Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) became the first authority to exercise the powers of the Bus Services Act 2017 and proceeded to introduce bus franchising to implement a ‘London-style’ integrated transport network. The network was divided into 10 large contracts (regions) and 25 small contracts (schools) and franchised across three tranche stages. The three tranches would be tendered individually, with each tranche including 4-8 sub-regions within each geographical tranche operating area. Each tranche would include a depot and some of the required fleet, including some new electric fleet, with the incoming operator required to supply the additional compliant fleet.

Direx Solutions supported Moventia by developing an initial UK Market Assessment Report and Market Entry Strategy. Following approval, we then led the process to obtain ‘the Passport’, the essential pre-qualification pre-requisite.

The bid team comprised functional and technical experts to:

• assess each tranche and region and identify the best strategic fit;
• review the tender documents;
• complete current site assessments;
• engage with the tendering authority and their consultant;
• engage with the bus supply market to obtain vehicle prices; and
• develop bid response plans and the mobilisation and transition plan.

The team developed the overall compliant technical response bid plans and supported Moventia through the negotiation stages.