Public procurement notice: Contract Award Notice
Published: 2017-02-03
Buyer: Transport for Greater Manchester
Country: UK
Region: Greater Manchester
Contract type: Services
Procedure: Negotiated procedure
CPV classification: 32412000 | 45232332 | 50000000 | 50220000 | 50324200
Estimated value: 647471000 GBP
Award criteria: The most economic tender

Technical requirements: Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) have appointed an operator-maintainer for its Greater Manchester light rail system, Metrolink. TfGM considers the Metrolink system to be a tram and has procured the operator-maintainer on this basis.
The contract will run from July 2017 for a term of 7 years with a potential extension of up to a further 3 years. In addition, there will be a contract option for TfGM to extend the term for an additional 1 year at the end of either the 7th of 10th year of the contract to accommodate any delay in the procurement process for a subsequent operator-maintainer.
The successful contractor will be responsible for both the operation and maintenance of the Metrolink System and may also carry out some or all of the renewals on behalf of TfGM. Renewals may also be carried out by separate capital works contractors.
The Metrolink system is the largest tram network in the UK and is of strategic importance to the economy of Greater Manchester as it provides fast and frequent links across the Greater Manchester region supporting employment, leisure and tourism. In addition to the existing assets, during the proposed contract term the system may be extended to include at least one additional line and associated infrastructure which may include but not be limited to trams, track, overhead line, stops and substations. Any additions of the Metrolink network whether envisaged now or later during the life of the Contract can be added to the contract at TfGM's option.
The operator-maintainer is required to provide certain services under the Contract which include maintenance services and passenger services (together the Services) in addition to other services. The passenger services include operating a tram in passenger service on any section of the Metrolink system which is available for use by fare paying and concessionaire members of the public, consisting of either 1 single tram (with or without a centre section where applicable) or 2 coupled trams. The maintenance services include without limit:
The operator-maintainer is further required under the Contract to deliver the Services on the entirety of the proposed extension of the Metrolink system from Pomona to the Trafford Centre (the Trafford Park Line), when requested by TfGM.
Further passenger services may be required by TfGM to cover an extension to the Metrolink system which is designed and constructed/supplied by a third party under a contract with TfGM (which may also provide for the supply of additional vehicles to be used by the operator-maintainer in the operation of the passenger services).
In these circumstances, TfGM is able to propose and require the implementation of a change to the current provision of services through a prescribed change procedure.
Additionally, the operator-maintainer is required to deliver the maintenance services on any future extension to the Metrolink system if requested to do so by TfGM and in accordance with the prescribed change procedure.
In addition the operator-maintainer will assist with the testing and commissioning of new infrastructure and trams.
Where data was provided in the contract notice and the Memorandum of Information in the PQQ, it was intended to help bidders understand the contract opportunity. The Contract is, however, a long term contract and the Contract will cover the operation and maintenance of Metrolink and its related assets as it develops over the life of the Contract e.g. number of trams, passengers, lines, stops etc. are all likely to change over the life of the Contract.
The initial estimated total value of the contract at V.1.4 is the maximum initial estimated total value of the Contract. The total final value of the contract at VI.1.4 is the predicted value of the contract if it runs for the maximum possible term of 11 years. Given the long term nature of the Contract as explained above it is possible that the overall total value of the Contract may exceed this figure.
TfGM incorporated a minimum of ten (10) calendar days standstill period in accordance with Regulation 33A of the Utilities Contracts Regulations 2006 prior to concluding the award of the contract.


Number of bids: 4