| 11. | The Department for Transport issued invitations to tender for the franchise in July 2016, with bids due by September.
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| 12. | The circumstances surrounding the issue of the invitation to tender and the formal requirements imposed by it support the conclusion.
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| 13. | The fact that the invitation to tender was limited to a very small class of operators is itself of significance.
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| 14. | The Invitation to Tender was to have been issued in October 2012, and the successful bidder announced in Spring 2013.
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| 15. | The Invitation to Tender was to have been issued in October 2012, with the successful bidder announced in early 2013.
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| 16. | The Invitation to Tender was to have been issued in October 2012, with the successful bidder announced 4 6 months later.
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| 17. | An invitation to tender was issued and the existing operator became the preferred bidder after the closing date of 12 March 2013.
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| 18. | The portal covers all major phases of public procurement ranging from issuance of invitations to tenders to the announcement of contract awards.
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| 19. | In February 2015 the Department for Transport issued an Invitation to Tender for the new Northern franchise which will start in April 2016.
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| 20. | It is of course true that the invitation to tender does not explicitly state that the Council will consider timely and conforming tenders.
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