Purpose

To enable the award of the North West Greater Manchester Small Franchises contracts (Lot 1 and Lot 2) following completion of the procurement process and identification of the preferred bidder.

Decision

1. Note the TfGM recommendation to appoint Bidder A, being the Indicative Preferred Bidder (IPB), as the Preferred Bidder (PB) strictly subject to the satisfactory conclusion of the validation phase.
   2. Following satisfactory conclusion of the validation phase, the contract be awarded to Bidder A for the Bolton Bury Farnworth Small Franchise (Lot 1) and the Leigh Atherton Small Franchise (Lot 2).
   
   3. The preferred bidder and other bidders of the contract award decision be notified in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023.
   
   4. All commercial and contractual arrangements required to give effect to the decision be finalised.
   
   

Alternative options considered

GMCA could in theory decline to approve the award of the contract. However, this is not recommended as the contract is required to provide these franchised services, the procurement process has been followed correctly and the recommendation is to award to the preferred bidder identified by that process.