Buyer Name: Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
Buyer Address: 1 Mann Island, Liverpool, UKD72, L31BP, United Kingdom
Contact Name: Procurement Team
Contact Email: tender@liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk
Bus Franchising in the Liverpool City Region Tranche 1 Category 1 - St Helens
Buyer Contact Info
Status
complete
complete
Procedure
selective
selective
Value
207144966.0 GBP
207144966.0 GBP
Published
17 Feb 2026, 15:52
17 Feb 2026, 15:52
Deadline
n/a
n/a
Contract Start
n/a
n/a
Contract End
n/a
n/a
Category
services
services
CPV
60000000 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)
60000000 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)
Region
n/a
n/a
Awarded To
Ribble Motor Services Limited
Ribble Motor Services Limited
Official Source
Open Find a Tender
Open Find a Tender
Description
On 25 April 2023, LCRCA published an Assessment on Bus Franchising in the Liverpool City Region which sets out the proposed bus Franchising Scheme in accordance with the Transport Act. In October 2023, the Liverpool City Region Mayor made a Franchising Scheme covering the Liverpool City Region. Franchising is to be introduced over a number of tranches of procurement. Franchised contracts will be let in two categories: i. Category 1 franchises, which are those Franchise Agreements involving multiple services that will operate from a depot provided by LCRCA. LCRCA will provide the depot from which the services relating to the Category 1 franchise must be operated. LCRCA will predominately provide the fleet that must be used on the Category 1 franchise. ii. Category 2 franchises, which are those Franchise Agreements which either i) provide services to serve schools or ii) provide other local services. In both cases the franchises will be delivered from an operator's own depot. This notice relates to the Category 1 franchise for St Helens. Key elements of Category 1 franchises include: Delivery of requirement: the operator of the franchise will be required to provide bus services in accordance with the detailed franchise package specifications. Revenue risk: the operator will not be required to assume revenue risk. Revenue risk will be primarily taken by LCRCA. Depots: LCRCA will provide the depots from which the Category 1 franchises will be operated. Buses: LCRCA will primarily be responsible for providing the vehicles which will operate Category 1 contacts. Repair, maintenance and servicing of buses: the operator will be responsible for the repair, maintenance and servicing of vehicles whilst ensuring that there are in a roadworthy condition. Staff: the operator is responsible for ensuring that it has all necessary and suitably trained staff to deliver the requirement detailed in the individual franchise specifications.
Linked Documents
No linked documents found for this notice.
Opportunity Context
Lots
Lot Description: On 25 April 2023, LCRCA published an Assessment on Bus Franchising in the Liverpool City Region which sets out the proposed bus Franchising Scheme in accordance with the Transport Act. In October 2023, the Liverpool City Region Mayor made a Franchising Scheme covering the Liverpool City Region. Franchising is to be introduced over a number of tranches of procurement. Franchised contracts will be let in two categories: i. Category 1 franchises, which are those Franchise Agreements involving multiple services that will operate from a depot provided by LCRCA. LCRCA will provide the depot from which the services relating to the Category 1 franchise must be operated. LCRCA will predominately provide the fleet that must be used on the Category 1 franchise. ii. Category 2 franchises, which are those Franchise Agreements which either i) provide services to serve schools or ii) provide other local services. In both cases the franchises will be delivered from an operator's own depot. This notice relates to the Category 1 franchise for St Helens. Key elements of Category 1 franchises include: Delivery of requirement: the operator of the franchise will be required to provide bus services in accordance with the detailed franchise package specifications. Revenue risk: the operator will not be required to assume revenue risk. Revenue risk will be primarily taken by LCRCA. Depots: LCRCA will provide the depots from which the Category 1 franchises will be operated. Buses: LCRCA will primarily be responsible for providing the vehicles which will operate Category 1 contacts. Repair, maintenance and servicing of buses: the operator will be responsible for the repair, maintenance and servicing of vehicles whilst ensuring that there are in a roadworthy condition. Staff: the operator is responsible for ensuring that it has all necessary and suitably trained staff to deliver the requirement detailed in the individual franchise specifications.
