UK Public Sector Contracts & Tenders

The Liverpool City Region Transport Model (LCRTM) is a multi-modal, strategic-level, transport model spanning the entire Liverpool City Region. It is currently based on pre-Covid travel data, with a base year of 2019. The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) wish to appoint a consultant to update LCRTM to represent current travel patterns and enhance the public transport elements of the model.

Under franchising, The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) expects bus operators and their staff to reflect our values and present a consistent corporate image of a high-quality integrated bus network. We are looking to procure a complete uniform package for all customer facing staff operating services for the LCRCA who will wear the same uniform, workwear, and PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and be subject to standards of wear and care through the operators' conditions of contract. LCRCA will design the uniform, procure the supplier, agree the quality and the operator will purchases direct from supplier and then issue directly to the employee. This market engagement aims to engage with potential suppliers to inform future procurement decisions for branded Metro uniforms, ensuring delivery of high quality, functional and comfortable garments that meet the daily needs of the drivers and other key frontline staff who are the face of our service to customers. Please complete this in as much detail as possible and return it to: charlotte.lawrence@liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk by Monday 14th July at 10am. This is for Market Engagement purposes only and is not a call for competition. No procurement documents are therefore available until formal call for competition.

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) is on a journey to take back control of the city region's bus network through Bus franchising. The LCRCA will become responsible for 100% of the bus network, and will award contracts to operators to run these services on their behalf, with key performance metrics in place with constant monitoring of their performance. In return for running these services, each Operator will receive a 4 weekly service payment. We are looking to engage with the market to gain insights into Contract Management capabilities that will allow the LCRCA to ensure each Operators' service payment accurately reflects the contract in place and incorporates any performance measure adjustments. Requirements  Please provide a demonstration of your solution. We are particularly interested in a CMS which will deliver:  CMS; • Business as usual Franchise Contract management (New/change/cancel) • Contract changes, temporary, emergency and permanent • Excellent UI, maximum automation • Ability to ingest bus timetable data in TxC format • Logging of Breaches/fixed penalties  • Data export and dashboards Payment Calculator; • Ability to hold/refresh indexed elements used in payment calculations • Integration with AVL data to calculate Indexed Lost Mileage, which has been approved by LCRCA • Logging of Excusing Events and how data can be excluded from the calculation • The calculation of bonus/deductions for: • Start Point punctuality • Intermediate point punctuality • Vehicle compliance • Customer Complaints • Breaches • Partnering & Growth element • Patronage element • Calculation of Service payment in line with payment schedule • Calculation of performance adjustment • Logging of miscellaneous payments • Self-Billing invoice creation • Approval & authorisation (by different roles) for payment • Integration with payment system   The LCRCA requires suppliers to be compliant with either ISO27001 or Cyber Essentials Plus standards. Adopting a cloud-first strategy for all IT systems, the LCRCA mandates that any system must be fully hosted within the UK or EU. For ticket purchases, PCI compliance is essential. During the engagement session, suppliers are expected to detail their data requirements and specify the necessary feeds to ensure system functionality.

1. The Liverpool City Region (LCR) welcomes over 60 million visitors annually, generating £6bn in GVA and supports over 58000 jobs. It is a cornerstone of the region's growth, contributing over 12% to GVA and more than 10% of total employment. To sustain growth, enhance decision making and improve visitor dispersal across the six boroughs, LCR proposes that creation of a Visitor Economy Research and Data Insights Dashboard. This centralised platform will consolidate multiple data sources, provide real time insights, track changes and performance over time and support evidence-led destination management. 2. We are seeking to engage with commercial operators and businesses who provide a service of this nature and can support the following aims and objectives. Aim 3. The aim is that the platform will support the following: a. Evidence based decision making b. Enhanced data sharing across boroughs and stakeholders c. Improving visitors' experiences and dispersal d. Supporting sustainable tourism and recovery e. Tracking ROI and campaign effectiveness 4. The platform will also enable cross-analysis of visitor behaviour, measure the impact of campaigns and events and provide borough level benchmarking, ensuring the region maximises return in its marketing and infrastructure investment Objectives 5. The dashboard will: a. Consolidate diverse datasets (eg footfall, spend, surveys, hotel occupancy, attraction attendance, VisitBritain surveys) b. Provide borough specific and region wide performance insights c. Track key metrics : visitor origin, duration of stay, dispersal, spend and event attendance d. Support trend analysis e. Enable reporting tailored to local authorities, destination partners, businesses and event organisers

