Award

B26291 - Bus Service 291: Forest Row - Hartfield - Tunbridge Wells

EAST SUSSEX COUNTY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

27 Apr 2026 at 12:53

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process for the tender titled "B26291 - Bus Service 291: Forest Row - Hartfield - Tunbridge Wells" was conducted by East Sussex County Council, with the contract awarded on 10th March 2026. This contract, classified under the industry category of "Public-service buses," will span from 12th April 2026 to 7th April 2029, including a potential three-year extension option. The procurement method used was selective, specifically a call-off from a dynamic purchasing system, indicating a targeted selection of suppliers. The location for the bus service is in the South East region of the United Kingdom. The contract value including the extension amounts to £114,836 GBP.

This tender presents substantial opportunities for growth, especially for businesses in the public transport sector, including SMEs and VCSEs due to its suitability criteria. With fare income retention by the operator, companies that can optimise operational efficiency and maximise customer service will find potential profitability. The competitive dynamic purchasing system also suggests that businesses proficient in demonstrating value through innovation and sustainable practices may have been particularly well-suited for winning such contracts. Brighton & Hove Bus and Coach Company Limited, a large-scale supplier, successfully secured the contract, illustrating an advantage for established operators capable of managing service delivery in the regions specified.

Find more tenders on our Open Data Platform.
How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

B26291 - Bus Service 291: Forest Row - Hartfield - Tunbridge Wells

Notice Description

Call off from SCC, ESCC and WSCC Public Bus DPS. Contract Length: 3 years plus 3 year potential extension option. Contract Value: PS114,836 (includes extension) Fare income retained by operator Contract Awarded

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-c43f60be-7ce6-4ef8-92d1-0ae2af3d2652
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/b951087d-1dda-4e9c-ae1e-efb19c0abf3b
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Dynamic
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Call-off from a dynamic purchasing system
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation

CPV Codes

34121100 - Public-service buses

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£114,836 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£114,836 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
27 Apr 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
23 Dec 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
10 Mar 20262 months ago
Contract Period
11 Apr 2026 - 7 Apr 2029 2-3 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
EAST SUSSEX 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
LEWES
Postcode
BN7 1SG
Post Town
Brighton
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ2 Surrey, East and West Sussex
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ22 East Sussex CC
Delivery Location
TLJ South East (England)
Local Authority
Lewes
Electoral Ward
Lewes Bridge
Westminster Constituency
Lewes

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

BRIGHTON & HOVE BUS AND COACH

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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. 

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-b5fd17-c43f60be-7ce6-4ef8-92d1-0ae2af3d2652-2026-04-27T13:53:06+01:00",
    "date": "2026-04-27T13:53:06+01:00",
    "ocid": "ocds-b5fd17-c43f60be-7ce6-4ef8-92d1-0ae2af3d2652",
    "language": "en",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "tender": {
        "id": "12247/5",
        "title": "B26291 - Bus Service 291: Forest Row - Hartfield - Tunbridge Wells",
        "description": "Call off from SCC, ESCC and WSCC Public Bus DPS. Contract Length: 3 years plus 3 year potential extension option. Contract Value: PS114,836 (includes extension) Fare income retained by operator Contract Awarded",
        "status": "complete",
        "classification": {
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "id": "34121100",
            "description": "Public-service buses"
        },
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "South East",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    }
                ]
            }
        ],
        "value": {
            "amount": 114836,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "procurementMethod": "selective",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Call-off from a dynamic purchasing system",
        "tenderPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2025-12-23T12:00:00Z"
        },
        "contractPeriod": {
            "startDate": "2026-04-12T00:00:00+01:00",
            "endDate": "2029-04-07T23:59:59+01:00"
        },
        "suitability": {
            "sme": true,
            "vcse": true
        },
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services"
    },
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-LAE-ESX",
            "name": "East Sussex County Council",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "East Sussex County Council",
                "scheme": "GB-LAE",
                "id": "ESX"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "COUNTY HALL",
                "locality": "LEWES",
                "postalCode": "BN71SG",
                "countryName": "England"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "name": "James Cooper",
                "email": "james.cooper@eastsussex.gov.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ]
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-COH-00307468",
            "name": "BRIGHTON & HOVE BUS AND COACH COMPANY LIMITED",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "BRIGHTON & HOVE BUS AND COACH COMPANY LIMITED",
                "scheme": "GB-COH",
                "id": "00307468"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "43 Conway Street HOVE East Sussex BN3 3LT GB"
            },
            "details": {
                "scale": "large",
                "vcse": false
            },
            "roles": [
                "supplier"
            ]
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-LAE-ESX",
        "name": "East Sussex County Council"
    },
    "awards": [
        {
            "id": "ocds-b5fd17-c43f60be-7ce6-4ef8-92d1-0ae2af3d2652-1",
            "status": "active",
            "date": "2026-03-10T00:00:00Z",
            "datePublished": "2026-04-27T13:53:06+01:00",
            "value": {
                "amount": 114836,
                "currency": "GBP"
            },
            "suppliers": [
                {
                    "id": "GB-COH-00307468",
                    "name": "BRIGHTON & HOVE BUS AND COACH COMPANY LIMITED"
                }
            ],
            "contractPeriod": {
                "startDate": "2026-04-12T00:00:00+01:00",
                "endDate": "2029-04-07T23:59:59+01:00"
            },
            "documents": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "documentType": "awardNotice",
                    "description": "Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder",
                    "url": "https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/b951087d-1dda-4e9c-ae1e-efb19c0abf3b",
                    "datePublished": "2026-04-27T13:53:06+01:00",
                    "format": "text/html",
                    "language": "en"
                }
            ]
        }
    ]
}