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Bus Service

Bournemouth University

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

02 Oct 2026 at 17:05

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Bournemouth University, working with Arts University Bournemouth, plans to procure a university bus service for students and other passengers. The service is intended to connect the universities with core destinations across the South-East Dorset conurbation. The requirement covers passenger transport by road, using buses or coaches with drivers; it is a transport service rather than a purchase of vehicles alone. Delivery is in the United Kingdom, with the named university locations in Poole. The planning description establishes the broad purpose and geography of the service, while the buyer intends to develop the detailed requirements after gathering feedback from the transport market.

This is at the planning stage: the buyer has stated an intention to run an openly advertised tender later, and this process is not an invitation to tender or request for quotation. Bournemouth University plans preliminary market engagement to shape the requirements, procurement approach, participation conditions, award criteria, tender documents and likely contract terms. Suppliers were asked to register interest by email by 16 October 2026; the buyer expected one-to-one discussions with selected suppliers in the week commencing 2 November 2026, using questionnaire responses to shortlist. The next notice was expected on 16 November 2026. The planned service period runs from 1 August 2027 to 31 July 2030, with a possible extension to 31 July 2032. No budget or estimated contract value is stated.

The requirement is likely to suit bus and coach operators able to provide a managed, driver-operated passenger service connecting university sites and other core destinations across South-East Dorset. Suppliers with experience planning routes and delivering reliable local or regional passenger transport are well placed to contribute to the market engagement and help shape a workable service specification. At this stage the universities are seeking industry expertise on their requirements, the procurement procedure and participation or award criteria, potential contractual terms, and the suppliers capable of delivering the service. Engagement is voluntary; responses will not determine which suppliers can compete in the later tender or affect the evaluation of future bids. The buyer expects to advertise the future procurement openly, so participation in this preparatory exercise is not a prerequisite to bidding.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Bus Service

Notice Description

Bournemouth University (BU), in partnership with Arts University Bournemouth (AUB), requires a University Bus Service which enables students and passengers to travel to the university, from core destinations around the South-East Dorset conurbation.

Planning Information

The purpose of this PME is to gather industry expertise and feedback that will inform the development of our final project and procurement requirements. Objectives: • Developing the University’s requirements and approach to the procurement; • Designing a procedure, conditions of participation or award criteria; • Preparing the tender notice and associated tender documents; • Identifying suppliers that may be able to supply the goods, services or works required; • Identifying likely contractual terms; • Building capacity among suppliers in relation to the contract being awarded. Suppliers interested in participating in this PME process are required to express their interest by email to procurement@bournemouth.ac.uk with the subject heading “EST/OS/501 – Bus Service PME”. Once suppliers have expressed their interest we will provide further information on the requirements with a Questionnaire for your completion. BU are intending on holding one-to-one discussions/meetings with interested suppliers on the week commencing 02 November 2026. Suppliers will be shortlisted for meetings based on the answers provided in the Questionnaires. Please note that while we aim to engage with a broad range of suppliers, it may not be possible to invite all interested parties to a meeting. Participation in this exercise is voluntary, and there is no obligation for BU to meet with every supplier who expresses an interest and submits a completed Questionnaire. This PME is not a request for quotation. BU’s current intention is to conduct an openly advertised tender process at a later stage. There is no obligation for suppliers to respond to this PME. Supplier responses (or lack thereof) to this exercise will not be used to determine which suppliers will be carried forward to tender process or in any subsequent evaluation of supplier proposals. The University's current intention is that any future procurement opportunity arising from this requirement will be advertised separately at a later date.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-07802b
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/093551-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation

60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

63 - Supporting and auxiliary transport services; travel agencies services

CPV Codes

34121000 - Buses and coaches

60112000 - Public road transport services

60172000 - Hire of buses and coaches with driver

63515000 - Travel services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
2 Oct 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
16 Nov 20262 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Aug 2027 - 31 Jul 2030 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Bournemouth University
Additional Buyers

Arts University Bournemouth

Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
POOLE
Postcode
BH12 5BB
Postcode Area
Bournemouth
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK6 North Somerset, Somerset and Dorset
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK63 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Delivery Location
TLK South West (England)
Local Authority
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Electoral Ward
Talbot & Branksome Woods
Westminster Constituency
Bournemouth West

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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