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Provision of Local Bus Services

Buckinghamshire Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

22 Jul 2026 at 12:34

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Buckinghamshire Council is procuring supported local bus services as part of its wider public transport network. The requirement covers four service packages providing scheduled passenger transport across Buckinghamshire, including routes between Aylesbury and Thame, Aylesbury and Bicester, Bicester and Buckingham, and Aylesbury, Buckingham, Winslow, Bletchley and Milton Keynes. Services include village links, off-peak journeys, and school and commuter journeys, with some routes operating approximately every two hours and one operating six days a week. The contractor will provide suitable vehicles, trained staff, customer service arrangements, ticketing facilities and supporting technology. The services are intended to provide accessible, reliable and sustainable transport for residents and visitors, while meeting legal, regulatory and industry requirements.

The procurement has reached tender: Buckinghamshire Council invited offers through a below-threshold open competition, with electronic submissions allowed through its e-tendering platform. Clarification questions were due by 7 August 2026 at 12:00, and tender submissions were due by 21 August 2026 at 12:00. The four service packages are planned to run from 2 November 2026 to 21 November 2028. The total estimated value is £800,000 excluding VAT, or £960,000 including VAT. Bidders are assessed on the Most Advantageous Tender, with quality weighted at 40% and price at 60%. Each package is identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises, and bidders may review the requirements and submit through the Council’s e-tendering platform.

This opportunity suits bus and community transport operators able to run scheduled local passenger services across Buckinghamshire and neighbouring destinations. Strong candidates will have suitable vehicles, trained and competent drivers and operational staff, dependable scheduling and dispatch arrangements, and the capacity to provide village, school, commuter and off-peak journeys. Experience of customer service, ticketing systems, supporting transport technology and contract management will be relevant. Suppliers must demonstrate operational reliability, effective service improvement and a commitment to accessible, sustainable transport. They must also be able to comply with applicable legislation, regulatory requirements and industry standards, while supporting the Council’s social value objectives and delivering a positive passenger experience across one or more of the service packages.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of Local Bus Services

Notice Description

Buckinghamshire Council is seeking to appoint a suitably qualified and experienced service provider to deliver supported local bus services across the county. The services form part of the Council's wider public transport network and are intended to provide accessible, reliable and sustainable transport options for residents and visitors. The successful provider will be responsible for operating scheduled local bus services in accordance with the requirements set out in the tender documentation, including the provision of suitable vehicles, trained personnel, customer service arrangements, ticketing facilities and supporting technology. The services must be delivered in compliance with all relevant legislation, regulatory requirements and industry standards. The Council is seeking a contractor that can demonstrate a strong commitment to operational reliability, customer experience, effective contract management and continuous service improvement, whilst delivering value for money and supporting the Council's social value objectives. The contract will be awarded following a competitive tender process to the bidder submitting the Most Advantageous Tender based on the published award criteria.

Lot Information

Contract NL/110/28

110 & 111,112,113 (611) Services, approximately at a 2-hourly frequency, serving the "villages" route between Aylesbury and Thame, with various off-peak services to villages around Thame and a peak hour school and commuter requirement

Contract NL/16/28

16 (16A, 16S) & 17 Services linking Aylesbury, Waddesdon and Bicester six-days a week. These are via villages including Quainton and Steeple Claydon (route 16) or more direct via the A41 (route 17) with a variants at school and commuter times

Contract NL/18/28

18 (18A & 18S) A 2-hourly service linking Bicester, Steeple Claydon and Buckingham

Contract NL/60/28

60 & 70 (71) 2-hourly services linking Aylesbury and Buckingham via villages not on the A413, and Winslow, Bletchley and Milton Keynes.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06d0ca
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/069132-2026
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
Below threshold - open competition
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

CPV Codes

60100000 - Road transport services

60112000 - Public road transport services

60130000 - Special-purpose road passenger-transport services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£800,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 Jul 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
21 Aug 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
2 Nov 2026 - 21 Nov 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Buckinghamshire 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
AYLESBURY
Postcode
HP19 8FF
Postcode Area
Hemel Hempstead
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ13 Buckinghamshire
Delivery Location
TLJ13 Buckinghamshire
Local Authority
Buckinghamshire
Electoral Ward
Aylesbury North West
Westminster Constituency
Aylesbury

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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