Awarded

Schools Bus Franchises Tranche 3

Descriptions

In accordance with the provisions of the Transport Act 2000 (as amended by the BusServices 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 busfranchising scheme for the entire Greater Manchester Combined Authority ('GMCA') area.As the executive body with responsibility for various transport functions on behalf of theGMCA, TfGM is responsible for various functions associated with the implementation andoperation of the franchising scheme, including but not limited to undertaking and managingthe procurement process for the school service franchises. The GMCA will be thecontracting entity and the bus franchising scheme will be overseen and managed byTransport for Greater Manchester ('TfGM'), including the procurement of Schools BusFranchises services, on behalf of the GMCA. The procurement of Schools Bus Franchisespackages will take place in three tranches which will align with the three franchises in whichLarge and Small franchises are being procured. These franchises will not all be introducedsimultaneously, due to various transitional and implementation issues that will need to beaddressed. The School Bus Franchises will be tendered in three Franchise Tranchesdetermined by geographical area, as follows:(i) The first Schools Franchise Tranche (broadly covering Bolton, Salford and Wigan),contained 23 schools only franchises;(ii) The second Schools Franchise Tranche (broadly covering Bury, Rochdale, NorthManchester and Oldham) contained 9 schools only franchises; andPage 4 to 22(iii) The third Schools Franchise Tranche (broadly covering Tameside, Stockport, SouthManchester and Trafford) contains 9 schools only franchises.TfGM and GMCA require school services to commence on the Franchise SchemeCommencement Date (as defined in the Schools Bus Franchise Agreement) which is beforethe point at which the services under this contract can be operated pursuant to a localservices contract pursuant to s.123K(4) of the Transport Act 2000. Due to this, thesuccessful Tenderer for each Lot will contract with TfGM under TfGM’s delegated powersunder section 9A of the Transport Act 1968 (and the Manchester City Council Report forResolution following the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (Functions andAmendments) Order 2019 No. 793) and sections 89-92 of the Transport Act 1985 as asecured service contract for the period from the date that the Schools Bus FranchiseAgreement is entered into following contract award until the end of the period which is 9months after the contract is entered into. GMCA intends to issue service permits for suchschool services to the extent required to operate such school services within the area of theFranchising Scheme prior to the Franchise Scheme Commencement Date.