Qualifying Utilities Dynamic Market (QUDM) for Franchised Bus Services

Tender description

The Qualifying Utilities Dynamic Market (QUDM) will enable the procurement of franchised bus services in support of the Bus Services (Wales) Act 2026. Under the franchising model, the Franchising Authority will determine the services to be provided, service standards and other operational requirements. Contracts for the delivery of franchised bus services will be awarded through competitive procurement processes conducted under the QUDM. The Welsh Ministers are the Franchising Authority for franchised bus services in Wales and contracts awarded under the QUDM will be entered into by the Welsh Ministers in this capacity. Transport for Wales will be responsible for administering and operating the QUDM and will manage procurement procedures and contract administration on behalf of both parties. The QUDM is intended to establish and maintain a pool of qualified suppliers eligible to participate in future procurements for franchised bus services. The QUDM provides a mechanism through which future procurements may be conducted during its lifetime. The contracts to be procured under the QUDM may include the operation of local bus services and associated activities, including service delivery in accordance with contract requirements, operational management, provision of drivers and operational staff, vehicle provision and operation, depot and maintenance arrangements, mobilisation activities, integration with wider network requirements and performance management obligations. The specific scope and requirements of each contract will be set out in the relevant procurement documents. The QUDM has been designed to facilitate participation by a broad range of operators and suppliers, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), voluntary, community and social enterprises, consortia arrangements and other suitably qualified organisations. The QUDM will be divided into Parts. Each Part will relate to a defined region and associated bus service requirements. Further detail on each Part is provided in this notice and in the Application Documentation. Applicants may apply for membership of one or more Parts of the QUDM. Membership applications will be assessed in accordance with the requirements applicable to the relevant Part(s). A supplier may be admitted to one Part, multiple Parts or all Parts, subject to satisfying the applicable requirements. The franchising programme is intended to adopt a phased regional approach, commencing in South West Wales, followed by North Wales, South East Wales and concluding with Mid Wales. The initial region of South West Wales covers services operating within Neath Port Talbot, Swansea, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire, together with certain cross-boundary services extending into neighbouring local authority areas. It is intended that additional regions will be introduced to the QUDM over its lifetime in accordance with the phased regional implementation of bus franchising across Wales. The anticipated duration of the QUDM is eleven (11) years. The Authority reserves the right to extend, vary or terminate the QUDM at any time in accordance with applicable legislation and the terms governing the QUDM. The QUDM will remain open to applications throughout its duration in accordance with applicable procurement legislation. Applications may be submitted for one or more Parts at any time. Applicants must submit their Applications via the Atamis portal using the link and instructions provided within this notice and the Application Documentation. No alternative method of application will be accepted. Individual procurements undertaken under the QUDM are expected to be conducted using the Competitive Flexible Procedure in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023. Participation in such procurements will be limited to Members admitted to the relevant Part of the QUDM. The Invitation to Tender (ITT) documentation issued for each competition will set out the contract-specific requirements, award criteria and evaluation methodology. As this is a Qualifying Utilities Dynamic Market, the Authority does not intend to publish tender notices for individual procurements under the QUDM via the central digital platform. Tender notices and associated ITT documentation for individual procurements will be issued only to Members admitted to the relevant Part of the QUDM at the time the tender notice is issued. The dates set out below represent the latest submission dates by which suppliers should submit an application if they wish to maximise the likelihood of their application being assessed before the first procurement under the relevant Part is commenced. Part SWA: no later than 10:00 hrs on 1st March 2027 Part SWB: no later than 10:00 hrs on 1st April 2027 Part SWC: no later than 10:00 hrs on 1st April 2027 Part SWD: no later than 10:00 hrs on 1st September 2027 Suppliers should not regard these dates as target submission dates and are strongly encouraged to submit applications as early as possible. Applications received well in advance of the dates set out above will provide the Authority with sufficient opportunity to assess the application and, where appropriate, admit the supplier to the relevant Part of the QUDM before the first procurement is launched. Submission of an application by the date(s) above does not guarantee admission to the QUDM or participation in the first procurement. Suppliers will only receive the relevant tender notice and ITT where they have been successfully admitted as a member of the relevant Part before the tender notice is issued. Suppliers whose applications are unsuccessful, incomplete, under clarification or otherwise pending at that time will not receive the relevant ITT. Failure to meet the above deadlines will not prevent a supplier from applying for admission to the QUDM at a later date or from participating in future procurements conducted under the QUDM, provided that the supplier has been admitted to the relevant Part before the relevant tender notice is issued. Suppliers are responsible for ensuring that they have successfully obtained membership of the relevant Part of the QUDM and for monitoring communications and procurement opportunities relating to the QUDM throughout its duration. No commitment is made to conduct any particular procurement, to procure any minimum volume or value of services, or to award any contract through the establishment or operation of this QUDM. Further information regarding anticipated procurement opportunities, indicative timetables and market engagement activities may be provided to Applicants and Members during the lifetime of the QUDM. Any such information is provided for information purposes only, is indicative in nature and does not constitute a commitment by the Authority to undertake any procurement at a particular time, in a particular sequence or in a particular form.