Award

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

North Northamptonshire Council Local Bus Framework

North Northamptonshire Council

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

21 Aug 2026 at 19:36

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

19 Dec 2025 at 11:07

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

31 Oct 2025 at 15:37

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

North Northamptonshire Council established a local bus services framework for North Northamptonshire. It covers public road transport services intended to improve accessibility across North Northamptonshire, replace services previously procured by the former Northamptonshire County Council and introduce additional services that may become commercially viable. The framework supports a range of bus service requirements and contract sizes rather than one defined route or vehicle type. The council is the public-sector buyer. Delivery is within North Northamptonshire, with the requirement managed from Corby. The procurement is categorised as a service contract and is suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community and social enterprises. The framework is intended to support future bus service call-offs through competition between admitted providers.

The procurement is complete and was awarded on 19 December 2025 through an open procedure. Five suppliers were appointed: BLAND'S (RUTLAND) LTD, CommMiniBus Limited, MIDLAND RED (SOUTH) LIMITED, CENTREBUS LIMITED and LAWSON'S OF CORBY LTD. The award and contract value is £36,000,000 excluding VAT and £43,200,000 including VAT. Enquiries closed on 28 November 2025 at 16:00, submissions closed on 5 December 2025 at 13:00, and the award period ended on 16 December 2025. The standstill period ended on 5 January 2026. The contract was signed on 30 January 2026 and runs from 2 February 2026 to 1 February 2030. All call-offs must use further competition, assessed on price and quality using criteria tailored to each requirement.

This award demonstrates sustained demand from North Northamptonshire Council for bus operators able to deliver accessible local public transport and replace or develop council-supported services. Relevant competitors would need operational capability to run public bus services, manage requirements that vary by route, vehicle type, service scale and passenger need, and price individual competitions competitively. The appointed supplier group includes three SMEs, one large operator and a community minibus provider, showing that the framework can accommodate different provider sizes and operating models. Credibility will depend on being able to evidence reliable service delivery, suitable vehicles and drivers, safe and compliant operations, and the capacity to respond to case-by-case price and quality evaluations. Providers should also be prepared for repeated competition rather than direct awards.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

North Northamptonshire Council Local Bus Framework

Notice Description

North Northamptonshire Council has developed a bus framework which will play a role in enhancing accessibility across North Northants. As a relatively new authority, this framework aims to either replace services previously Procured by the former Northamptonshire County Council, and/or to introduce new services, with the potential for them to be commercially viable by the end of the contracts. This framework will be opened in accordance with the requirements under the Procurement Act 2023 and all call off contracts will be awarded via further competition only.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05d849
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/080112-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
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
£36,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
£36,000,000 £10M-£100M
Awards Value
£36,000,000 £10M-£100M
Contracts Value
£36,000,000 £10M-£100M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 Aug 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
5 Dec 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
19 Dec 20258 months ago
Contract Period
2 Feb 2026 - 1 Feb 2030 4-5 years
Recurrence
2026-12-01

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
North Northamptonshire Council
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
CORBY
Postcode
NN17 1QG
Postcode Area
Northampton
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLF East Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLF2 Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLF25 North Northamptonshire
Delivery Location
TLF25 North Northamptonshire
Local Authority
North Northamptonshire
Electoral Ward
Corby West
Westminster Constituency
Corby and East Northamptonshire

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
5
Supplier Names

BLAND'S (RUTLAND) LTD

CENTREBUS LIMITED

CommMiniBus Limited

LAWSON'S OF CORBY LTD

MIDLAND RED (SOUTH) LIMITED

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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.

Loading OCDS record...