DEFRA Funding - Black Country Bus Upgrades

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has secured £3,197,000 from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to reduce roadside concentrations of NO2, in the areas of Dudley and Wolverhampton, West Midlands.

The objectives of the fund are:

• To reduce roadside concentrations of NO2, from buses, particularly in those areas of Dudley and Wolverhampton exceeding statutory limit values
• To promote a shift to cleaner buses and Accredited Technologies
• Where possible, to support our wider long term commitments on clean growth.

The approved projects will aim to reduce emissions of nitrogen dioxides (NO2) from buses operating in areas exceeding statutory limit values for NO2, through modifications using Accredited Technology and / or bus vehicle replacement.

The WMCA is seeking Expressions of Interest from local bus operators to participate in the programme and access the £3,197,000 fund. Expressions of interest are required by 1700 on 31st January 2019 by responding to the 7 points in the Technical Envelope of pqq_99 in BravoSolution.

In order to access the documents and express your interest please do so through BravoSolution, the WMCA's e-tendering portal (https://wmca.bravosolution.co.uk). The pqq reference is pqq_99.

The WMCA may request further information or clarifications on the Expressions of Interest submitted and is aiming to notify the successful operator/s by 13th February 2019.

The WMCA will protect the wider project deliverables and funding through a grant agreement the operator will be required to sign.

Successful operators will be expected to deliver their programme by 31st December 2019.