Award

Bus Grant Fares and Ticketing - Kids Go Free - First Bus

THE WEST OF ENGLAND COMBINED AUTHORITY

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

04 Jul 2025 at 15:45

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process, overseen by The West of England Combined Authority, involves a direct contract award for the "Bus Grant Fares and Ticketing – Kids Go Free" initiative with First Bus. The contract supports subsidised fares to provide free travel for children under 16. The award stage of this contract was initiated on 4th July 2025, with the contract period set from 19th July to 5th September 2025. Based in Bristol (postal code BS1 6AL), this tender falls under the industry category of "Sale of travel tickets and package tours services." The procurement was executed through a direct award method as per the Procurement Act 2023, justified by exclusive supplier rights wherein no reasonable alternatives exist.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses engaged in the provision of public transport services, particularly those with specialisms in ticketing and fare systems. Enterprises capable of offering similar exclusive services or those equipped to manage large-scale transport initiatives may find growth potential in securing similar contracts in the future. Additionally, businesses with innovative solutions or adaptations to support public transport authorities in enhancing subsidised fare programmes could leverage such projects to expand their market presence.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Bus Grant Fares and Ticketing - Kids Go Free - First Bus

Notice Description

This contract supports the Kids Go Free subsidised fare initiative that allows for free travel for the under 16s, with this supplier.

Procurement Information

The Procurement Act 2023 (the Act) permits direct awards to be made in certain circumstances. The relevant justification is contained in Paragraph 5 of Schedule 5 of the Act which states: "The following conditions are met in relation to the public contract-- (a) due to a particular supplier having intellectual property rights or other exclusive rights, only that supplier can supply the goods, services or works required, and (b) there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works. [Emphasis added] Each of the bus operators has been awarded competitively tendered bus routes which they have exclusive rights to operate so that both limbs (a) and (b) are satisfied.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-055975
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/037567-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK5 - Transparency Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

63 - Supporting and auxiliary transport services; travel agencies services

CPV Codes

63512000 - Sale of travel tickets and package tours services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£734,037 £500K-£1M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
4 Jul 20257 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
4 Jul 20257 months ago
Contract Period
18 Jul 2025 - 5 Sep 2025 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
THE WEST OF ENGLAND COMBINED AUTHORITY
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
commercial@westofengland-ca.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
BRISTOL
Postcode
BS1 6AL
Post Town
Bristol
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK5 West of England
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK51 Bristol, City of
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Bristol, City of
Electoral Ward
Central
Westminster Constituency
Bristol Central

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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