We are looking to partner with a creative agency to develop the strategy and deliver a suite of creative assets, including strapline and copy for web page and social media posts. For the purpose of this brief, we are looking to partner with an agency who combine strategy and creative to: a. Develop a strategy that delivers the objectives through engaging and compelling creative b. Draft campaign straplines, copy for advertorial, blogs, itineraries, and social media posts c. Bring Liverpool City Region and other project partners to life through innovative, unique and contemporary creative that will be used across all platforms. d. Produce a timeline that identifies

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA), in collaboration with Northwest regional partners, is preparing to launch a tender opportunity for media agencies to support the development and delivery of a bespoke marketing campaign. This initiative will position Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LJLA) as the gateway to the Northwest of England, with a strategic focus on the Paris Charles De Gaulle (CDG) route. Campaign Objective: To promote the Northwest as a compelling visitor destination to a French audience of experience seekers, leveraging LJLA as the entry point to a diverse range of regional experiences. The campaign will aim to drive visitor dispersal across partner regions through curated travel itineraries and collaboration with travel partners. Key Campaign Features: Target audience: French experience seekers Route focus: Paris CDG to LJLA Campaign period: November 2025 - March 2026 Regional dispersal: Encouraging travel across Northwest partner destinations Content strategy: Use of themed itineraries and curated experiences to support dispersal Interested media agencies will be invited to demonstrate their capability in strategic campaign planning, creative delivery, and partnership engagement. The tender will seek innovative approaches to audience targeting, storytelling, and measurable impact. Formal tender documentation will be released in due course. Agencies wishing to express interest in this upcoming opportunity are encouraged to register their details and monitor updates via the LCRCA procurement portal via https://procontract.due-north.com/SupplierRegistration/Register. Here you will be able to register and search for the EOI details.

Bikeability is the nationally recognised cycle training programme for schools funded by the Department for Transport (DfT) and Active Travel England. It aims to provide children the skills, knowledge and confidence to travel on roads safely. It adheres to a national standard and is delivered at 3 levels - from basic manoeuvres off road through to more complex drills on busier junctions/ roundabouts. Bikeability Plus is an additional element which provides added support to instil further confidence and skills. Merseytravel, on behalf of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, is preparing to procure the delivery of Bikeability cycle training across Merseyside for the year 2026/2027, with an option to extend the contract for up to 36 additional months. We are seeking early market engagement to help assist with the development of the specification for this procurement and to establish current market conditions. It is currently anticipated that we will be in a position to publish the full procurement in Spring 2026. This Market Engagement will help develop the procurement aims to ensure high-quality, inclusive, and accessible cycle training for children and young people, supporting the region's active travel strategy and commitment to sustainable transport. Contract Overview Service: Delivery of Bikeability cycle training (Levels 1-3), Bikeability Plus Balance, Bikeability Plus Learn to Ride to school children including children with SEND. Bikeability Core Modules • Level 1 / 2 Combined is aimed at Year 5 and 6 Primary School aged children. • Level 3 - Year 6, and above Active Travel England (ATE)have set a target for 80% of Y6 to have been offered Bikeability training at this Level by the time they leave primary school. • Bikeability Plus Modules • Bikeability Balance • Bikeability Learn to Ride - Year 3 and above This list is not exhaustive, targets and specific modules for delivery will be based on LCRCA's grant funding agreement from ATE and the Bikeability Trust. The Bikeability Trust" is the national charity responsible for delivery, monitoring and reporting on the Active Travel England Bikeability Grant. Initial Term: 12 months (July 2026) Extension Option: Up to 36 months (subject to performance and funding) Geographic Scope: Merseyside (Liverpool, Wirral, Sefton, Knowsley, St Helens) To get involved in the market engagement please complete the questionnaire attached to the opportunity on: https://procontract.due-north.com/Opportunities/Index?resetFilter=True&applyFilter=True&p=e0cc5631-4690-e511-80fb-000c29c9ba21&v=1 and return it via the message section on the chest opportunity by 12 noon Tuesday 14th October 2025. Please note that in order to view this Market Engagement, you will need to filter your search on The Chest to opportunities published by Merseytravel.

