Retail Managed Service

Tender description

Provision of a Retail Managed Service that will enable a network of high street, convenience store and other outlets to retail rail tickets compliant with rail industry RSP (Rail Settlement Plan) accredited interface, standards and rules. Rail Tickets issued through the Retail Managed Service network of Outlets will be both suitable and effective for use by passengers on the rail network in Great Britain. The potential value of the contract will depend upon the degree to which the service is adopted by the travelling public as a payment option, since the majority of charges relate to a Transaction Fee. Lot 1: Provision of a Retail Managed Service that will enable a network of high street, convenience store and other outlets to retail rail tickets compliant with rail industry RSP (Rail Settlement Plan) accredited interface, standards and rules. Rail Tickets issued through the Retail Managed Service network of Outlets will be both suitable and effective for use by passengers on the rail network in Great Britain. The potential value of the contract will depend upon the degree to which the service is adopted by the travelling public as a payment option, since the majority of charges relate to a Transaction Fee. Additional information: Northern Trains Limited in conjunction with a number of Train Operating Companies provide rail services across the North of England, retailing tickets through a diverse range of channels including ticket-vending machines, digital media and a small number of ticket offices at discrete rail station locations. Maintaining accessibility of the rail network and services to all elements of the travelling public is a key requirement and objective for all rail operators, including the need to facilitate the capability for customers to purchase rail tickets by either cash or bankcard. Northern are seeking to appoint a Retail Managed Service provider that will enable a pilot scheme implementation of rail ticket retailing at convenience and other retail store's locations. The pilot scheme once implemented will be maintained and operated until a replacement service has been established by the rail industry. It is not felt that competitively tendering this requirement at this stage would be in the public interest, in terms of the cost associated, and given the limited pool of potential providers.