends and capability
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 34980000 - Transport tickets
- 48217000 - Transaction-processing software package
- 63710000 - Support services for land transport
Contract locations
- UKG - West Midlands (England)
Other information
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Direct award
Special regime
Utilities
Direct award justification
Single supplier - technical reasons
Post Office Ltd t/s Payzone are the incumbent supplier of this contract. Alternative suppliers cannot be considered at this time due to Payzone's technical integrations with TfWMs core Swift payment systems. Switching to any alternative provider would incur significant technical redesign and result in significant cost and delays to an important customer service.
Switching to an alternative supplier would incur significant costs due to:
• Technical development, integration and testing of the core Swift payment system eg to HOPS
• ITSO certification application process
• Retraining of support staff
• Project management costs for implementation
• Customer communication & marketing
Offering customers the option to purchase Swift top-ups via retail stores is currently considered a valuable service to end-users however it does not offer the Authority value-for-money or good return on its investment. At this time, investment into the technical payment process redesign would further diminish the return generated from the retail sales and make the service unviable.
Supplier
Post Office Limited
- Companies House: 02154540
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PRNP-5883-YMLG
100 Wood Street
London
EC2V 7ER
United Kingdom
Email: Procurement@postoffice.co.uk
Website: https://corporate.postoffice.co.uk/
Region: UKI31 - Camden and City of London
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Contract 1
Contracting authority
West Midlands Combined Authority
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PGMD-1353-PZVX
16 Summer Lane
Birmingham
B19 3SD
United Kingdom
Email: procurement.team@wmca.org.uk
Region: UKG31 - Birmingham
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government