Award

Bus Services (Cumberland)

CUMBERLAND COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 5 releases in its history.

Award

14 Oct 2025 at 16:12

TenderUpdate

01 Sep 2025 at 11:38

Tender

05 Aug 2025 at 17:24

Planning

23 Jul 2025 at 16:43

Planning

23 May 2025 at 17:29

Summary of the contracting process

Cumberland Council has recently concluded an open procurement process titled "Bus Services (Cumberland)" aimed at enhancing road transport services, particularly in rural areas. The procurement, part of Cumberland's Bus Service Improvement Plan, was facilitated to deliver high-quality subsidised bus services across multiple routes. The contracts, valued at £2,585,499, have been awarded to Reays Coaches Limited and Stagecoach (North West) Limited and are set to commence on 3rd November 2025, running until 2nd November 2026, without the possibility of extensions. Conducted through an open procedure, the process included several procurement stages such as planning, tender, and award, with contracts now pending final signature following an 8-day standstill period starting 14th October 2025.

This opportunity presents substantial growth possibilities for businesses within the transport sector, particularly those specialising in public road transport services. The engagement of both large-scale companies like Stagecoach and small to medium enterprises such as Reays Coaches illustrates the flexibility and inclusivity of the tender process, which specifically accounted for price, quality, and social value in its evaluation criteria. Suitable for both SMEs and larger enterprises, the open nature of the procurement method and the lack of extension options ensure opportunities for competitive bidding and future partnerships as the demand for enhanced and innovative transport solutions continues to grow.

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Notice Title

Bus Services (Cumberland)

Notice Description

Bus services are integral in Cumberland and establishing innovative approaches to the delivery of bus services and infrastructure, particularly within rural areas, can improve the lives of local people. With this in mind, Cumberland Council advertised a procurement opportunity that sought suitably qualified transport operators to deliver high quality subsidised bus services across a number of bus routes. This procurement has concluded and contracts are to be awarded to two suppliers for a total of 10 routes. These contracts will be awarded to start on 3rd November 2025 for a term of up to one (1) year, with no extensions available. The total value is PS2,585,499. Bids were evaluated and moderated according to the criteria as set out in the Invitation to Tender. From the date of this notice and in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023, the council will be observing a standstill period of 8 working days before entering into any contract.

Planning Information

You have been invited to a session on Wednesday 30 July at 5.30 with Cumberland's procurement team to discuss any procurement queries you may have. Please note we will not be discussing the routes which we will be going out for procurement just the process to support you to submit a tender. We are looking forward to seeing you at the session. Please advise sarah.hammond@cumbria.gov.uk of your attendance Thank you and best wishes

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05251e
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/065357-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Large, SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)


CPV Codes

60112000 - Public road transport services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£3,565,574 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£3,565,574 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
£2,585,499 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
14 Oct 20254 months ago
Submission Deadline
9 Sep 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
4 Aug 2025Expired
Award Date
13 Oct 20254 months ago
Contract Period
3 Nov 2025 - 2 Nov 2026 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
CUMBERLAND COUNCIL
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
peopleprocurement@cumbria.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
CARLISLE
Postcode
CA1 1RD
Post Town
Carlisle
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD1 Cumbria
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD13 Cumberland
Delivery Location
TLD1 Cumbria

Local Authority
Cumberland
Electoral Ward
Castle
Westminster Constituency
Carlisle

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
2
Supplier Names

REAYS COACHES

STAGECOACH (NORTH WEST

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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.

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