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TVCA-PROC-0731 - Supported Bus Services

Tees Valley Combined Authority

This public procurement record has 5 releases in its history.

ContractTermination

14 Oct 2026 at 11:10

UK11 - Contract Termination Notice
Award

17 Apr 2026 at 10:50

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

03 Feb 2026 at 12:05

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
TenderUpdate

17 Dec 2025 at 16:05

UK4 - Tender Notice
Tender

09 Dec 2025 at 12:06

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Tees Valley Combined Authority procured supported local bus services across Darlington, Stockton, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland. The work covers existing routes, including services 16, 17 and 18 in Darlington; 6 and 6a between Darlington and Stockton; 3 and 3A in Hartlepool; services in Middlesbrough including evening and Sunday journeys and Riverside Park; routes 1 and 2 in Redcar and Cleveland; and X40 and X41 between Stockton and Hartlepool. Two additional services connect Elwick and Dalton Piercy with Hartlepool Sixth Form and the town centre, and villages including Stillington and Great Stainton with North Tees Hospital and Stockton destinations. Tees Valley Combined Authority is the buyer.

The procurement was completed following an open procedure, with contracts awarded across 11 separate lots. ARRIVA Durham County won the Darlington 16, 17 and 18 services and the Middlesbrough evening, Sunday and Cypress Road/Nunthorpe provision. Cleveland Transit Ltd won the other nine lots: Darlington/Stockton 6 and 6a; Hartlepool 3 and 3A; Middlesbrough 13 and 13B and Riverside Park RP1; Stockton 35; Redcar and Cleveland 1 and 2; Stockton/Hartlepool X40 and X41; and the two new services. Awards were made on 30 January 2026. Individual awarded values ranged from £72,000 to £322,000 excluding VAT. Contracts began on 29 or 30 March 2026 and were scheduled to end on 18 July 2026, with a two-month extension option. Quality carried 30% of evaluation, price 50% and social value 20%.

This award shows demand from Tees Valley Combined Authority for operators able to deliver supported bus routes across several local authority areas, including weekday, evening and Sunday provision and links to schools, hospitals, town centres and employment or retail destinations. A credible competitor would need the operational capacity to run defined local routes reliably and cover the service patterns and geographic spread represented by the lots. The procurement was divided into route-based packages, each considered separately, and SMEs were identified as suitable. Evaluation gave half the score to price, with the remainder split between quality responses and social value. One lot attracted two bids while each of the other ten attracted one, indicating limited competition in most packages in this procurement. The successful suppliers were established bus operators.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

TVCA-PROC-0731 - Supported Bus Services

Notice Description

Tees Valley Combined Authority (the 'Contracting Authority'), part of the Tees Valley Combined Authority Group are seeking to reprocure Supported Bus Services across the Tees Valley region. Within this tender, the services below are separated into lots. Each lot has a separate financial threshold. Contracts have been awarded under each Lot. For transparency, the contracts for all Lots have been signed between 25th February 2026 and 13th April 2026 due to delays with TVCA's signing process. 1: Darlington Services - 16, 17 & 18 2: Darlington and Stockton Services - 6 & 6a 3: Hartlepool Services - 3 & 3A 4: Middlesbrough Service - Covering Evenings, Sundays, and daytime provision to Cypress Road & Nunthorpe (Currently provided under Service 29) 5: Middlesbrough Service - 13 & 13B 6: Middlesbrough Service - RP1, covering Riverside Park 7: Middlesbrough Service - 35 8: Redcar & Cleveland Services - 1 & 2 9: Stockton and Hartlepool services - X40 & X41 10: Hartlepool Service 11: Darlington & Stockton Service

Lot Information

Darlington Services - 16, 17 & 18

Lot 1: Darlington Services - 16, 17 & 18. Financial Threshold for 4 months: PS110,000. Financial Threshold for 6 months (if 2 month optional extension is utilised): PS165,000.

Renewal: There is the option to extend the contract for an additional 2 months.

