Award

Provision of Local Bus Transport for Students to New College Durham

NEW COLLEGE DURHAM

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

27 Oct 2025 at 16:26

Award

02 Oct 2025 at 14:37

Summary of the contracting process

The recent procurement process by New College Durham, a public authority in sub-central government, involved awarding a contract for the "Provision of Local Bus Transport for Students to New College Durham." This contract falls under the industry category of transport services and is set to operate within the United Kingdom, specifically County Durham. The procurement stage has been completed, with the award being granted on 27th October 2025. The contract is scheduled to begin on 7th November 2025 and will last for ten months, ending on 26th June 2026. The contract was awarded through a direct procurement method, citing Go North East Limited as uniquely capable of fulfilling the service requirements, primarily due to their existing coverage, operational readiness, and suitability to accommodate student travel needs with flexible service hours and modern ticketing options.

This procurement provides significant opportunities for businesses involved in providing transport services or related solutions. Companies capable of offering innovative ticketing systems, enhancing operational efficiency, or providing tailored transport services for educational institutions may find similar contracts appealing. Although Go North East Limited was chosen for this specific contract due to their unique capabilities and established network in the region, businesses that focus on developing competitive advantages in other areas or regions could potentially thrive by preparing for future tender opportunities. Participation in public procurement like this offers substantial visibility and the potential for sustainable business growth through long-term relationships with governmental bodies.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of Local Bus Transport for Students to New College Durham

Notice Description

The contracting authority intends to award a contract for the provision of local bus transport services to facilitate the travel of students from all surrounding areas to New College Durham sites within County Durham. The service must provide: * Frequent services to accommodate flexible college hours, recognising that students do not always travel within traditional core times. (covering all routes during college hours every 15 minutes) * Numerous pick-up and drop-off locations across the surrounding areas to ensure accessibility for all students. * Affordable transport solutions, taking into account the financial pressures on students and families. * Modern ticketing options, including the use of a mobile app or travel card, to allow easy access, booking, and monitoring of journeys. The service is required for a period of ten (10) months, commencing asap.

Procurement Information

This contract is being directly awarded without competition under the relevant provisions of the Procurement Act 2023 on the grounds that only Go North East has the operational capability, fleet availability, established network, and route coverage necessary to deliver the required services in full. Key reasons include: * Exclusive Coverage: Go North East is the sole operator with an existing network of scheduled and supported services covering all surrounding areas of County Durham required for student transport. * Operational Readiness: The provider already operates buses on the required routes and can mobilise immediately without the need for additional infrastructure or licensing. * Service Flexibility: Go North East has the fleet and scheduling capacity to deliver services across a broad range of hours, matching the flexible nature of college timetables. * Accessibility: The operator can provide numerous pick-up and drop-off points to match the college's requirements. * Affordable Travel: Go North East is uniquely positioned to deliver services at affordable student rates through its established fare structures and concessionary schemes. * Digital Ticketing: The provider already offers modern travel solutions including mobile apps and travel cards, which are necessary for student convenience and efficient service management. * No Viable Alternative: Market assessment confirmed that no other local operator can provide comprehensive coverage across the catchment area while meeting the frequency, affordability, and technology requirements.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05a723
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/068703-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

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
£1,119,840 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
27 Oct 20252 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
2 Oct 20251 months ago
Contract Period
7 Nov 2025 - 26 Jun 2026 6-12 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
NEW COLLEGE DURHAM
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
purchasing@newdur.ac.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
DURHAM
Postcode
DH1 5ES
Post Town
Durham
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC41 Durham
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
County Durham
Electoral Ward
Framwellgate and Newton Hall
Westminster Constituency
City of Durham

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

GO NORTH EAST

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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