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planningFind a Tender · planning

P-3265 Bus Real Time & Supporting Services

Buyer: Translink →

BuyerTranslink
Statusplanning
DeadlineNot published
Value£5,000,000
Published18 Sept 2025

What is being bought

Translink seek to engage with suppliers that can provide a suitable solution for a comprehensive Real-Time Bus tracking, prediction generation, operational and historical monitoring, display content and management solution across its Metro and Ulsterbus Fleet (c. 1660 buses). The solution will be used by Bus Service Operators to effectively monitor and manage Bus fleet related operations in real time as well as Passenger Information and Communication throughout Northern Ireland. Translink require the system to be capable of interfacing with on-street and on-board non-proprietary hardware through RTIG-T047 protocol, ensuring the provision of RTPI on existing Metro, Glider, and Ulsterbus services continues without interruption. Additionally, suppliers will be required to provide all necessary maintenance services. Before embarking on a tender process, we wish to engage with the marketplace to gather information which will be used to inform the sourcing strategy for this contract and thus, the procurement process. We are therefore seeking to engage with experienced Real Time Passenger Information and associated providers, which are capable of fulfilling the requirements listed above. It is anticipated that this contract will commence Q2 2027. Our requirements include, but are not limited to the following: · An open data approach to enable integration to ensure interoperability with other client systems to enhance data flow and automate manual processes. · Integrate with future systems and journey planners. · Provide comprehensive maintenance services for on-street and on-board hardware. · Ensure minimal quantity and frequency of faults and maintain the serviceability of the system. · Fleet Management & Live Vehicle Tracking. · Provide a predictive analysis solution that can support decision-making for control room staff · Driver Interface & Public Address system for Glider. · Performance and Management Reporting. · Provide drivers with intelligence on service performance and communication options. · Provide accurate and timely information about bus arrivals and departures at stops. · Provide on street display content management services. · Facilitate automated audio-visual next stop announcements on vehicles, configurable to multiple languages and tailored branded graphics. · Improve disruption management including passenger messaging. · Support future methods for providing information to passengers. · Implement a solution compatible with RTIG national standards for Traffic Signal Priority.

Delivery location

UKN, GB

Categories

Buses and coaches 34121000Industry specific software package 48100000

Lot details

Lot 1

No lot description published.

Statusplanning
Contract periodFrom 1 Apr 2027 to 1 Apr 2032

What is included

ItemCategoryQuantity
1Buses and coaches, Industry specific software packageNot published

Comparable-procurement analytics

Benchmarked against retained Find a Tender procedures with CPV division 34. The category anchor is Buses and coaches (34121000); this is a deliberately broad market comparator. The comparison is shown at several levels rather than pretending one company or region is always the best benchmark.

Comparison setProceduresReported bids per procedureNamed award suppliersPrice evidence
Market: CPV division 341,7473 median · 16.1 average (484 of 1,747 with a bid count)3.3 average (535 of 1,747 with named award suppliers)Not published
Same buyer10Not publishedNot publishedNot published
Delivery region: UKN245 median · 12.6 average (10 of 24 with a bid count)3 average (12 of 24 with named award suppliers)Not published
Similar published value (0.5×–2×)15031.5 median · 31.5 average (2 of 150 with a bid count)7 average (2 of 150 with named award suppliers)Not published

“Reported bids” is an official aggregate, sometimes reported per lot; it is the closest available competition measure. “Named award suppliers” are winners, not all applicants.

Price-outcome signal

Not enough comparable procedures currently publish both a GBP tender value and a usable lowest-valid-bid value to calculate a responsible price-reduction benchmark. Tenderline deliberately does not infer a saving from named award suppliers or from missing award values.

Procurement strategy & market signals

Framework agreementYes
Dynamic purchasing systemNot published
Competitive procurementNot published
Recurring requirementNot published
Procurement method rationaleNot published
Rationale classificationsNot published
Special regimeutilities
Covered byNot published
Submission policyNot published
Selection criteriaNot published
Risk detailsNot published

Planning & early market engagement

BudgetValue not published
No-engagement rationaleNot published
Planning documents1
Planning milestones1
MilestoneTypeDueStatus
Translink will issue a Pre Market Engagement questionnaire and invite suitable companies to present during October 2025. Requests to participate AND for copies of the Pre Market Engagement questionnaire please email Tori.Croft@Translink.co.ukengagement31 Oct 2025scheduled

Related procurements

No linked framework, prior procurement or reprocurement published.

Documents & submission route

Source data inventory

Diagnostic view. “Not published” means this current release does not provide a value.

OCIDocds-h6vhtk-059d6a
Latest release ID057813-2025
Latest release timestampThu Sep 18 2025 14:37:07 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Sourcefind-a-tender
Official notice URLNot published
Tender statusplanning
Procurement methodNot published
Procurement method detailsNot published
Main procurement categorygoods
Above thresholdYes
Legal basis2023/54
Tender period: startNot published
Tender period: endNot published
Expression of interest deadlineNot published
Enquiry deadlineNot published
Award period: startNot published
Award period: endNot published
Submission method detailsNot published
Submission languagesNot published
Electronic catalogue policyNot published
Total tender value£5,000,000
Tender lots in source1
Tender items in source1
Tender documents in source0
Awards in latest release0
Contracts in latest release0
Parties in latest release1

Notice history

DateEventReference
18 Sept 2025planning057813-2025

All source data

Unmodified official OCDS data retained by Tenderline for this procurement process.

