Schools Bus Franchises Tranche 2

In accordance with the provisions of the Transport Act 2000 (as amended by the Bus

Services Act 2017) and having followed the legislative procedure set out within the same,

the Mayor of Greater Manchester decided on 25th March 2021 to introduce a bus

franchising scheme for the entire Greater Manchester Combined Authority ('GMCA') area.

As the executive body with responsibility for various transport functions on behalf of the

GMCA, TfGM is responsible for various functions associated with the implementation and

operation of the franchising scheme, including but not limited to undertaking and managing

the procurement process for the school service franchises. The GMCA will be the

contracting entity and the bus franchising scheme will be overseen and managed by

Transport for Greater Manchester ('TfGM'), including the procurement of Schools Bus

Franchises services, on behalf of the GMCA. The procurement of Schools Bus Franchises

packages will take place in three tranches which will align with the three franchises in which

Large and Small franchises are being procured. These franchises will not all be introduced

simultaneously, due to various transitional and implementation issues that will need to be

addressed. The School Bus Franchises will be tendered in three Franchise Tranches

determined by geographical area, as follows:

(i) The first Schools Franchise Tranche (broadly covering Bolton, Salford and Wigan), is

expected to contain 23 schools only franchises;

(ii) The second Schools Franchise Tranche (broadly covering Bury, Rochdale, North

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Manchester and Oldham) is expected to contain 9 schools only franchises; and

(iii) The third Schools Franchise Tranche (broadly covering Tameside, Stockport, South

Manchester and Trafford) is expected to contain around 25 schools only franchises.

TfGM and GMCA require school services to commence on the Franchise Scheme

Commencement Date (as defined in the Schools Bus Franchise Agreement) which is before

the point at which the services under this contract can be operated pursuant to a local

services contract pursuant to s.123K(4) of the Transport Act 2000. Due to this, the

successful Tenderer for each Lot will contract with TfGM under TfGM’s delegated powers

under section 9A of the Transport Act 1968 (and the Manchester City Council Report for

Resolution following the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (Functions and

Amendments) Order 2019 No. 793) and sections 89-92 of the Transport Act 1985 as a

secured service contract for the period from the date that the Schools Bus Franchise

Agreement is entered into following contract award until the end of the period which is 9

months after the contract is entered into. GMCA intends to issue service permits for such

school services to the extent required to operate such school services within the area of the

Franchising Scheme prior to the Franchise Scheme Commencement Date.

Schools Bus Franchises Key Principles

The key elements of the commercial approach to franchising in Greater Manchester are

summarised below. Further detail can be found in the ITT document, which can be found on

the Pro-Contract ETendering portal: procontract.due ↗ north.com

Depots: Operators will be required to provide their own depot facilities.

Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS): TfGM will procure contracts for the supply and

maintenance of some aspects of the required ITS solution (such as vehicle location, ticketing

and driver communications systems) to ensure a standardised approach.

The scope of this procurement is to procure contracts under each of the 9 lots (each of

which relates to a franchise school package in Tranche 2) based on the schools served,

ranging in size from 1 to 7 Peak Vehicle Requirement (PVR).