LCRCA is preparing for the introduction of bus franchising, starting in September 2026 with the full LCR bus network being franchised by the end of 2027, the LCRCA will directly manage network design, operational performance and operator payments. A Central AVL system (CAVL) is needed to act as the single source of truth for vehicle tracking, punctuality and network performance monitoring. The system will need to be fully tested and deployed prior to the end of May 2026 CAVL will consolidate data from multiple sources - including Electronic Ticket Machines (ETMs), on-bus static AVL units and SIRI feeds - to produce consistent and accurate real-time information for passenger systems and performance analytics for both LCRCA and operators. The CAVL system will underpin the LCRCA's franchising and customer delivery framework. It must be cloud-based, secure and capable of handling data from all franchised operators, with configurable outputs for real-time information, punctuality and contractual performance. Core functions include: • Punctuality monitoring - covering both start point (PM1) and intermediate points (PM2) as part of the bus franchising customer delivery framework. • Real-time monitoring of vehicle location (including live map), speed, headway, dwell time and journey times • Acting as the authoritative AVL data source for all franchised operators. • Managing disruptions and disruption messaging • Ingesting AVL data from both ETMs and static AVL units • Ensuring consistent GPS accuracy and refresh rates across operators. • Validating schedules using TXC files to identify early, late, on-time and missed mileage • Generating punctuality, reliability and Excess Waiting Time (EWT) KPIs. • Providing operator-specific access controls so that each operator can only view and report on its own data. • Offering open APIs and data feeds for integration with real-time passenger information systems and journey planners. • Delivering configurable dashboards and reporting tools for both operators and LCRCA. • Supporting integration with the future Contract Management and Payment Calculator System Suppliers are invited to express their interest in receiving further details about this potential future procurement by opting in via the Proactis portal. As part of this engagement, suppliers should review the pre-market engagement brief and submit the requested information. In particular, we are seeking your views on how your systems could meet LCRCA's requirements, including: • Technical feasibility of your proposed solution • Deployment approach, with consideration for meeting delivery timescales • Ongoing support and maintenance arrangements Your input will help shape the specification and ensure the procurement reflects market capability. To respond to this pre market engagement please go to: https://procontract.due-north.com/ if you are registered or register at: https://procontract.due-north.com/SupplierRegistration/Register You will then be able to search for the project name: Central AVL system (CAVL) Pre Market Engagement or the project reference number: DN794680 You will then be able to follow the directions to register your interest and submit the requested.

Over 400,000 bus journeys are made daily in the Liverpool City Region, representing over 80% of the public transport journeys taken across the Combined Authority area. Across the region, bus journeys are used to connect people to work, to schools, universities and colleges and to the shops and leisure activities. The bus network therefore forms a key part of the region's infrastructure. In 2023 the Combined Authority undertook a bus franchising business case assessment in line with the Government Bus Back Better publication, which required regions to consider whether an Enhanced Partnership or a Franchising approach would best deliver bus services for the region. Having undertaken the assessment in accordance with the relevant requirements of the Transport Act and the Franchising Guidance, LCRCA concluded that, on balance, the strategic advantages of franchising outweighed the financial risk, reaching the conclusion that bus franchising should be adopted by the Combined Authority. Following this, a major public consultation was held, which supported the franchising vision and in October 2023 the Mayor announced that bus services in the region will be franchised. To ensure a smooth transition, franchising will be introduced in phases, with the first phase commencing in September 2026, with the whole of the Liverpool City Region due to be franchised by the end of 2028. In order to support the transition to franchising, the Combined Authority has taken the decision to procure the required bus fleets itself, such that any bidder selected to operate the franchised lots will have access to use the region's fleet, thus removing a significant incumbent advantage. LCRCA are seeking to obtain a number of vehicles that will be capable of providing passenger services on certain routes in the region where space constraints place limitations on the size of the vehicles in operation. LCRCA is seeking to engage with organisations known to be manufacturers of passenger transport vehicles to understand the timescales and availability of short wheelbase diesel vehicles capable of transporting a minimum of 22 passengers. It is our current assumption that we could seek to procure the vehicles required for June 2026. However, it should be noted that this market engagement is exploratory, and LCRCA is not committed to purchasing diesel vehicles. Therefore, we have developed this document to facilitate meaningful discussion to inform both ourselves, as the procuring authority, of the solutions available and to inform manufacturers of the opportunity to support bus franchising in the Liverpool City Region. Market Engagement Process and Output As part of this market engagement process we have provided you with this document in advance to consider your responses to the questions noted below and to allow you to consider any further clarifications on the process which you would like to raise. The general theme of the responses from the market engagement will be used to inform our procurement strategy and requirements to be included in formal bidding documents to be issued by LCRCA at a later date. Market Engagement Objectives The objective of this market sounding exercise is to: Better understand the manufacturing availability from the market which can deliver LCRCA's requirements in the timescales required by LCRCA and ensure Value for Money (VFM) is achieved in respect of the procurement of new diesel buses To inform the current diesel bus procurement strategy being developed by LCRCA for the soon to be franchised bus network .

