Award

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

THE WEST OF ENGLAND COMBINED AUTHORITY

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

09 Dec 2025 at 13:59

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

09 Dec 2025 at 13:48

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process detailed involves The West of England Combined Authority, located in Bristol, United Kingdom. The contract titled "Bus Grant Fares and Ticketing – Kids Go Free - December - First Bus" targets the services industry, particularly within the travel tickets and package tours segment. This initiative, designed to support free travel for under 16s over the Christmas period, was awarded through a direct award procurement method due to exclusive service rights held by the supplier, First West of England Limited. The procurement is in the award stage, with a contract period from 20th December 2025 to 4th January 2026. Key dates include the scheduled end of the standstill period on 18th December 2025 and the contract signature scheduled for 20th December 2025.

This tender presents an opportunity for large businesses with a focus on transport services, particularly those capable of meeting specific service delivery within exclusive rights settings. Companies in the travel and transport sector who hold or can strategically gain similar exclusive service rights would be well-suited to compete in such tenders. By participating, businesses can enhance their market presence, leverage exclusive service territories, and potentially influence future public procurement strategies by establishing strong relationships with public authorities like The West of England Combined Authority.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Bus Grant Fares and Ticketing - Kids Go Free - December - 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 over the Christmas period.

Procurement Information

he 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-05f1c8
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/081061-2025
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

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
£233,673 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
9 Dec 20252 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
26 Nov 20252 months ago
Contract Period
20 Dec 2025 - 4 Jan 2026 30 days
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
info@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

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

FIRST WEST OF ENGLAND

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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