Transport for Greater Manchester outlines £80m services contract

A merger of frameworks will see services commissioned on an ad-hoc basis

Transport for Greater Manchester (TGM) is looking for ad-hoc IT services providers for its ongoing development programme.

TGM expects to spend as much as £80m on the programme, according to a tender released on the Official Journal of the European Union.

The group is currently extending its existing Metrolink system, building interchanges and developing public transport facilities as part of its ongoing Greater Manchester Authorities' Local Transport Plan.

Broadly, TGM is looking for help with transport planning and analysis, transport systems engineering, commercial services, transport surveys and modelling services.

The group will be looking for IT support to implement security systems, telecoms networks, database design and network management centre systems.

The new framework will replace two almost completed framework agreement contracts, which TGM is looking to merge.

"The two procurement frameworks currently running will be due for renewal next April and we are consolidating these," said a spokesman for TGM.

"Over the course of delivering our projects we need to be able to call upon service providers on an ad-hoc basis."

One of the frameworks is titled research, strategy and development, and the other is called project consultancy.

"Having one framework instead of two will make it easier to deliver services," he said.

The spokesman could not confirm if the merging of two contracts would save the group money.