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority is looking for a provider to deliver under contract, the Supported Employment Quality Framework element of LCR's Connect to Work Connect programme. Connect to Work will be a key component of the LCR's plans to tackle unemployment and economic inactivity across the Liverpool City Region. It will also contribute to the Metro Mayor's election manifesto pledge to, 'grow the Liverpool City Region economy'. SEQF will give particular attention to helping residents who because of their situation, are more likely to face significant disadvantage when trying to gain employment. The event will be an opportunity for you to: · understand the LCRCA's intentions for Connect to Work. · be told how Connect to Work links to the LCR's plans for employment, education and skills. · better understand the role SEQF will play. · be told about the process LCRCA will be following to procure a provider for the SEQF programme. Delivery of LCR's SEQF programme will commence on 01 April 2026. The market engagement events will be held on: · Online Market Engagement 1 - LCR SEQF Procurement, Tuesday 2nd December 2025, via Teams. Please register here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lcr-combined-authority-seqf-procurement-market-engagement-tickets-1974707862374?aff=oddtdtcreator · Online Market Engagement 1 - LCR SEQF Procurement, Thursday 4th December 2025, via Teams. Please register here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lcr-combined-authority-seqf-procurement-market-engagement-tickets-1974749988374?aff=oddtdtcreator

The Combined Authority already has in place a single supplier framework for the provision, installation and maintenance of multi modal traffic sensors across the Liverpool City Region which will come to an end in June 2026 and there is therefore a need to re-tender a suitable framework to continue to expand the sensor network across the LCR. Being able to evidence the return on investment for transport funding is a key requirement and it is now recognised that the data obtained from the sensors is now part a core dataset for multiple purposes across the LCR. The LCRCA is conducting market engagement in order to better understand what is currently available on the market in relation to providing a service for the purchase, installation, maintenance (and repair/replacement of the same if required) and data licensing and hosting requirements of AI multi modal traffic counters/sensors and a data platform to access the data from the counters/sensors. This will allow the LCRCA to improve its data which will enable us to justify, monitor and evaluate improvements we make to the transport network.

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) has made significant steps with our Smart Ticketing strategy over the past 5 years and we are well on the way to delivering the Mayor's vision for the London-style integrated transport network that our region deserves. A tap-and-go model is central to this approach, transforming the way people pay for and use public transport through Smart Ticketing to deliver a fully integrated, multi-modal, multi -operator and multi- token 'Tap and Go' fare capping system - ultimately aimed at growing the use of public transport across all modes. LCRCA are ready to procure a solution which can accept and process cEMV and ITSO transactions from the LCRCA estate across all modes and can construct single and multi-modal journeys, in addition to capping fares in line with LCRCA requirements. The solution is to enable the delivery of "tap and go" payment systems for both cEMV media and ITSO card holders on bus, ferry and rail by September 2027. LCRCA are looking for a supplier to integrate with the existing LCRCA ticketing ecosystem and to work alongside the combined authority to deliver its ambitious transport plans; this strategy will upgrade and streamline the tap and go experience for customers across the region. This requirement should be of particular interest to companies with a proven track record of working collaboratively with other suppliers to successfully deliver medium to large scale public transport ABT solutions.

LCRCA IT currently uses the Certero Unified Asset Management Solution to manage IT assets including hardware, software, and licensing. This system has been in place for over 10 years and extended beyond its originally approved term. While it provides valuable insights particularly around Microsoft licensing compliance the IT environment has evolved, with cloud services and SaaS assets becoming increasingly important. To remain compliant with public sector procurement rules and to ensure best practice in IT Asset Management (ITAM), a procurement exercise is required. The current Certero contract is due to end in July 2025, but a one-year extension has been approved (via DD) to allow sufficient time to identify and procure the most suitable solution.

