Bus Reform Technology Partner

In order to deliver Bus Reform, WYCA needs to undertake a variety of technology changes across many business areas to enable the transition from the current enhanced partnership into the proposed franchising scheme. These changes, collectively form several complex technology projects which carry many risks. Unless managed correctly, these have the potential to threaten overall Bus Reform delivery within the required timescales.

The Combined Authority has mobilised a dedicated transition team to oversee and manage the transition from the current deregulated environment to the franchised network. The core team supports the delivery of identified work, which is spread across five different workstreams. These workstreams draw on resource from across the organisation in various capacities to manage and control the delivery of work.

The five workstreams are:

• Assets
• Data
• Network Planning and Management
• Customer
• Contracting

This contract will form part of the Data Workstream. Further information on the governance, structure and project management delivery method of the Bus Franchising Programme can be found in Appendix 1A - Bus Reform Technology Partner - Additional Information, Appendix 1B - WYCA Team Structures and Appendix 1C - Risk Management Strategy.

The Combined Authority employs a Digital & Technology Service (DTS) of around 40 staff who oversee the full range of software, hardware, support and change management responsibilities. The preference is to use DTS to resource the Bus Reform technology programme where possible, but to mitigate the risks of an absence of skills, knowledge or capacity, a Bus Reform Technology Partner (BRTP) should be appointed and be in contract from early 2025.

DTS works closely with several internal service areas, these include the Research & Intelligence function which provides expertise in the management and exploitation of data and a dedicated information and a Bus Reform Programme team.