Smart Applications Management, through the National Mobilities Procurement Hub, is procuring a new £100 million excluding VAT / £120 million including VAT open framework covering on-vehicle digital technology and transport consultancy services. The framework is UK-wide and is designed for a broad range of public sector transport bodies and operators.
The opportunity is split into two main lots, but each contains several distinct service areas. That makes careful lot selection important for technology suppliers, transport consultancies and specialists in ticketing, franchising and concessionary travel.
If your organisation is considering this framework, speak to Thornton & Lowe about your lot strategy, evidence and tender response.
Lot 1: On-vehicle digital technology
Lot 1 covers nine technology areas:
- Automated Vehicle Location systems
- Onboard CCTV
- Automatic Passenger Counting
- Traffic Light Priority
- Driver communications and radio
- On-bus destination displays
- Audio-visual passenger information
- Bridge strike prevention
- Vehicle Compute Capability
The requirements span hardware, software, communications, integration, diagnostics, security and ongoing support. Suppliers will need to show that their solution can operate reliably in live transport environments and integrate with other onboard and back-office systems.
Lot 2: Franchising, ticketing and payments consultancy
The second lot contains six consultancy parts covering:
- Franchised bus scheme development and implementation support
- Transport ticketing management and policy advice
- Ticketing technical and revenue scheme delivery
- Ticketing governance, research and competitive bidding support
- Entitlement or concessionary travel management
- Technical entitlemet and concessionary support services.
A wide public sector customer base
The framework can be used by a wide range of transport and public sector bodies, including local and combined authorities, mayoral authorities, Transport for London, the Department for Transport, Transport Scotland, Transport for Wales, Translink, rail operators and other organisations with a transport interest.
There is no maximum number of framework suppliers. SMEs are explicitly identified as suitable. The planned open-framework life runs to November 2034, giving suppliers a long-term route to future call-offs.
Our transport tenders guide provides wider advice on public sector transport bids, including operational delivery, mobilisation and value for money.
How awards and fees work
Call-offs may be made with or without competition. For awards without competition, the buyer compares suppliers capable of meeting its requirement to identify the most advantageous option under the framework arrangements. Buyers can also run a competitive selection process.
SAM applies a standard management fee of 3%, which suppliers are expected to include within their pricing. Bidders should therefore model the fee alongside implementation, software, support, maintenance and other whole-life costs.
Evaluation and evidence
The published framework establishment criteria are:
- Quality: 60%
- Price including ongoing costs: 30%
- Social value: 10%
Technology suppliers should focus on reliability, integration, cybersecurity, diagnostics, accessibility, rollout and support. Consultancy bidders should emphasise relevant transport programmes, analytical capability, stakeholder engagement, procurement and implementation experience.
The official Find a Tender notice includes the detailed descriptions for all 15 parts across the two lots.
What suppliers should prepare
Relevant evidence may include:
- deployments across bus, rail or other public transport environments
- system availability and technical support performance
- cybersecurity and secure communications
- interoperability with established transport standards and systems
- implementation and fleet rollout
- maintenance, remote diagnostics and lifecycle support
- passenger accessibility and user experience
- franchising, ticketing or concessionary travel projects
- quantified programme, revenue or service improvements
- social value linked to the communities served by transport networks
The breadth of the framework does not mean bidders should claim every area. Suppliers should select the parts where they can show credible technical delivery and comparable evidence.
Key dates
The enquiry deadline is 25 September 2026 at 12:00pm. Final tenders are due by 12:00pm on 19 October, with the award decision currently estimated for 3 November.
Suppliers should make sure the part or parts they select are supported by comparable evidence. The breadth of the framework is not a reason to bid for every area.
Focus the submission on the service you can prove
The framework creates opportunities across very different parts of the transport market. A focused submission that matches the exact technology or consultancy part to proven delivery should be more persuasive than broad claims across the entire scope.
Thornton & Lowe supports transport, technology and professional services suppliers with framework bids and competitive tenders. Contact our bid team if you want help with the National Mobilities Procurement Hub framework.
