Bus Franchising Contract Management System

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) is preparing to implement bus franchising across the region, with the first franchised services scheduled to commence on 6 September 2026. As part of this transformation, LCRCA requires a robust, scalable and data-driven approach to contract management, payments and performance monitoring, with the system required to provide consistent, high-quality data across all operators, routes and reporting periods. LCRCA requires a modern, cloud-based, fully auditable system that delivers end-to-end management of franchise contracts and ensures accurate, repeatable and reliable calculation of operator payments. The CMS and PPC (Payment Performance Calculator) must give LCRCA and franchise operators a clear, shared view of live performance, contractual obligations, lost mileage, variations, KPI outcomes and payment adjustments. The solution must reduce manual intervention, increase operational efficiency, and support the delivery of a consistent, region-wide performance framework that helps improve service quality, reliability and customer experience.