The West Midlands Franchising Scheme for Buses Dynamic Market

This notice relates to a Qualifying Utilities Dynamic Market (QUDM) being established by the West Midlands Combined Authority (the WMCA) for its use and the use of any successor authorities. The Invitation to Apply for Membership (the IAM) for the Dynamic Market is available at the link at the bottom of this notice. The Dynamic Market is being established as part of the WMCA’s bus franchising programme, under which the West Midlands bus network will transition from a deregulated system into public control. The franchising scheme has been made by the WMCA under the Transport Act 2000 (as amended). Under the franchising model, the WMCA’s transport executive, Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), will specify routes, service standards and operational requirements, and procure franchised bus services contracts and associated services competitively under the Dynamic Market. The contracts to be procured under the Dynamic Market are public service bus contracts (classed as utilities services contracts). The general scope of services covers: (1) the provision of franchised bus services in accordance with timetables and operational specifications; (2) the provision of drivers and operational staff; (3) vehicle and depot maintenance and cleaning; (4) integration with WMCA / TfWM network management, traffic control and customer-facing systems; (5) integration with WMCA IT, data, performance, ticketing and revenue systems; and (6) performance management under the relevant contract. Contracts will be performed wholly or substantially within the WMCA franchising regions, with individual contracts aggregated across all three anticipated tranches for the initial term(s) worth up to £1,560,000,000 over the anticipated contract(s) duration. The contracts will involve the use of WMCA-provided depots and WMCA-provided fleet (including zero emission vehicles). The specific arrangements for each procurement are further described in the IAM and will be set out in the procurement documen