Award

Award of De Minimis Public Bus Transport Contract

LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

28 May 2025 at 14:46

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Leicestershire County Council has completed the procurement process for a public transport services contract under the notable 'De Minimis' subsidy rules. The contract concerns the direct award of a public bus service route from Melton Mowbray to Nottingham. This process falls within the industry category of transport services and is guided by the 1985 Transport Act, as amended. The contract was awarded to Centrebus Limited with a start period commencing on 1st April 2025 and concluding on 31st March 2026. The procurement was carried out directly, below the competitive threshold, and thus was exempt from tender because of its 'De Minimis' nature, allowing for the contract to be awarded without competition. The total contract value amounts to £71,964 (gross), with contractual details finalised on 31st March 2025.

This procurement presents opportunities for small to medium-sized enterprises, especially those engaged in providing public transport services, to engage in future dealings with Leicestershire County Council. Although this particular contract did not require competitive tendering, it indicates the council's ongoing effort to ensure that local bus services are maintained even when not commercially viable. Businesses of a similar scale to Centrebus Limited could benefit from understanding these 'De Minimis' rules as they may position themselves for potential contracts without entering extensive bidding processes, promoting regional business growth and fostering relationships with local government entities.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Award of De Minimis Public Bus Transport Contract

Notice Description

Direct award of contract for the provision of a public bus service under the 'De Minimis' subsidy rules. The 1985 Transport Act (as amended by the 2000 Transport Act) introduced the provisions which govern the duties of local passenger transport authorities to secure local bus services where these would not otherwise be met. In the majority of cases these services have to be secured through competitive tender. The Service Subsidy Agreements (Tendering) Regulations provided local authorities with the scope to let any individual bus subsidy contract in any one year up to a certain maximum value without the need to competitively tender (the de minimis limits). The Council has awarded the contract for the delivery of Route 19 Melton Mowbray to Nottingham to Centrebus Ltd under this De Minimis exemption.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-052833
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/028203-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - without competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
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
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£59,970 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
28 May 20259 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
30 Mar 202510 months ago
Contract Period
31 Mar 2025 - 31 Mar 2026 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
commissioning.support@leics.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
LEICESTER
Postcode
LE3 8RA
Post Town
Leicester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLF East Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLF2 Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLF22 Leicestershire CC and Rutland
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Blaby
Electoral Ward
Glenfield Faire
Westminster Constituency
Mid Leicestershire

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

CENTREBUS

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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