Award

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

Lewis and Harris School and Public Bus Service 2026-31

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

11 Sep 2026 at 01:00

OJEU - F15 - Voluntary Ex Ante Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar procured school and public bus services covering routes throughout Lewis and Harris in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. The requirement combines transport for schools with public bus operations across the islands, under one service package. It is a services contract bought by the local authority for the benefit of school users and public transport passengers. The stated area includes Lewis and Harris rather than a single site, so delivery requires operation across the route network. The procurement is classified under passenger transport by bus (CPV 60112000). The selected supplier is Lochs Motor Transport Ltd, a small or medium-sized enterprise based in Stornoway, which was awarded the service.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded. Comhairle nan Eilean Siar used a limited negotiated procedure without prior publication of a call for competition, under regulation 33(1)(a) of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015. The authority had previously run an open procedure for the same requirement but abandoned it because none of the tenders could meet its stated needs. The contract covers one service package for a five-year period. Lochs Motor Transport Ltd was selected for the Lewis and Harris school and public bus services. The contract was signed on 10 September 2026 and is active, with a value of £20,000,000. The available procurement information does not set out separate scoring criteria.

For suppliers that did not win, this award demonstrates substantial demand from Comhairle nan Eilean Siar for integrated school transport and public bus operations across Lewis and Harris. A credible competitor for a future requirement would need the operational capacity to cover routes throughout both areas and to provide both types of service within a single managed arrangement. The incumbent’s SME status also indicates that delivery at this scale is not necessarily limited to a national transport group. Relevant strengths would include a suitable bus fleet, qualified drivers, scheduling and dispatch capability, vehicle maintenance arrangements, and the ability to maintain reliable services across an island-wide route network. Experience combining contracted school transport with public bus provision would be directly relevant when this buyer next considers the requirement.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Lewis and Harris School and Public Bus Service 2026-31

Notice Description

This requirement is for school and public bus services in Lewis and Harris, na h-Eileanan an Iar (the Outer Hebrides), Scotland, United Kingdom for a five year period.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Delivery of school and Public Bus Services throughout Lewis and Harris

Procurement Information

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar intends to award this contract using the negotiated procedure without prior publication under the conditions of regulation 33(1)(a) of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 (the "Regulations"). The Comhairle previously conducted a procurement under the open procedure for the provision of services to which this contract relates, which was advertised in terms of contract notice AUG561826 dated 6 August 2026 (the "Procurement"). The Comhairle decided to abandon the Procurement on the basis that none of the tenders received was capable of meeting the Comhairle's needs and requirements as specified in the procurement documents relative to the Procurement

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000842694
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP564380
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
OJEU - F15 - Voluntary Ex Ante Transparency Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

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
Not specified
Contracts Value
£20,000,000 £10M-£100M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
11 Sep 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
STORNOWAY
Postcode
HS1 2BW
Postcode Area
Outer Hebrides
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM2 Highlands and Islands
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM20 Highlands and Islands
Delivery Location
TLM64 Na h-Eileanan Siar
Local Authority
Na h-Eileanan Siar
Electoral Ward
Steòrnabhagh a Deas
Westminster Constituency
Na h-Eileanan an Iar

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

LOCHS MOTOR TRANSPORT LTD

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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.

Loading OCDS record...