Award

TVCA-PROC-0717 Darlington Bus Services 3 &4

TEES VALLEY COMBINED AUTHORITY

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

18 Feb 2026 at 12:10

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

18 Feb 2026 at 10:06

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Tees Valley Combined Authority has completed the procurement process for the provision of Darlington Bus Services 3 & 4, with a contract awarded to Arriva Durham County Limited. The procurement process was initiated through direct procurement, specifically categorised as 'Below threshold - without competition'. This contract aims to provide public road transport services, underpinned by the Transport Act and Service Subsidy Agreements Regulations 2004. The contract award was finalised on 18th February 2026, with the service contract scheduled to commence on 29th March 2026 and run until 18th July 2026, with an optional extension until 26th September 2026. The procurement stage concluded with an award notice published in the UK6 transparency notice.

This tender represents a significant opportunity for businesses operating in the public road transport services industry, particularly large-scale operators capable of fulfilling service contracts in line with local government regulations. With the Tees Valley Combined Authority acting as the buyer and Arriva Durham County Limited successfully securing the contract, other transport companies aspiring to partake in similar future opportunities can benefit by demonstrating competitive service capabilities and governance compliance. Businesses can grow by building connections with local authorities and leveraging transport subcontracting possibilities that align with forecast expenditure patterns and de minimis contract goals.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

TVCA-PROC-0717 Darlington Bus Services 3 &4

Notice Description

Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA)(the 'Contracting Authority'), part of the Tees Valley Combined Authority Group, intend to award a contract for the provision of Darlington Bus Service 3 & 4. Award of De Minimis bus transport subsidy contract in line with the Transport Act and Service Subsidy Agreements (Tendering) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2004. Local authorities or Passenger Transport Authorities/Executives with forecast expenditure on bus service subsidies in any one year of PS600,000 or more will be able to spend up to 25% of this on de minimis contracts; within this 25% there is no limit on the expenditure in any one year that may be incurred on an individual de minimis contract or the amount of de minimis contract expenditure in any year with any single operator. To view this notice, please click here: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/delta/viewNotice.html?noticeId=1015400446

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0656ba
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/014708-2026
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
Below threshold - without competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
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
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£41,752 Under £100K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
18 Feb 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
25 Nov 20253 months ago
Contract Period
29 Mar 2026 - 18 Jul 2026 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
TEES VALLEY COMBINED AUTHORITY
Contact Name
Procurement
Contact Email
procurement@teesvalley-ca.gov.uk
Contact Phone
01325792600

Buyer Location

Locality
DARLINGTON
Postcode
DL2 1NJ
Post Town
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
1
Supplier Name

ARRIVA DURHAM COUNTY

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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