Complete current OCDS release JSON
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    "description": "Translink seek to engage with suppliers that can provide a suitable solution for a comprehensive Real-Time Bus tracking, prediction generation, operational and historical monitoring, display content and management solution across its Metro and Ulsterbus Fleet (c. 1660 buses). The solution will be used by Bus Service Operators to effectively monitor and manage Bus fleet related operations in real time as well as Passenger Information and Communication throughout Northern Ireland.\nTranslink require the system to be capable of interfacing with on-street and on-board non-proprietary hardware through RTIG-T047 protocol, ensuring the provision of RTPI on existing Metro, Glider, and Ulsterbus services continues without interruption. Additionally, suppliers will be required to provide all necessary maintenance services.\nBefore embarking on a tender process, we wish to engage with the marketplace to gather information which will be used to inform the sourcing strategy for this contract and thus, the procurement process.  We are therefore seeking to engage with experienced Real Time Passenger Information and associated providers, which are capable of fulfilling the requirements listed above.\nIt is anticipated that this contract will commence Q2 2027.\nOur requirements include, but are not limited to the following:\n·         An open data approach to enable integration to ensure interoperability with other client systems to enhance data flow and automate manual processes. \n·         Integrate with future systems and journey planners.\n·         Provide comprehensive maintenance services for on-street and on-board hardware.\n·         Ensure minimal quantity and frequency of faults and maintain the serviceability of the system.\n·         Fleet Management & Live Vehicle Tracking.\n·         Provide a predictive analysis solution that can support decision-making for control room staff\n·         Driver Interface & Public Address system for Glider.\n·         Performance and Management Reporting.\n·         Provide drivers with intelligence on service performance and communication options. \n·         Provide accurate and timely information about bus arrivals and departures at stops.\n·         Provide on street display content management services.\n·         Facilitate automated audio-visual next stop announcements on vehicles, configurable to multiple languages and tailored branded graphics.\n·         Improve disruption management including passenger messaging.\n·         Support future methods for providing information to passengers.\n·         Implement a solution compatible with RTIG national standards for Traffic Signal Priority.",
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      "contactPoint": {
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  "language": "en",
  "planning": {
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        "id": "057813-2025",
        "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/057813-2025",
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        "noticeType": "UK2",
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    "milestones": [
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        "dueDate": "2025-10-31T23:59:59Z",
        "description": "Translink will issue a Pre Market Engagement questionnaire and invite suitable companies to present during October 2025. \nRequests to participate AND for copies of the Pre Market Engagement questionnaire please email Tori.Croft@Translink.co.uk"
      }
    ]
  },
  "initiationType": "tender"
}
Complete JSON history (1 releases)
18 Sept 2025 · 057813-2025 · planning
{
  "id": "057813-2025",
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  "date": "2025-09-18T15:37:07+01:00",
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        "additionalClassifications": [
          {
            "id": "34121000",
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "description": "Buses and coaches"
          },
          {
            "id": "48100000",
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "description": "Industry specific software package"
          }
        ]
      }
    ],
    "title": "P-3265 Bus Real Time & Supporting Services",
    "value": {
      "amount": 5000000,
      "currency": "GBP",
      "amountGross": 6000000
    },
    "status": "planning",
    "legalBasis": {
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    "techniques": {
      "hasFrameworkAgreement": true
    },
    "description": "Translink seek to engage with suppliers that can provide a suitable solution for a comprehensive Real-Time Bus tracking, prediction generation, operational and historical monitoring, display content and management solution across its Metro and Ulsterbus Fleet (c. 1660 buses). The solution will be used by Bus Service Operators to effectively monitor and manage Bus fleet related operations in real time as well as Passenger Information and Communication throughout Northern Ireland.\nTranslink require the system to be capable of interfacing with on-street and on-board non-proprietary hardware through RTIG-T047 protocol, ensuring the provision of RTPI on existing Metro, Glider, and Ulsterbus services continues without interruption. Additionally, suppliers will be required to provide all necessary maintenance services.\nBefore embarking on a tender process, we wish to engage with the marketplace to gather information which will be used to inform the sourcing strategy for this contract and thus, the procurement process.  We are therefore seeking to engage with experienced Real Time Passenger Information and associated providers, which are capable of fulfilling the requirements listed above.\nIt is anticipated that this contract will commence Q2 2027.\nOur requirements include, but are not limited to the following:\n·         An open data approach to enable integration to ensure interoperability with other client systems to enhance data flow and automate manual processes. \n·         Integrate with future systems and journey planners.\n·         Provide comprehensive maintenance services for on-street and on-board hardware.\n·         Ensure minimal quantity and frequency of faults and maintain the serviceability of the system.\n·         Fleet Management & Live Vehicle Tracking.\n·         Provide a predictive analysis solution that can support decision-making for control room staff\n·         Driver Interface & Public Address system for Glider.\n·         Performance and Management Reporting.\n·         Provide drivers with intelligence on service performance and communication options. \n·         Provide accurate and timely information about bus arrivals and departures at stops.\n·         Provide on street display content management services.\n·         Facilitate automated audio-visual next stop announcements on vehicles, configurable to multiple languages and tailored branded graphics.\n·         Improve disruption management including passenger messaging.\n·         Support future methods for providing information to passengers.\n·         Implement a solution compatible with RTIG national standards for Traffic Signal Priority.",
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        "dueDate": "2025-10-31T23:59:59Z",
        "description": "Translink will issue a Pre Market Engagement questionnaire and invite suitable companies to present during October 2025. \nRequests to participate AND for copies of the Pre Market Engagement questionnaire please email Tori.Croft@Translink.co.uk"
      }
    ]
  },
  "initiationType": "tender"
}