Tender

Provision and Operation of Local Bus Services across South Yorkshire

SOUTH YORKSHIRE MAYORAL COMBINED AUTHORITY

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

21 May 2026 at 16:31

Summary of the contracting process

The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority is inviting tenders for the provision and operation of local bus services across South Yorkshire, including school services in Barnsley and other routes in Doncaster. This procurement process is focused on the services industry and is currently in the tender stage, with submissions to be made by 18 June 2026. The contract is expected to commence on 30 August 2026 and run until 4 September 2027, with options for a two-year extension based on performance. The procurement follows an open procedure, and the total contract value is estimated at £2,628,000. Interested businesses can access all relevant bidding documents via the ProContract tender portal.

This opportunity presents a significant prospect for businesses specialising in passenger transport services to expand their operations by partnering with a public authority. The procurement is well-suited for SMEs and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) due to its consideration of cost and quality, with price holding a 90% weight in the award criteria. The contract spans one year with a potential two-year extension, allowing successful bidders to establish a long-term presence in the region. Companies experienced in the hire of transport vehicles with drivers, particularly those familiar with regional transport needs, are well-positioned to compete for this tender and contribute to enhancing public transport services in South Yorkshire.

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How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Provision and Operation of Local Bus Services across South Yorkshire

Notice Description

1South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) are currently seeking tenders from companies who are interested in operating local bus including services in South Yorkshire. The Authority anticipates that the contract will start as follows: Batch 26006 (Barnsley schools): 1 September 2026 - 31 July 2027 (190 schooldays) Batch 26008 (Service 51 - Doncaster): 30 August 2026 - 4 September 2027 (53 weeks) The Authority reserves the right to extend the contract for a further 2 years subject to satisfactory performance.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: The Authority reserves the right to extend the contract for a further 2 years subject to satisfactory performance.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06a004
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/047409-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)


CPV Codes

60170000 - Hire of passenger transport vehicles with driver

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£2,190,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£2,190,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 May 20262 days ago
Submission Deadline
18 Jun 20264 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
29 Aug 2026 - 4 Sep 2027 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
SOUTH YORKSHIRE MAYORAL 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
SHEFFIELD
Postcode
S1 2BQ
Post Town
Sheffield
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLE Yorkshire and The Humber
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLE3 South Yorkshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLE32 Sheffield
Delivery Location
TLE3 South Yorkshire

Local Authority
Sheffield
Electoral Ward
City
Westminster Constituency
Sheffield Central

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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