ATOC Limited is the trade association owned by each of the franchised train operating companies (TOCs) in Great Britain. ATOC, on behalf of the TOCs, now wishes to appoint up to a further three licensees to undertake the international distribution and sales of rail products for use on train services provided by the TOCs under a licence arrangement.

ATOC is seeking up to a further three prospective partners who will actively develop the worldwide market (excluding UK and Ireland) through technology and marketing investment. The products distributed under this licence will be the normal domestic point to point fares range and the BritRail pass range; however other products may be added during the term of the contract. It is expected that sales will be transacted primarily over the Internet and that tickets will be mainly, but not necessarily exclusively, fulfilled through the National Ticket on Departure (ToD) Scheme. The contract term will be for 4 1/2 years.

It should be noted that ATOC may also seek to enter into separate arrangements with a number of near European railways to facilitate the sale of combined through fares. Such arrangements are explicitly outside this tender notice.

Licensees will be required to put in place the following:

— Rail retailing system with real-time access to fares, timetables, reservations,

— Ticket Issuing System (TIS). Sales must be transacted and settled through a TIS which has been accredited by Rail Settlement Plan (please see www.atoc.org/rsp/ for more details). Prospective licensees may invest in the development of their own TIS or may procure it from an existing TIS provider,

— Annual marketing and promotional plans and investment schedules,

— Bond to cover any failure of the licensee to meet a payment for products sold.

Details of the full requirements and licence terms will be made available in the invitation to tender documentation provided to shortlisted respondents.