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) is looking to create a new active travel map (walking, wheeling and cycling), primarily concentrating on cycle routes and facilities across the city region. The supplier will work with the LCRCA and the six constituent authorities (Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral) to develop a map that is both clear and easy to use. The result of the contract will be six maps (1 for each local authority area) of active travel facilities such as segregated cycle lanes, off road cycle networks and on road quiet routes. The mapping data that is created by the successful supplier will be owned solely by the LCRCA. This is so that when new routes and facilities are built, the maps can be easily updated by the internal personnel using a standard specification. The maps will need to include key destinations, safety information, key landmarks, bike shops, repair stations, and links to public transport hubs. These will be determined with the successful supplier. Maps must have clear legibility and at an accurate scale for urban areas and consistent, intuitive symbology for different types of cycling infrastructure. Maps must meet accessibility standards, ensuring they are usable for people with visual impairments or varying levels of experience. We would like potential suppliers to provide us with a short statement (no more than 500 words) as to how they feel they could best suit our needs and their ethos as an organisation along with (if they have them) examples of Active Travel Maps they have previously made.

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority wish to invite providers to a market engagement workshop for education and training provision for adults aged 19 and over to be funded by the Liverpool City Region Adult Skills Fund (ASF) for the commissioning cycle (2027/28 - 2031/32).

1. Introduction to Mersey Tidal Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) is preparing designs, investigations, technical and environmental studies, stakeholder consultation and other project development activities in order to make an application for a Development Consent Order (DCO) for the Mersey Tidal Power Project (MTPP). As a major infrastructure and marine energy project, at c. 700 MW - 1 GW scale, there will be the need for a DCO submission supported by an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), consistent with a Schedule 1 project under EIA regulations. MTPP has submitted an EIA Scoping Report in September 2024 and received a Scoping Opinion in October 2024. The team is currently preparing for the next phase of the project development to DCO Submission. For more information, visit Mersey Tidal Power | Liverpool City Region Combined Authority 2. Mersey Tidal FEED Procurement Briefing and Development Update MTPP is currently investigating market interest for forthcoming Front End Engineering Design (FEED) Procurement as well as a development update, including other planned procurements; such as DCO/EIA support, Legal Services, Land Agency and Survey work. We are engaging with the market to provide an update on the FEED Procurement and wider project development. We are wanting to determine the markets interest for this work and future procurements. Please note this is an Expression of Interest only and does not commit the LCRCA / Merseytravel to any contract or tender release. 3. Agenda for the event TITLE: Tidal Supply Chain Event - Upcoming Procurement DATE: 4/12/2024 TIME: 09:00 - 12:00 VENUE: The Chamber Mann Island 1. Welcome 09:00 - 09:15 2. Project Update 09:15 - 09:45 3. Break 09:45 - 10:00 4. Upcoming Procurements 10:00 - 10:30 5. FEED Update 10:30 - 11:30 6. Q&A 11:30 - 12:00 7. Close 12:00 4. Instructions to Respond Suppliers that are interested in participating in market briefing to be held in Mann Island on the 4th of December are requested to email Mersey Tidal on merseytidal@liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk no later than 17:00 on Tuesday 3rd of December 2024. Please state if the attendance will be in person or via Teams. For further information, please see below link.

Moving Buses Forward - Bus Franchising in the Liverpool City Region Update: Date and time amended. The LCRCA held a Transport Operator Engagement Day on 30 April 2024. Since then, the LCRCA has undertaken significant work on its plans for bus franchising, including developing the commercial proposition in more detail, factoring in the market engagement feedback. The LCRCA would therefore like to undertake a further round of market engagement with parties interested in bidding to operate franchises in the Liverpool City Region to present its approach and obtain feedback from the market to allow its proposals to be refined, as necessary, ahead of the formal launch of the procurement process. The LCRCA will be holding a Franchise Operator Procurement Engagement Day on Wednesday 27 November 2024, Please arrive from 12.30pm for a coffee/lunch and then a 1.00pm start. We aim to finish by 3.30pm. Venue: Museum of Liverpool in the Global City Theatre room, Pier Head, Liverpool Waterfront, Liverpool L3 1DG. LCRCA will present in more detail (including opportunity for Q&A) its current proposals for: • the commercial proposition for franchising as it relates to operators • the lotting strategy • the procurement approach and proposed detailed timeline Following the Franchise Operator Procurement Engagement Day, the LCRCA will issue a questionnaire to capture feedback from the market. If you are interested in attending the day, please confirm by Thursday 14 November 2024 through our E-tendering portal, The Chest. Operators are requested to provide the names and job titles of those attending (with a maximum of two attendees per operator) and any dietary requirements. A more detailed schedule for the day will be released closer to the time to those operators who express an interest in attending. This notice does not constitute a call for competition. Transport operators will not be prejudiced by any response or failure to respond to this notice and a response to this notice does not guarantee any invitation to participate in this event or any future procurement. Transport operators shall be responsible for their own costs incurred in connection with this market engagement exercise. The Franchise Operator Procurement Engagement Day is not intended for consultancies, equipment suppliers or providers of supporting services. Additional information: Please note that the date and time has now been amended: Liverpool City Region Combined Authority BUS Franchising market engagement session scheduled for Tuesday 26th November will now take place on Wednesday 27th November due to the original date clashing with the UK Bus Awards event. Please arrive from 12.30pm for a coffee/lunch and then a 1.00pm start.

