Merchant Acquirer Agreement · UK public procurement notice

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is inviting suppliers of Merchant Acquirer services (that enable Merchants to process contactless bank card pay-as-you go transactions in accordance with bank card scheme Transit rules, alongside the other, more typical forms of bank card payment acceptance), to note TfGM’s intention to initiate a procurement exercise in relation to Merchant Acquirer Services in 2025.

At this early stage, TfGM is seeking to gain a greater understanding of the range of Merchant Acquiring and Payment Gateway services available and would welcome any information that can be provided by potential interested parties regarding recent or expected innovation, development and compliance changes generally. TfGM will consider any such information provided in relation to TfGM’s requirements for bankcard transaction processing and Ticketing Schemes.

Since TfGM’s Ticketing Schemes are likely to extend across all potential transport and associated modes including (but not limited to) Light Rail, Bus, Heavy Rail, Active Travel, understanding experience, potential innovation and changes in compliance requirements in these areas is welcome.

Potential Merchant Acquiring services (including the Payment Gateway) will work in conjunction with an assortment of field equipment devices such as (platform validators, electronic ticketing machines, revenue inspection devices and other bank card reading devices) as well as Middle and Back Office services, Retail Engine and other capabilities that have either been sourced (from external third parties) or developed by TfGM.

Suppliers are also invited to provide indicative timescales for service implementation as well as any transitional dependencies. Since TfGM already operates a highly successful contactless bankcard transaction processing scheme, supplier consideration of the arrangements to successfully transition from existing to new services will be key.