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Contracted Enhancements to Local Bus Services

Bedford Borough Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

23 Oct 2026 at 15:49

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Bedford Borough Council is seeking operators to provide contracted enhancements to local bus services in Bedford. The work is public road passenger transport (CPV 60112000), serving Hillgrounds Road and Saxon Centre, Putnoe, Woodlands Park and Abbey Fields. Services should bring public transport within 400 metres of residents’ homes in the named areas and improve connections to Bedford Hospital’s North and South Wings, Bedford Bus Station, Bedford and Kempston town centres, and other socially necessary destinations. Operators may incorporate the areas into existing networks and provide additional commercially viable services beyond the minimum required. The procurement is divided into options covering each area individually, combinations of areas, and an all-destinations solution.

The Council invited offers through an open procedure. Bids could be submitted for any or all of the seven lots, with no limit on the number a supplier could win. The Council will compare bids within each lot, then choose the combination of lots that gives it the best commercial position and value for money, aiming to cover all areas where possible. The bid deadline was 18 November 2026 at 12:00; the stated award decision date was 10 December 2026. Contracts were planned to run from 4 January 2027 to 3 January 2028, with an option to extend once for 12 months. The overall estimated value is £800,000 excluding VAT (£960,000 including VAT). Price carries 70% of the evaluation; quality accounts for the remaining 30%, covering passenger benefits, commercial conflicts, ticketing, driver training, customer communications and four local social-value measures.

This suits bus operators able to run local services in Bedford and design routes that connect residential areas with hospitals, bus stations, town centres and other socially necessary destinations. Suppliers with an existing network may be able to build the required provision into their operations, while proposals can also offer additional commercially viable services. The scope ranges from a single neighbourhood to combined areas or the whole service, allowing operators to bid at a scale that fits their operations; the Council may select a combination of bids rather than award every lot. Strong proposals will demonstrate broad passenger benefits and address potential commercial conflicts, ticketing choices, driver training and customer communications. The evaluation also rewards commitments on local employment, environmental impacts, local supply chains and community benefits. No specific accreditation or prior experience requirement is stated in the procurement details.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Contracted Enhancements to Local Bus Services

Notice Description

Bedford Borough Council wishes to tender for contracted enhancements to local bus routes, enhancing the existing town centre network. Bidders will submit proposals to enhance bus services on a contracted basis. Key locations are: o Hillgrounds Road and Saxon Centre o Putnoe Lane o Woodlands Park o Abbeyfields Proposals must aim for each resident of the above locations to be able to access public transport within 400 metres of their home address. Services must provide enhanced access to key hubs and services, eg Bedford Hospital (North and South Wings), Bedford Bus Station and Bedford and Kempston Town centre, and should be designed more generally with the aim of providing enhanced connectively to socially necessary locations. Transport provision to these locations on the day of operation and time of service is a minimum provision required. Operators are permitted the flexibility to incorporate these areas into their existing network and enhance the minimum requirement on a commercial basis where they deem it is appropriate. Further details are contained within the specification.

Lot Information

Lot 1 - Hillgrounds Road and Saxon Centre

To provide transport provision to Hillgrounds Road and Saxon Centre to the minimum service level stipulated in the Specification document.

Renewal: Option to extend by one period of 12 months

Lot 2 - Woodlands Park

To provide transport provision to Woodlands Park to the minimum service level stipulated in the Specification document.

Renewal: Option to extend by one period of 12 months

Lot 3 - Abbey Fields

To provide transport provision to Abbey Fields to the minimum service level stipulated in the Specification document.

Renewal: Option to extend by one period of 12 months

Lot 4 - Putnoe

To provide transport provision to Putnoe to the minimum service level stipulated in the Specification document.

Renewal: Option to extend by one period of 12 months

Lot 5 - Hillgrounds and Putnoe

To provide transport provision to Hillgrounds and Putnoe to the minimum service level stipulated in the Specification document.

Renewal: Option to extend by one period of 12 months

Lot 6 - Abbey Fields and Woodlands Park

To provide transport provision to Abbey Fields and Woodlands Park to the minimum service level stipulated in the Specification document.

Renewal: Option to extend by one period of 12 months

Lot 7 - All destinations

To provide transport provision to all locations to the minimum service level stipulated in the Specification document.

Renewal: Option to extend by one period of 12 months

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-078f70
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/100673-2026
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
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

CPV Codes

60112000 - Public road 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
23 Oct 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
18 Nov 20263 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
4 Jan 2027 - 3 Jan 2028 6-12 months
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
Bedford Borough 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
BEDFORD
Postcode
MK42 9AP
Postcode Area
Milton Keynes
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH2 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH24 Bedford
Delivery Location
TLH24 Bedford
Local Authority
Bedford
Electoral Ward
Cauldwell
Westminster Constituency
Bedford

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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