---
title: "VEAT Notice - Bus Contingency Provision during the Commonwealth Games"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-034951"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-034951"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-034951.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-034951.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "WEST MIDLANDS COMBINED AUTHORITY"
published: "2022-06-22"
---

# VEAT Notice - Bus Contingency Provision during the Commonwealth Games

Buyer: WEST MIDLANDS COMBINED AUTHORITY  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-034951

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-034951)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-034951.json)

## Summary

The West Midlands Combined Authority is seeking to provide a contingency plan for bus services during the upcoming Commonwealth Games, which will be hosted in the West Midlands from 28 July to 9 August 2022. This procurement falls under the service category, specifically focusing on the hire of buses and coaches with drivers. The procurement method used is limited, negotiated without the publication of a contract notice, and was initiated due to extreme urgency stemming from potential industrial action on the UK rail network. The contracts, worth approximately £4,068,958, are scheduled to be in effect from 25 July to 9 August 2022.

This tender presents significant opportunities for bus and coach operators, especially those capable of mobilising resources quickly. Companies that specialise in providing transport services, particularly in regional contexts, would be well-suited to compete in this procurement process. Given the scale of the Commonwealth Games, operators with proven experience in managing large-scale transportation logistics and those who can guarantee timely service delivery will likely have a competitive advantage in securing contracts.

## Notice

There is a risk that industrial action on the UK rail network may coincide with the Commonwealth Games, which will be hosted in the West Midlands between 28 July and 9 August. On the busiest days, over 100,000 rail trips, as part of a journey to and from the Games, are predicted. The transport plan for the Games' venues indicates that approximately 40% of workforce and spectators would be expected to travel to the Games events by train. A contingency plan is therefore required should the rail network be unavailable, or severely reduced, due to industrial action.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

There is a risk that industrial action on the UK rail network may coincide with the Commonwealth Games, which will be hosted in the West Midlands between 28 July and 9 August. On the busiest days, over 100,000 rail trips, as part of a journey to and from the Games, are predicted. The transport plan for the Games' venues indicates that approximately 40% of workforce and spectators would be expected to travel to the Games events by train. A contingency plan is therefore required should the rail network be unavailable, or severely reduced, due to industrial action. This contingency plan is being developed by the Transport for West Midlands Team of the West Midlands Combined Authority ("WMCA") on behalf of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee. A key element of the contingency plan is to provide additional bus services within the West Midlands region, to provide additional shuttle services between venues, city centres and Park & Ride sites. Another important aspect is the provision of additional coach capacity from towns and cities across the UK, replacing the connections that would otherwise be offered by the rail network. Market assessment to identify and source additional buses and coaches in order to enact the contingency plan was undertaken at a time when there were and are many other calls on scarce buses, coaches and drivers, to serve other major events, airports, critical workplaces and provide rail replacement services. As a result, it was critical that WMCA secure bus operators in the shortest possible time and obtain the maximum number of resources mobilised and ready for 23rd July 2022. This will allow for driver route training and mobilisation plus Opening ceremony full dress rehearsals 24th and 26th July. As a consequence of a UK wide rapid market engagement with regional, national bus and coach operators WMCA has found capacity and capability that achieves the most desirable possible outcome given the current restrictions and direct awards, in accordance with Clause 32(2)(C) of the Public Contracting Regulations 2015, will be made at the end of a 10 day standstill period. This has enabled WMCA to acquire buses, coaches and drivers in the shortest possible time and maximise the resources available to deliver its contingency plan.

Options: The duration of the contracts are from 25th July - 9th August 2022

### Procurement Information

There is a risk that industrial action on the UK rail network may coincide with the Commonwealth Games, which will be hosted in the West Midlands between 28 July and 9 August. On the busiest days, over 100,000 rail trips, as part of a journey to and from the Games, are predicted. The transport plan for the Games' venues indicates that approximately 40% of workforce and spectators would be expected to travel to the Games events by train. A contingency plan is therefore required should the rail network be unavailable, or severely reduced, due to industrial action. This contingency plan is being developed by the Transport for West Midlands Team of the West Midlands Combined Authority ("WMCA") on behalf of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee. A key element of the contingency plan is to provide additional bus services within the West Midlands region, to provide additional shuttle services between venues, city centres and Park & Ride sites. Another important aspect is the provision of additional coach capacity from towns and cities across the UK, replacing the connections that would otherwise be offered by the rail network. Market assessment to identify and source additional buses and coaches in order to enact the contingency plan was undertaken at a time when there were and are many other calls on scarce buses, coaches and drivers, to serve other major events, airports, critical workplaces and provide rail replacement services. As a result, it was critical that WMCA secure bus operators in the shortest possible time and obtain the maximum number of resources mobilised and ready for 23rd July 2022. This will allow for driver route training and mobilisation plus Opening ceremony full dress rehearsals 24th and 26th July. As a consequence of a UK wide rapid market engagement with regional, national bus and coach operators WMCA has found capacity and capability that achieves the most desirable possible outcome given the current restrictions and direct awards, in accordance with Clause 32(2)(C) of the Public Contracting Regulations 2015, will be made at the end of a 10 day standstill period. This has enabled WMCA to acquire buses, coaches and drivers in the shortest possible time and maximise the resources available to deliver its contingency plan.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/017068-2022 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Limited |
| Procurement method details | Negotiated without publication of a contract notice |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 22 Jun 2022 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 21 Jun 2022 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £4,068,958 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | WEST MIDLANDS COMBINED AUTHORITY |
| Locality | BIRMINGHAM |
| Post town | Birmingham |
| Postcode | B19 3SD |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLG West Midlands (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLG3 West Midlands |
| ITL 3 | TLG31 Birmingham |
| Local authority | Birmingham |
| Electoral ward | Newtown |
| Westminster constituency | Birmingham Ladywood |
| Delivery location | TLG31 Birmingham |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 19 |
| Supplier names | ADVENTURE TRAVEL; BERRYS COACHES (TAUNTON; CHALKWELL COACH HIRE; COACH EVENTS SERVICES; D&G BUS; DEWS COACHES; FIRST SOUTH WEST; GO SOUTH COAST; HOLMESWOOD COACHES; JOHNSONS COACH & BUS TRAVEL; LONDON GENERAL TRANSPORT SERVICES; NEWPORT TRANSPORT; NOTTS + DERBY BUSES; PEOPLESBUS; R.E MORRIS & SONS; READING BUSES; ROBERTS TRAVEL GROUP; STEPHENSONS OF ESSEX; WEST MIDLANDS TRAVEL |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)
- 63 - Supporting and auxiliary transport services; travel agencies services

### Codes

- 60172000 - Hire of buses and coaches with driver
- 63712600 - Vehicle refuelling services

## Release History

- 22 Jun 2022 at 14:09 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/017068-2022

## Notice URLs

- http://www.coacheventsservices.co.uk
- http://www.johnsoncoaches.co.uk
- http://www.londoncentral.com
- http://www.truonian.co.uk
- http://www.wmca.org.uk

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-034951. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-034951.json.