South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) is introducing bus franchising and intends to procure on-bus Destination Display equipment and an Audio Visual Announcement (AVA) system for the franchised bus fleet, as a single contract. The requirement is expected to cover approximately 700 vehicles and includes external front, side and rear destination displays; internal next-stop displays and audio announcements; supplier-provided back office platforms for content management and monitoring; installation at operator depots; integration with other on-bus systems, including a Vehicle Compute / ITxPT-aligned Gateway that SYMCA will install from Day 1 (use of the shared gateway is not a mandatory Day-1 dependency); and maintenance and support for the contract term. The solution must support compliance with the Public Service Vehicles (Accessible Information) Regulations 2023. The Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) system is being procured separately and may not be available when installation starts. SYMCA is carrying out preliminary market engagement to test its requirements, proposed approach and timescales with the market before publishing a tender notice. Interested suppliers are invited to complete a short market engagement questionnaire. Participation is not a condition of taking part in any future procurement.

Procurement Act 2023

SYMCA is carrying out preliminary market engagement to test its requirements, proposed approach, timescales and budget with the market before publishing a tender notice for the supply, installation and support of on-bus Destination Display equipment and Audio Visual Announcements (AVA) for the South Yorkshire franchised bus fleet (approximately 700 vehicles). We welcome input from manufacturers, system integrators, installers and maintainers, including organisations that would expect to bid as part of a consortium or as a subcontractor. Scope of the engagement: a short written Market Engagement Questionnaire covering market capability and partnering; integration with other on-bus systems (including a Vehicle Compute / ITxPT-aligned Gateway, which SYMCA will install from Day 1 but which is not a mandatory Day-1 dependency) and operation before the separately procured AVL system is available; accessibility and the Public Service Vehicles (Accessible Information) Regulations 2023; delivery, lead times and installation; commercial and pricing models, including indicative non-binding prices; contract length and proposed terms; and social value. No events or one-to-one sessions will be held. How to take part: 1. Email [email protected] to register your interest and request the Market Engagement Questionnaire, quoting "PME - Destination Display and AVA". 2. Return the completed questionnaire by email to the same address by 12 noon on Tuesday 29 September 2026. Clarification questions must be sent by email to the same address. Where a question and answer are relevant to all participants, SYMCA will share them with everyone who has registered an interest, without identifying who asked. This is not a call for competition. Participation, or non-participation, will not affect a supplier's ability to take part in any future procurement, and information provided will not be used in the evaluation of any future tender. SYMCA will not pay any costs incurred in responding. The anticipated procedure is an open procedure under the Procurement Act 2023, with a tender notice expected to be published in October 2026.