Darlington and Stockton Services - 6 & 6a

Lot 1: Darlington and Stockton Services - 6 & 6a . Financial Threshold for 4 months: PS239,000. Financial Threshold for 6 months (if 2 month optional extension is utilised): PS322,000.

Renewal: There is an option to extend for an additional 2 months.

Hartlepool Services - 3 & 3A

Lot 3: Hartlepool Services - 3 & 3A. Financial Threshold for 4 months: PS52,000. Financial Threshold for 6 months (if 2 month optional extension is utilised): PS75,000.

Renewal: There is an option to extend for 2 additional months.

Middlesbrough Service - Covering Evenings, Sundays, and daytime provision to Cypress Road & Nunthorpe (Currently provided under Service 29)

Lot 4: Middlesbrough Service - Covering Evenings, Sundays, and daytime provision to Cypress Road & Nunthorpe (Currently provided under Service 29) Financial Threshold for 4 months: PS75,000. Financial Threshold for 6 months (if 2 month optional extension is utilised): PS110,000.

Renewal: There is an option to extend for 2 additional months.

Middlesbrough Service - 13 & 13B

Lot 5: Middlesbrough Service - 13 & 13B Financial Threshold for 4 months: PS50,000. Financial Threshold for 6 months (if 2 month optional extension is utilised): PS72,000.

Renewal: There is an option to extend for an additional 2 months.

Middlesbrough Service - RP1, covering Riverside Park

Lot 6: Middlesbrough Service - RP1, covering Riverside Park. Financial Threshold for 4 months: PS80,000. Financial Threshold for 6 months (if 2 month optional extension is utilised): PS118,000.

Renewal: There is an option to extend for an additional 2 months.

Stockton Service - 35

Lot 7: Stockton Service - 35. Financial Threshold for 4 months: PS60,000. Financial Threshold for 6 months (if 2 month optional extension is utilised): PS91,000.

Renewal: There is an option to extend for an additional 2 months.

Redcar & Cleveland Services - 1 & 2

Lot 8: Redcar & Cleveland Services - 1 & 2. Financial Threshold for 4 months: PS165,000. Financial Threshold for 6 months (if 2 month optional extension is utilised): PS246,000.

Renewal: There is an option to extend for an additional 2 months.

Stockton and Hartlepool services - X40 & X41

Lot 9: Stockton and Hartlepool services - X40 & X41. Financial Threshold for 4 months: PS155,000. Financial Threshold for 6 months (if 2 month optional extension is utilised): PS231,000.

Renewal: There is an option to extend for an additional 2 months.

Hartlepool - New Service linking Elwick and Dalton Piercy with Hartlepool Sixth Form and Hartlepool Town Centre

Lot 10: Hartlepool Service. Financial Threshold for 4 months: PS75,000. Financial Threshold for 6 months (if 2 month optional extension is utilised): PS110,000.

Renewal: There is the option to extend the contract for an additional 2 months.

Darlington & Stockton - New Service linking Stillington, Whitton, Carlton, Redmarshall, Great Stainton to North Tees Hospital, Roseworth Tesco and Stockton High Street

Lot 11: Darlington & Stockton Service. New Service linking Stillington, Whitton, Carlton, Redmarshall, Great Stainton to North Tees Hospital, Roseworth Tesco and Stockton High Street. Financial Threshold for 4 months: PS75,000. Financial Threshold for 6 months (if 2 month optional extension is utilised): PS110,000.

Renewal: There is the option to extend the contract for an additional 2 months.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05f1ae
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/096882-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK11 - Contract Termination Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

CPV Codes

60112000 - Public road transport services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,650,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£1,650,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
£1,430,000 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
£1,430,000 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
14 Oct 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
19 Jan 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
30 Jan 20268 months ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Tees Valley Combined Authority
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
DARLINGTON
Postcode
DL2 1NJ
Postcode Area
Darlington
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC3 Tees Valley
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC33 Darlington
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Darlington
Electoral Ward
Sadberge & Middleton St George
Westminster Constituency
Stockton West

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
2
Supplier Names

Arriva Durham County Limited

CLEVELAND TRANSIT LTD.

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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