Lot 1 Status: cancelled
Lot 1 Has Options: Yes
Lot 1 Options: Category 1 franchises include options for a) the initial term to be extended for up to two (2) additional years and b) additional services to be introduced as set out in the Franchise Agreements as priced options
Lot 1 Award Criterion (quality): Quality
Raw Notice JSON
Expand raw payload
{
"awards": [
{
"id": "014464-2026-1",
"relatedLots": [
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],
"status": "active",
"suppliers": [
{
"id": "GB-COH-03990677",
"name": "Ribble Motor Services Limited"
}
]
}
],
"bids": {
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"measure": "bids",
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"value": 10
}
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},
"buyer": {
"id": "GB-FTS-164205",
"name": "Liverpool City Region Combined Authority"
},
"contracts": [
{
"awardID": "014464-2026-1",
"dateSigned": "2026-01-21T00:00:00Z",
"id": "014464-2026-1",
"status": "active",
"value": {
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"currency": "GBP"
}
}
],
"date": "2026-02-17T15:52:17Z",
"id": "014464-2026",
"initiationType": "tender",
"language": "en",
"ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-04dd3f",
"parties": [
{
"address": {
"countryName": "United Kingdom",
"locality": "Liverpool",
"postalCode": "L31BP",
"region": "UKD72",
"streetAddress": "1 Mann Island"
},
"contactPoint": {
"email": "tender@liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk",
"name": "Procurement Team"
},
"details": {
"buyerProfile": "https://www.the-chest.org.uk/",
"classifications": [
{
"description": "Public Transport",
"scheme": "TED_CE_ACTIVITY"
}
],
"url": "https://www.liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk/"
},
"id": "GB-FTS-164205",
"identifier": {
"legalName": "Liverpool City Region Combined Authority",
"noIdentifierRationale": "notOnAnyRegister"
},
"name": "Liverpool City Region Combined Authority",
"roles": [
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{
"address": {
"countryName": "United Kingdom",
"locality": "Stockport",
"postalCode": "SK1 3SW",
"region": "UKD7",
"streetAddress": "One Stockport Exchange, 20 Railway Road"
},
"details": {
"scale": "large"
},
"id": "GB-COH-03990677",
"identifier": {
"id": "03990677",
"legalName": "Ribble Motor Services Limited",
"scheme": "GB-COH"
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"name": "Ribble Motor Services Limited",
"roles": [
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},
{
"address": {
"countryName": "United Kingdom",
"locality": "London",
"postalCode": "WC2A 2LL"
},
"id": "GB-FTS-4500",
"identifier": {
"legalName": "Royal Courts of Justice"
},
"name": "Royal Courts of Justice",
"roles": [
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],
"tag": [
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"tender": {
"classification": {
"description": "Public road transport services",
"id": "60112000",
"scheme": "CPV"
},
"coveredBy": [
"GPA"
],
"description": "On 25 April 2023, LCRCA published an Assessment on Bus Franchising in the Liverpool City Region which sets out the proposed bus Franchising Scheme in accordance with the Transport Act.\nIn October 2023, the Liverpool City Region Mayor made a Franchising Scheme covering the Liverpool City Region. Franchising is to be introduced over a number of tranches of procurement. Franchised contracts will be let in two categories:\ni. Category 1 franchises, which are those Franchise Agreements involving multiple services that will operate from a depot provided by LCRCA. LCRCA will provide the depot from which the services relating to the Category 1 franchise must be operated. LCRCA will predominately provide the fleet that must be used on the Category 1 franchise.\nii. Category 2 franchises, which are those Franchise Agreements which either i) provide services to serve schools or ii) provide other local services. In both cases the franchises will be delivered from an operator\u0027s own depot.\nThis notice relates to the Category 1 franchise for St Helens.\nKey elements of Category 1 franchises include:\nDelivery of requirement: the operator of the franchise will be required to provide bus services in accordance with the detailed franchise package specifications.\nRevenue risk: the operator will not be required to assume revenue risk. Revenue risk will be primarily taken by LCRCA.\nDepots: LCRCA will provide the depots from which the Category 1 franchises will be operated.\nBuses: LCRCA will primarily be responsible for providing the vehicles which will operate Category 1 contacts.\nRepair, maintenance and servicing of buses: the operator will be responsible for the repair, maintenance and servicing of vehicles whilst ensuring that there are in a roadworthy condition.\nStaff: the operator is responsible for ensuring that it has all necessary and suitably trained staff to deliver the requirement detailed in the individual franchise specifications.",
"id": "DN772032",
"items": [
{
"additionalClassifications": [
{
"description": "Transport services (excl. Waste transport)",
"id": "60000000",
"scheme": "CPV"
}
],
"deliveryAddresses": [
{
"region": "UKD7"
}
],
"id": "1",
"relatedLot": "1"
}
],
"legalBasis": {
"id": "32014L0025",
"scheme": "CELEX"
},
"lots": [
{
"awardCriteria": {
"criteria": [
{
"description": "60",
"name": "Quality",
"type": "quality"
},
{
"description": "40",
"type": "price"
}
]
},
"description": "On 25 April 2023, LCRCA published an Assessment on Bus Franchising in the Liverpool City Region which sets out the proposed bus Franchising Scheme in accordance with the Transport Act.\nIn October 2023, the Liverpool City Region Mayor made a Franchising Scheme covering the Liverpool City Region. Franchising is to be introduced over a number of tranches of procurement. Franchised contracts will be let in two categories:\ni. Category 1 franchises, which are those Franchise Agreements involving multiple services that will operate from a depot provided by LCRCA. LCRCA will provide the depot from which the services relating to the Category 1 franchise must be operated. LCRCA will predominately provide the fleet that must be used on the Category 1 franchise.\nii. Category 2 franchises, which are those Franchise Agreements which either i) provide services to serve schools or ii) provide other local services. In both cases the franchises will be delivered from an operator\u0027s own depot.\nThis notice relates to the Category 1 franchise for St Helens.\nKey elements of Category 1 franchises include:\nDelivery of requirement: the operator of the franchise will be required to provide bus services in accordance with the detailed franchise package specifications.\nRevenue risk: the operator will not be required to assume revenue risk. Revenue risk will be primarily taken by LCRCA.\nDepots: LCRCA will provide the depots from which the Category 1 franchises will be operated.\nBuses: LCRCA will primarily be responsible for providing the vehicles which will operate Category 1 contacts.\nRepair, maintenance and servicing of buses: the operator will be responsible for the repair, maintenance and servicing of vehicles whilst ensuring that there are in a roadworthy condition.\nStaff: the operator is responsible for ensuring that it has all necessary and suitably trained staff to deliver the requirement detailed in the individual franchise specifications.",
"hasOptions": true,
"id": "1",
"options": {
"description": "Category 1 franchises include options for a) the initial term to be extended for up to two (2) additional years and b) additional services to be introduced as set out in the Franchise Agreements as priced options"
},
"status": "cancelled"
}
],
"mainProcurementCategory": "services",
"procurementMethod": "selective",
"procurementMethodDetails": "Negotiated procedure with prior call for competition",
"status": "complete",
"title": "Bus Franchising in the Liverpool City Region Tranche 1 Category 1 - St Helens"
}
}