Procurement of New Diesel Passenger Vehicles

In April 2023, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) published an Assessment on Bus Franchising in the Liverpool City Region, which set out a proposed bus Franchising Scheme in accordance with the Transport Act 2000. In October 2023, the Liverpool City Region Mayor made the decision to introduce a Franchising Scheme covering the Liverpool City Region. Franchising is a legal model where buses are under the control of a public sector authority (LCRCA) who set the routes, frequency, fares and overall standard of buses in the region. The existing commercially led market will be replaced and private bus operators will no longer be able to run most services independently. Instead, bus services will be operated under franchise contracts and bus operators will bid to run the services through a competitive procurement process managed by the Combined Authority. LCRCA intend to introduce the first Tranche of franchised bus services from 6 September 2026, covering St Helens and the Wirral (The Wirral to be shortly after St Helens i.e. not going live simultaneously), before introducing more franchised bus services through further Tranches across all of LCRCA by the end of 2027. For Category 1 franchise contracts, LCRCA will provide the successful Operator with a fleet of vehicles which the Operator will then operate, manage and maintain throughout the franchise term. In preparation for the commencement of the Tranche 1 bus franchising programme in September 2026, LCRCA have procured a fleet of double-decker, single-decker and midi-sized diesel buses. To support these vehicles and allow for the operation of services on routes with specific space restrictions, LCRCA wish to procure a number of short length vehicles, required to be delivered in the period June - July 2026 ahead of the commencement date of franchised services.