Award

Demand Responsive Transport Service - Tees Flex Bus Service

TEES VALLEY COMBINED AUTHORITY

This public procurement record has 5 releases in its history.

Award

25 Sep 2025 at 13:23

Award

01 Jul 2025 at 10:23

Award

01 Jul 2025 at 10:07

PlanningUpdate

17 Apr 2025 at 12:25

Planning

17 Apr 2025 at 12:22

Summary of the contracting process

The Tees Valley Combined Authority has awarded a contract for the Demand Responsive Transport Service, known as the Tees Flex Bus Service. The contracting authority, located in Darlington, United Kingdom, planned and executed this procurement within the public road transport services industry category. This process has completed the award stage. The contract, which began on 25th August 2025, runs until 28th March 2026, with the formal signing confirmed on 15th September 2025. Utilising a direct award method in line with the Transport Act and related regulations, the process was initiated to maintain subsidised bus services essential for the region. The project is focused on the UKC13 region, with an overall value below £5 million, keeping in mind de minimis constraints.

This tender represents a significant business growth opportunity, particularly for companies specialising in public transport solutions. The awarded contract to Cleveland Transit Ltd. highlights the potential for large-scale suppliers to succeed in this sector. Engaging in this competitive environment allows businesses to showcase their capacity to handle public subsidies and collaborate with local authorities. The project stipulates substantial budget allocations for bus service subsidies, highlighting a suitable venture for businesses looking to expand within the public sector transport service industry. Potential participants could have benefited from pre-tender market engagement exercises to ensure readiness and alignment with the local market and regulatory expectations.

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Notice Title

Demand Responsive Transport Service - Tees Flex Bus Service

Notice Description

Tees Valley Combined Authority (the 'Contracting Authority'), part of the Tees Valley Combined Authority Group, have awarded a contract for the provision of Demand Responsive Transport Service - Tees Flex Bus Service. The contract start date was 25th August 2025 however there has been a delay with signing due to resource. The contract was signed on 15th September 2025. Award of De Minimis bus transport subsidy contract in line with the Transport Act and Service Subsidy Agreements (Tendering) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2004. Local authorities or Passenger Transport Authorities/Executives with forecast expenditure on bus service subsidies in any one year of PS600,000 or more will be able to spend up to 25% of this on de minimis contracts; within this 25% there is no limit on the expenditure in any one year that may be incurred on an individual de minimis contract or the amount of de minimis contract expenditure in any year with any single operator.

Planning Information

Tees Flex is an on-demand bus service which was introduced to the TVCA local area in early 2020. The service is currently contracted until August 2025, and we are therefore engaging with the local market to understand operator capacity and interest moving forward. Covering various locations across the Tees Valley. Responses to this pre-tender market engagement opportunity can be submitted through Proactis at: https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=ce67c92c-831b-f011-8136-005056b64545 Queries regarding this process and/or the content of this PTME should be submitted as clarification requests via the portal, no communication will be accepted via other means.

Procurement Information

Award of De Minimis bus transport subsidy contract in line with the Transport Act and Service Subsidy Agreements (Tendering) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2004. Local authorities or Passenger Transport Authorities/Executives with forecast expenditure on bus service subsidies in any one year of PS600,000 or more will be able to spend up to 25% of this on de minimis contracts; within this 25% there is no limit on the expenditure in any one year that may be incurred on an individual de minimis contract or the amount of de minimis contract expenditure in any year with any single operator.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0504d4
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/059737-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
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
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£897,000 £500K-£1M
Contracts Value
£897,000 £500K-£1M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
25 Sep 20255 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
12 May 2025Expired
Award Date
30 Jun 20257 months ago
Contract Period
24 Aug 2025 - 28 Mar 2026 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
TEES VALLEY COMBINED AUTHORITY
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
procurement@teesvalley-ca.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
DARLINGTON
Postcode
DL2 1NJ
Post Town
Darlington
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC3 Tees Valley
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC33 Darlington
Delivery Location
TLC1 Tees Valley and Durham

Local Authority
Darlington
Electoral Ward
Sadberge & Middleton St George
Westminster Constituency
Stockton West

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

CLEVELAND TRANSIT

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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