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Public Bus Service (Lot 5) MD678 Witheridge to Exeter

Devon County Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

11 Sep 2026 at 11:50

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Devon County Council procured a local bus service between Witheridge and Exeter, operating on Wednesdays except public holidays. The requirement covers the supply and provision of service 678, a passenger transport service delivered in the South West of England. It is a service contract for regular local bus operations rather than vehicle supply, construction or general transport consultancy. The buyer is Devon County Council, based in Exeter. The requirement was run as a mini-competition under the council’s Passenger Transport Dynamic Purchasing System, specifically its passenger transport arrangements. Businesses relevant to this opportunity are bus and coach operators able to provide scheduled local passenger services on the Witheridge–Exeter route, including the operational resources needed to maintain the Wednesday timetable and meet the council’s passenger transport contract conditions.

The procurement is complete and was awarded to MD Coaches on 27 July 2026. The awarded contract value is £130,440. The contract period runs from 2 September 2026 to 2 September 2034. It used a selective procurement method through a restricted procedure and was conducted as a mini-competition from Lot 5 of Devon County Council’s Passenger Transport Dynamic Purchasing System. The tender deadline was 27 July 2026 at 12:00. The recorded procurement category is services, with transport services as the classification. The contract covers one requirement: local bus service 678 between Witheridge and Exeter on Wednesdays, excluding public holidays. The opportunity was identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises. MD Coaches is the selected supplier.

For a supplier that did not win this procurement, the award demonstrates established demand from Devon County Council for scheduled local bus operations on a defined rural-to-city route. A credible competitor for a similar requirement would need to be a suitably organised bus or coach operator with the vehicles, drivers, scheduling capability and operational resilience to deliver a weekly public service reliably. Experience of local passenger transport, route planning, timetable management and working to public-sector passenger transport conditions would be relevant. The buyer’s use of a Passenger Transport Dynamic Purchasing System and a mini-competition indicates that operators qualified for the relevant purchasing arrangement can compete through a structured route. Small and medium-sized operators may be well placed where they can evidence dependable delivery and sufficient capacity for a long-term service commitment.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Public Bus Service (Lot 5) MD678 Witheridge to Exeter

Notice Description

This is a mini-competition from Lot 5 of the Devon County Council Passenger Transport Dynamic Purchasing System (CP1185-15) For the supply and provision of local bus service 678 operating between Witheridge to Exeter on Wednesday only (Except Public Holidays). The projected duration of the contract is eight years, however the Devon County Council (DCC) Passenger Transport Standard Conditions of Contract still apply, and therefore either the contractor or DCC can give notice as per the terms and conditions to terminate the contract at any time. MD678

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-43c14a1e-5712-4bd7-9e67-32a3d2bc737e
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/f4f80486-48ee-4f33-b41f-dd9b5b6a144a
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Dynamic
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Restricted procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

CPV Codes

60000000 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£130,440 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£130,440 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
11 Sep 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
27 Jul 20261 months ago
Contract Period
2 Sep 2026 - 2 Sep 2034 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
Devon County Council
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
EXETER
Postcode
EX2 4QD
Postcode Area
Exeter
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK4 Devon
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK43 Devon CC
Delivery Location
TLK South West (England)
Local Authority
Exeter
Electoral Ward
Newtown and St Leonard's
Westminster Constituency
Exeter

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

MD Coaches

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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