Award

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

Provision of bus service - Route 289

Transport for London

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

AwardUpdate

29 Jul 2026 at 12:15

Award Notice
AwardUpdate

29 Jul 2026 at 12:13

Award Notice
Award

21 Nov 2023 at 11:01

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Transport for London procured a seven-year public bus service for Route 289 in London. The requirement is classified as public road transport services and sits within the services category. The appointed operator is responsible for providing the route service over the stated contract period, supporting London’s public transport network. The buying organisation is Transport for London, based in London. The opportunity was identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community and social enterprises, although the selected supplier is a large transport operator. Businesses with experience operating scheduled public bus routes, managing passenger transport services and meeting TfL’s operational requirements would be relevant to this type of requirement.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded. Transport for London used a selective competitive procedure with negotiation for an above-threshold contract. The tender submission deadline was 5 September 2023 at 12:00. The award was made on 20 October 2023 to Arriva London South, with an awarded value of £4,407,000. The contract runs from 31 August 2024 to 29 August 2031. The tender’s estimated value was £5,632,114, with a minimum estimated value of £4,407,000. The awarded contract covers the Route 289 bus service. The published outcome identifies one supplier and one award. The procurement was structured as a single requirement rather than separate lots.

For a competitor, this award provides a clear benchmark for the type of operator Transport for London selected for a scheduled London bus route. A credible future supplier would need the operational capability to run a fixed public bus service reliably, with sufficient vehicles, drivers, maintenance arrangements, control systems and service management capacity for a multi-year commitment. Experience delivering urban passenger transport at scale would be important, alongside the financial resilience and contract-management discipline needed for sustained performance. Smaller businesses and voluntary, community or social enterprises were considered suitable to participate, so a consortium or specialist operator with the right transport capability could be relevant. Familiarity with TfL’s service, safety, performance and reporting expectations would strengthen a competitor’s position when similar requirements return.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of bus service - Route 289

Notice Description

Provision of bus service route 289 for 7 years. Please note, cost posted on Contracts Finder sometimes differ from those on the internet, this is due to post award negotiations.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-220e2198-df24-4e54-81cf-f2f561fca8e8
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/b379cbaa-66dc-466f-b97c-ddf82b9d66e9
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Competitive procedure with negotiation (above threshold)
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

CPV Codes

60112000 - Public road transport services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£5,632,114 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£4,407,000 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
29 Jul 20264 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
5 Sep 2023Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
20 Oct 20232 years ago
Contract Period
31 Aug 2024 - 29 Aug 2031 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Transport for London
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SE1 8NJ
Postcode Area
South East London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI4 Inner London - East
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI44 Lewisham and Southwark
Delivery Location
TLI London
Local Authority
Southwark
Electoral Ward
Borough & Bankside
Westminster Constituency
Bermondsey and Old Southwark

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Arriva London South

Further Information

Notice URLs

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

Loading OCDS record...