--- title: "Bus Services (Cumberland)" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-05251e" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05251e" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05251e.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05251e.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Award" buyer: "CUMBERLAND COUNCIL" published: "2025-10-14" --- # Bus Services (Cumberland) Buyer: CUMBERLAND COUNCIL Current stage: Award OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-05251e [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05251e) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05251e.json) ## Summary Cumberland Council has recently concluded an open procurement process titled "Bus Services (Cumberland)" aimed at enhancing road transport services, particularly in rural areas. The procurement, part of Cumberland's Bus Service Improvement Plan, was facilitated to deliver high-quality subsidised bus services across multiple routes. The contracts, valued at £2,585,499, have been awarded to Reays Coaches Limited and Stagecoach (North West) Limited and are set to commence on 3rd November 2025, running until 2nd November 2026, without the possibility of extensions. Conducted through an open procedure, the process included several procurement stages such as planning, tender, and award, with contracts now pending final signature following an 8-day standstill period starting 14th October 2025. This opportunity presents substantial growth possibilities for businesses within the transport sector, particularly those specialising in public road transport services. The engagement of both large-scale companies like Stagecoach and small to medium enterprises such as Reays Coaches illustrates the flexibility and inclusivity of the tender process, which specifically accounted for price, quality, and social value in its evaluation criteria. Suitable for both SMEs and larger enterprises, the open nature of the procurement method and the lack of extension options ensure opportunities for competitive bidding and future partnerships as the demand for enhanced and innovative transport solutions continues to grow. ## Notice Bus services are integral in Cumberland and establishing innovative approaches to the delivery of bus services and infrastructure, particularly within rural areas, can improve the lives of local people. With this in mind, Cumberland Council advertised a procurement opportunity that sought suitably qualified transport operators to deliver high quality subsidised bus services across a number of bus routes. This procurement has concluded and contracts are to be awarded to two suppliers for a total of 10 routes. These contracts will be awarded to start on 3rd November 2025 for a term of up to one (1) year, with no extensions available. The total value is PS2,585,499. Bids were evaluated and moderated according to the criteria as set out in the Invitation to Tender. From the date of this notice and in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023, the council will be observing a standstill period of 8 working days before entering into any contract. ### Planning Information You have been invited to a session on Wednesday 30 July at 5.30 with Cumberland's procurement team to discuss any procurement queries you may have. Please note we will not be discussing the routes which we will be going out for procurement just the process to support you to submit a tender. We are looking forward to seeing you at the session. Please advise sarah.hammond@cumbria.gov.uk of your attendance Thank you and best wishes ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/065357-2025 | | Notice type | UK6 - Contract Award Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Large, SME | | All stages | Planning, Tender, Award | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 14 Oct 2025 | | Submission deadline | 9 Sep 2025 | | Future notice date | 4 Aug 2025 | | Award date | 13 Oct 2025 | | Contract period | 3 Nov 2025 - 2 Nov 2026 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £3,565,574 | | Lots value | £3,565,574 | | Awards value | £2,585,499 | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Complete | | Lots status | Complete | | Awards status | Pending | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | CUMBERLAND COUNCIL | | Locality | CARLISLE | | Post town | Carlisle | | Postcode | CA1 1RD | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLD North West (England) | | ITL 2 | TLD1 Cumbria | | ITL 3 | TLD13 Cumberland | | Local authority | Cumberland | | Electoral ward | Castle | | Westminster constituency | Carlisle | | Delivery location | TLD1 Cumbria | ## Supplier | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Number of suppliers | 2 | | Supplier names | REAYS COACHES; STAGECOACH (NORTH WEST | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport) ### Codes - 60112000 - Public road transport services ## Release History - 14 Oct 2025 at 16:12 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/065357-2025 - 1 Sep 2025 at 11:38 - TenderUpdate - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/052779-2025 - 5 Aug 2025 at 17:24 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/046323-2025 - 23 Jul 2025 at 16:43 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/042539-2025 - 23 May 2025 at 17:29 - Planning - UK1 - Pipeline Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/027144-2025 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/065357-2025 14th October 2025 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/052779-2025 1st September 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/046323-2025 5th August 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/042539-2025 23rd July 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/027144-2025 23rd May 2025 - Pipeline notice on Find a Tender - www.the-chest.org.uk ## Notice URLs - http://www.reays.co.uk - http://www.stagecoachbus.com - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents ## 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-05251e. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05251e.json.