On 10 February 2025 Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) issued a Qualification system - utilities notice on Find a Tender to establish a Passport System by which potential suppliers can apply for inclusion on the Qualification System and pre-qualify so that they can bid for Liverpool City Region Category 1 franchises. This notice is to inform potential bidders that the Expression of Interest (EOI) Stage for Tranche 2 Category 1 will be issued to Passport holders on 10 November 2025. Tranche 2 Category 1 franchises covers services in Liverpool, Sefton and Knowsley. If you have applied and been accepted onto the Passport system you do not need to take any action. Automatic notifications will be sent to all operators who have been appointed a place on the Bus Franchising in the Liverpool City Region - Category 1 Passport System when the EOI is published. The messages will go to the email address on the account you used to apply to the Passport system. For those who have not yet applied and are interested in making an application please make an application via the e-tendering portal the Chest. You can get to the relevant opportunity by copying and pasting the below into your web browser: https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=77fc27e6-b3e7-ef11-8134-005056b64545&p=e0cc5631-4690-e511-80fb-000c29c9ba21 The time and date by which Potential Suppliers must submit their Category 1 Passport Application to be guaranteed that their application will have been processed in time to be a Passport Holder entitled to compete in the LCRCA Tranche 2 Category 1 Bus Franchise competition is 11am on 31 October 2025. This is the final application date before the EOI for Tranche 2 Category 1 is launched. For further information on the Passport System and Franchises please refer to the notice for the F07: Qualification system "Bus Franchising in the Liverpool City Region - Category 1 Passport System" located on Find a Tender. You can get to the relevant notice by copying and pasting the below into your web browser: https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/004340-2025?_gl=1*en0m33*_ga*NTY1NTkxNDAzLjE3NDQ2Mjg5MzM.*_ga_SK4BZ95L7T*czE3NjA2MTM0MDgkbzI2JGcxJHQxNzYwNjEzNDIxJGo0NyRsMCRoMA..

Moving Buses Forward - Bus Franchising in the Liverpool City Region The LCRCA held a Transport Operator Engagement Day on 30 April 2024. Since then, the LCRCA has undertaken significant work on its plans for bus franchising, including developing the commercial proposition in more detail, factoring in the market engagement feedback. The LCRCA would therefore like to undertake a further round of market engagement with parties interested in bidding to operate franchises in the Liverpool City Region to present its approach and obtain feedback from the market to allow its proposals to be refined, as necessary, ahead of the formal launch of the procurement process. The LCRCA will be holding a Franchise Operator Procurement Engagement Day on Wednesday 27th November 2024, Please arrive from 12.30pm for a coffee/lunch and then a 1.00pm start. Museum of Liverpool in the Global City Theatre room, Pier Head, Liverpool Waterfront, Liverpool L3 1DG. LCRCA will present in more detail (including opportunity for Q&A) its current proposals for: • the commercial proposition for franchising as it relates to operators • the lotting strategy • the procurement approach and proposed detailed timeline Following the Franchise Operator Procurement Engagement Day, the LCRCA will issue a questionnaire to capture feedback from the market. If you are interested in attending the day, please confirm by Wednesday 20th November 2024 through our E-tendering portal, The Chest. Operators are requested to provide the names and job titles of those attending (with a maximum of two attendees per operator). A more detailed schedule for the day will be released closer to the time to those operators who express an interest in attending. This notice does not constitute a call for competition. Transport operators will not be prejudiced by any response or failure to respond to this notice and a response to this notice does not guarantee any invitation to participate in this event or any future procurement. Transport operators shall be responsible for their own costs incurred in connection with this market engagement exercise. The Franchise Operator Procurement Engagement Day is not intended for consultancies, equipment suppliers or providers of supporting services. Additional information: Please note that the date and time has now been amended: Liverpool City Region Combined Authority BUS Franchising market engagement session scheduled for Tuesday 26th November will now take place on Wednesday 27th November due to the original date clashing with the UK Bus Awards event. Please arrive from 12.30pm for a coffee/lunch and then a 1.00pm start.