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PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITY

Bus Franchising - Farnworth Small Franchise

Transport for Greater Manchester · Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

Tender information last checkedLast checked 30 Sept 2026, 01:44.

Opportunity overview

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 Farnworth Small Franchise from March 2027, with an estimated Peak Vehicle Requirement (PVR) of 7. Note the scope, figures, dates, and contract or framework durations included in this Notice are provisional only, and are subject to funding approvals and governance approvals, and may be subject to change as the requirement developments. TfGM reserves the right to vary or cancel this notice at any point as the project develops. TfGM use the e-tendering portal Pro-Contract to manage high value procurement activity. Details on how to register can be found at https://procontract.due-north.com/register

Classification

  • CPV60112000 — Public road transport services

Lots

  • Lot 1£12.9m

Documents and notices

Published notice details

Additional information from the published procurement release. Fields appear only when supplied by the source; check the original notice and tender documents before acting.

Scope, procedure and submissions

Id
DN773100
Status
planned
Above Threshold
Yes
Procurement Method
selective
Main Procurement Category
services
How to submit
Upon publication of the tender notice, Tenders should be submitted via the ProContract procurement portal. Suppliers can register for free using the following link: https://procontract.due-north.com/Register. Upon registration, suppliers can access the opportunity via the following project reference: DN773100
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Expression Of Interest Deadline
11 Aug 2025, 12:00

Covered By

GPA

Procedure

Features
TfGM are seeking to engage with potential suppliers who wish to become a Franchise Operator. Through this procurement process suppliers will be required to provide and pass a Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) including Conditions of Participation. Any successful Bidders who have successfully passed the PSQ phase will qualify to participate in the subsequent stages of the procurement (the Invitation to Negotiation stage and final tender submission). Further detail on the proposed award criteria and tender process will be made available through market engagement and subsequently the tender notice and PSQ documentation. However, this may be subject to change during this competitive flexible procedure. The tender documents will be made available on the Pro-Contract E-Tendering portal (https://procontract.due-north.com/register) in July 2025.

Legal basis

Id
2023/54
Scheme
UKPGA

Expected award period

Ends
22 Jun 2026, 23:59

Communication

Future Notice Date
7 Jul 2025, 23:59

Special regime

utilities

Submission terms

Electronic Submission Policy
allowed

Languages

en

Lots and requirements

Entry 1
Id
1
Status
planned
Has Renewal
Yes

Value

Amount
12,857,000
Currency
GBP
Including VAT
15,428,400

Renewal

Description
TfGM reserve the right to extend this contract in multiple periods of up to 24 months (total)

Suitability

Sme
Yes

Award criteria

Criteria

Criterion 1
Name
Technical Assessment
Type
quality
Description
The award criteria maybe subject to change as per Section 24 of the Procurement Act 2023.

Numbers

Entry 1
Number
60
Weight
percentageExact
Criterion 2
Name
Price
Type
price
Description
The award criteria maybe subject to change as per Section 24 of the Procurement Act 2023.

Numbers

Entry 1
Number
40
Weight
percentageExact

Contract period

Ends
27 Sept 2030, 23:59
Starts
7 Mar 2027, 00:00
Max Extent Date
27 Sept 2032, 23:59

Items and delivery

Item 1
Id
1
Related Lot
1

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UKD3
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Entry 2
Region
UKD3
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Entry 3
Region
UKD
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Id
60112000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Public road transport services

Planning and budget

Documents

Entry 1
Id
021858-2025
Format
text/html
Notice Type
UK2
Description
Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
Document Type
marketEngagementNotice
Published
15 May 2025, 15:26
Entry 2
Id
021871-2025
Format
text/html
Notice Type
UK3
Description
Planned procurement notice on Find a Tender
Document Type
plannedProcurementNotice
Published
15 May 2025, 15:37
Entry 3
Id
026637-2025
Format
text/html
Notice Type
UK1
Description
Pipeline notice on Find a Tender
Document Type
plannedProcurementNotice
Published
23 May 2025, 15:01

Milestones

Entry 1
Id
engagement
Type
engagement
Status
scheduled
Due
27 Jun 2025, 23:59
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.

Buyer, suppliers and contacts

Organisation 1
Id
GB-PPON-PNJQ-2746-NWYT
Name
Transport for Greater Manchester

Roles

buyer

Address

Region
UKD33
Country
GB
Locality
Manchester
Postal Code
M1 3BG
Country Name
United Kingdom
Street Address
2 Piccadilly Place

Details

Classifications

Entry 1
Id
publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment
Scheme
UK_CA_TYPE
Description
Public authority - sub-central government

Identifier

Id
PNJQ-2746-NWYT
Scheme
GB-PPON

Contact

Name
Kirk Boulton

Recorded locations

  • Buyer location · Manchester · UKD33 · M1 3BG · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKD3 · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKD · United Kingdom

Notice and amendment history

1 published notice version reviewed by ProcuraAxis.

1 VERSION
  1. ocds-h6vhtk-0514c8-2025-05-23T15:01:41+01:00Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ·