Contract award notice – utilities
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
1 Mann Island
Liverpool
L31BP
UK
Contact person: Procurement Team
E-mail: tender@liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk
NUTS: UKD72
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk/
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.the-chest.org.uk/
I.6) Main activity
Other: Public Transport
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Bus Franchising in the Liverpool City Region Tranche 1 Category 1 - St Helens
Reference number: DN772032
II.1.2) Main CPV code
60112000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short 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.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
207 144 966.00
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
60000000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKD7
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
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.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion: Quality
/ Weighting: 60
Price
/ Weighting:
40
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
Yes
Description of 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
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Negotiated with call for competition
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number in the OJ S:
2025/S 000-004340
Section V: Award of contract
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
21/01/2026
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 10
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Ribble Motor Services Limited
03990677
One Stockport Exchange, 20 Railway Road
Stockport
SK1 3SW
UK
NUTS: UKD7
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot:
: 207 144 966.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Royal Courts of Justice
London
WC2A 2LL
UK
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
17/02/2026