Official UK procurement notice
Supply of Bus Rapid Transit (Glider) Vehicles
Authority: Translink (Central government)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionGlider is the brand name for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system which came into operation in 2018 with an innovative mode of travel for Belfast which resulted in significant increases in patronage levels. The introduction of Glider provided a modern, safe, accessible, efficient and high quality public transport service which has encouraged more people to travel by public transport instead of the private car. Glider has helped to support sustainable economic growth and regeneration, and has helped to integrate communities though linking people to jobs, shops, leisure, health and educational services.
There are plans to extend the existing Glider service and introduce new corridors into operation in Belfast. To facilitate the expansion of the Glider network, Translink are intending to establish a framework aimed at delivering a cost effective and agile means to purchase low floor, wheelchair accessible, zero emission, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) articulated vehicles for use on urban operations in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Translink would use this framework to purchase the additional fleet and potentially, in time, replace the existing hybrid electric BRT vehicles. The duration of the framework has not been confirmed but it is anticipated it will be a Single Supplier Framework.
There are a number of key principles underpinning the characteristics of a BRT system such as the Glider:
- a strong brand image that delivers a clear identity for the system
- high quality in all aspects of the system, including the fixed infrastructure, vehicles, operations and customer services
- high standards of reliability with punctual service operation and predictable journey times
- integration with other modes of sustainable transport
- high quality environment for passengers in terms of space, security and on-board information
To that end Translink wishes to invite suitably interested Economic Operators to present their current and future capability and capacity in these areas in Belfast in Quarter 2 2025.
The objectives of this exercise are to:
- understand the views from the Economic Operators that will or may be interested in this procurement opportunity,
- understand the capabilities of Economic Operators to meet Translink’s requirements, and
- provide interested Economic Operators with an opportunity to inform the tender structure and the duration of any awarded Framework Agreement
Translink reserve the right to request further information from respondents in order to short list interested Economic Operators.
Interested Economic Operators should reply in writing to David Lowry at david.lowry@translink.co.uk by 3pm on Thursday 08 May 2025.
CPV: Buses and coaches · Public-service buses
How this framework works
From the published notice- Framework period
- 5 yrs from 1 Feb 2026
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · no lot value publishedWhat it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
- “Supply of Bus Rapid Transit (Glider) Vehicles” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, not a single contract.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Goods
- Notice status
- Past planning notice
- Procurement threshold
- Below threshold
- Regulatory regime
- Utilities
- Commercial structure
- Framework agreement
- Who may use this agreement
- Not stated in the notice; call-off rights may be limited to the establishing authority
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 17 Apr 2025, 14:21 BST
- Last source update
- 17 Apr 2025, 14:21 BST
- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-015940- Latest notice
- Preliminary market engagement notice (UK2)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Not published
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-0504ecFind a Tender
How it was run
Official notice- Appointment period ends
- —
Timeline
17 Apr 2025 → 1 Feb 2026 · 3 dates- Planning notice published17 Apr 2025, 14:21 BST
- Market engagement8 May 2025, 23:59 BST
Translink wishes to invite suitably interested Economic Operators to present their current and future capability and capacity in these areas in Belfast in Quarter 2 2025.
The objectives of this exercise are to:
- understand the views from the Economic Operators that will or may be interested in this procurement opportunity,
- understand the capabilities of Economic Operators to meet Translink’s requirements, and
- provide interested Economic Operators with an opportunity to inform the tender structure and the duration of any awarded Framework Agreement
Translink reserve the right to request further information from respondents in order to short list interested Economic Operators.
Interested Economic Operators should reply in writing to David Lowry at david.lowry@translink.co.uk by 3pm on Thursday 08 May 2025.
**************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Suppliers registering their interest in participating in this exercise should note that:.
- This Notice is to initiate a market engagement and information gathering exercise and does not indicate the start of a procurement exercise. It is instead intended to act as an informal market research document providing a brief synopsis of Translink’s future requirements. This document is not intended to provide a definitive list of requirements..
- We intend to invite interested suppliers to present to a range of Translink personnel and discuss Bus Rapid Transit (Glider) Vehicles.
- This document is not a tender specification nor request for quotation. Translink is merely investigating market opportunities at this stage without entering into any contractual or financial commitments..
- Please note, progress in the project will be subject to the availability and timing of funding. If this requirement is given financial approval, it will be tendered under the Procurement Act 2023. Any documents, discussions, presentations, demonstrations, or clarifications submitted for this Market Research will not be considered as any part of the tender exercise. If Translink does decide to proceed with a competitive tender process, a separate detailed tender specification document will be produced as part of that process..
- Nothing in this advertisement or any other documents or information provided by Translink or any of its advisers or agents is to be construed as implying a commitment by Translink to place any Contract, now or in the future with any participating supplier in respect of the requirement under consideration..
- Translink takes no responsibility for any actions or decisions taken, costs incurred, or commitments made by interested parties in responding to this notice or by being involved in any subsequent discussions in this market engagement and information gathering exercise..
- At this stage it is not possible to give an accurate timeframe for this requirement..
- Contract starts269 days ago1 Feb 2026
Notice history
1 event · 1 release on Find a Tender- Preliminary market engagement notice published17 Apr 2025, 14:21 BSTUK2
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Pipeline notice- Awards (0)
- No award published
- Contracts (0)
- No contract published
- Bid statistics
- No aggregate bid statistics published
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (1)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender