---
title: "PL0093 - Project THRIVE"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-019a2898-a03f-4773-9241-903667a329b7"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-019a2898-a03f-4773-9241-903667a329b7"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-019a2898-a03f-4773-9241-903667a329b7.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-019a2898-a03f-4773-9241-903667a329b7.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL"
published: "2025-08-19"
---

# PL0093 - Project THRIVE

Buyer: ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-019a2898-a03f-4773-9241-903667a329b7

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## Summary

Essex County Council is overseeing "Project THRIVE", aimed at fostering growth in patronage of market town bus services within England, United Kingdom. Categorised under public road transport services, the project leverages funding from the Department for Transport’s Bus Service Improvement Plan Plus, amounting to £4.9 million annually over 2023/24 and 2024/25. As of 19 August 2025, the process is in the award stage with contracts allocated to First Essex Buses Ltd. The completed tender utilised an open procedure and the initiatives will be executed over a period from 17 March 2025 to 16 March 2027, though specific contracts run until 21 September 2027. This multi-lot tender includes various initiatives such as enhanced marketing and increased service frequency to ensure compliance with BSIP funding conditions.

This opportunity offers substantial growth potential for businesses adept at driving targeted marketing campaigns, digital promotions, or improving bus stop information. Ideal candidates for participation included those identified as SMEs or VCSEs, reflecting the suitability criteria of the tender. Businesses operating in public road transport services could enhance their operational scope by utilising innovative strategies to tap into new markets, grow patronage, and improve revenue streams. The contract provides opportunities particularly for dynamic suppliers capable of adapting services to meet community transport needs and implementing long-term patronage growth strategies, ultimately contributing to sustainable transport solutions across Essex.

## Notice

Project THRIVE - A research project that will investigate and evaluate a range of initiatives which aim to grow patronage on bus services. Essex County Council (ECC) has been allocated PS4.9m in 2023/24 and PS4.9m in 2024/25 from Department for Transport (DfT) Bus Service Improvement Plan Plus (BSIP+) funding, this BSIP+ funding will be used to support a range of initiatives that were set out in the Essex Bus Service Improvement Plan. The Thrive research project was originally set out in the Essex County Council Bus Service Improvement Plan 2021-2026 which was published in 2021. The aim of the Thrive research project is to explore what targeted measures may drive growth in market town bus services. This data led project will test a range of initiatives and assess which has the greatest impact on driving passenger growth. The initiatives delivered by suppliers identified through a multi-lot tender. The tendered project Lot's are: Marketing: Intense, traditional marketing campaign, including advertising, leaflet dropping and involvement of local councils to assist promotion (e.g. assist with promotion at transport hubs, tourist centres, etc). Digital Only Promotion: Digital and social media only promotion / marketing Better Information: Better information at bus stops along the route , through parishes, bus user groups, businesses, schools, clubs and communities. Increased frequency: Such as running the service every 30 minutes instead of hourly. ECC must ensure that all funding conditions under the BSIP+ Funding agreement are complied with - As defined in the BSIP Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) : 3.2 The Authority may use the funding to target it on the actions that they - and local operators through their Enhanced Partnership (where relevant) - believe will deliver the best overall outcomes in growing long term patronage, revenues and thus maintaining service levels, whilst maintaining essential social and economic connectivity for local communities. In some places that may involve ensuring existing connections are maintained (either by conventional services or DRT). Elsewhere it might be achieved through increasing the frequency on key corridors or the operating hours of some services whilst reducing others; or reducing fares or introducing new local concessions to open up new markets and revenue. 3.3 The funding must be spent on bus measures. 3.6 The funding should not be used to support generic marketing or advertising costs that are not directly related to specific improvements (such as a fares change, or new services). ECC intend to utilise a minimal SSQ which will assess Potential Supplier Information and Exclusion Grounds.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8a1672c5-ffa1-4f7a-b5b6-aa740101b9f3 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 19 Aug 2025 |
| Submission deadline | 7 Feb 2025 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 19 Jun 2025 |
| Contract period | 22 Jun 2025 - 21 Sep 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £2,000,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £257,000 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL |
| Locality | CHELMSFORD |
| Post town | Chelmsford |
| Postcode | CM1 1QH |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLH East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLH3 Essex |
| ITL 3 | TLH36 Heart of Essex |
| Local authority | Chelmsford |
| Electoral ward | Moulsham and Central |
| Westminster constituency | Chelmsford |
| Delivery location | TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England) |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | FIRST ESSEX BUSES |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

### Codes

- 60112000 - Public road transport services

## Release History

- 19 Aug 2025 at 10:05 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8a1672c5-ffa1-4f7a-b5b6-aa740101b9f3
- 13 Jan 2025 at 12:05 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/d87990bb-0373-40b1-8661-d6f6534ed2ab

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8a1672c5-ffa1-4f7a-b5b6-aa740101b9f3
  19th August 2025 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/d87990bb-0373-40b1-8661-d6f6534ed2ab
  13th January 2025 - Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder

## Notice URLs

- https://www.essex.gov.uk/

## Provenance

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