Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
WEST MIDLANDS TRAINS LIMITED
2nd Floor St Andrew's House
London
EC4A3AG
Contact
Sidharth Narayanan
sidharth.narayanan@wmtrains.co.uk
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKI31 - Camden and City of London
Companies House
09860466
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.6) Main activity
Railway services
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Provision to renew the existing eTVD and mobile ticket scanning app
Reference number
WMT2006
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 72230000 - Custom software development services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
This is a renewal of the existing electronic Ticket Validation Database (eTVD) and mobile ticket scanning app offered by The Ticket Keeper Limited.
This provides essential barcode scanning services allowing our gate lines to effectively recognize and process barcode tickets, and enables our staff on trains and at gatelines to be able to scan tickets using a handheld scanner / app on their phone. Almost two-third of journeys on LN&WMR are fulfilled to barcode tickets.
This will extend the coverage by 12 months from February 2026 to January 2027 calendar months.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKG - West Midlands (England)
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
This is a variation to extend the existing contract.
Variation of the essential barcode scanning services allowing our gate lines to effectively recognize and process barcode tickets, and our staff on trains and at gate lines to be able to scan tickets using a handheld scanner / app on their phone.
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Negotiated without a prior call for competition
- Extreme urgency brought about by events unforeseeable for the contracting entity
Explanation:
West Midland Trains is in the process of transferring from private sector ownership to public sector ownership under the Department for Transport. As part of this transition , responsibility of the existing contract for ticket validation database and ticketscanning app must continue without interruption to ensure operational continuity and compliance with statutory and regulatory obligations.
There is insufficient time to design, advertise, run, evaluate and award a compliant procurement procedure prior to the transfer date (February 1st 2026). The authority is not permitted to let new contracts during the transition period but is permitted to make a direct award to ensure continuity.
The authority considers that the proposed direct award is justified under Regulation 15 of the Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016.
the circumstances giving rise to the urgency are:
* the transfer from private to public ownership, which constitutes an exceptional and time critical event.
*the urgency was not caused by West Midland Trains actions or inaction and could not reasonably have been mitigated through advance planning within the available timeframe.
West Midland Trains therefore consider the conditions for a direct award under Regulation 15 of the Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016 are met, and that publication of this transparency notice under Regulation 16 is appropriate to ensure openness and compliance with procurement law
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
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
11 December 2017
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
West Midlands Train Ltd
Birmingham
Country
United Kingdom