Mobile Application Shell Delivery Requirements

Concepts

• software programming
• manchester
• the bee network mobile application
• requires
• mobile
• shell
• consultancy services
• bee network
• tfgm
• early operational support

Location

North West England:

Description

TfGM requires an extension of its current agreement with Softwire Ltd to maintain continuity of service for its BeeApp mobile application and to facilitate a low-risk, phased handover to an internal TfGM team when in place.

Total Quantity or Scope

The original contract was awarded to Softwire Technology Limited following a mini-competition under the Crown Commercial Service's Digital Outcomes and Specialists 5 (DOS5) framework agreement (RM1043.7), Lot 1. The procurement was conducted by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) in full compliance with the framework terms and was established to cover the design, development, and early operational support of the Bee Network mobile application. The Bee Network App forms a key element of TfGM's customer-facing digital proposition. It supports sustainable travel across Greater Manchester by enabling users to access real-time travel information, plan multimodal journeys, and interact with the wider Bee Network transport system. The app has become a high-profile and critical tool in delivering a seamless and integrated public transport experience to users. The contract is structured around a Statement of Work (SOW) mechanism, with all work commissioned via TfGM-approved SOWs under agreed Time and Materials (T&M) rates. This ensures clear scope definition, milestone control, and cost transparency. It was originally envisaged that the initial term (two-year) contract period would cover both the initial development and a short operational phase, with responsibility for all further development and maintenance of the app transitioning thereafter to an internal team within TfGM, however, the establishment of the internal capability has been delayed. As a result, TfGM is seeking to extend the current agreement with Softwire Ltd for a short, time-limited period of time to maintain continuity of service and facilitate a low-risk, phased handover to TfGM once the internal team is in place.

Award Detail

CPV Codes

• 72200000 - Software programming and consultancy services

Legal Justification

This notice provides transparency around the reasons for this Direct Award of the Mobile App Shell Delivery Requirement. The decision to enter into a further 18-month extension with Softwire beyond the current 2.5 years contract term with respect to the Mobile App Shell Delivery Requirement Agreement is necessary for the following reasons: At the time the original contract was awarded, TfGM planned for internal resourcing to be in place to assume responsibility for the app's ongoing development and support by the end of the contract term. However, due to delays in recruitment and internal team setup, this transition has not yet occurred. Conducting a new competitive procurement to cover this interim period is neither practical nor commercially sensible. Appointing a new supplier for a short-term arrangement would likely introduce significant inefficiencies and service risks due to the need for duplication of onboarding and knowledge transfer, only for the service to be transitioned again shortly thereafter to internal staff. Such a process would not represent good value for money and would not be feasible from both a practical and technical perspective. Direct award of a further contract to Softwire Ltd, allows TfGM to retain continuity of service, avoid unnecessary transition risks, and maintain cost control via the existing T&M SOW mechanism. The extension is time-limited, consistent with the original contract scope.

Other Information

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