---
title: "Bus Grant Fares and Ticketing - Kids Go Free - First Bus"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-055975"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-055975"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-055975.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-055975.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "THE WEST OF ENGLAND COMBINED AUTHORITY"
published: "2025-07-04"
---

# Bus Grant Fares and Ticketing - Kids Go Free - First Bus

Buyer: THE WEST OF ENGLAND COMBINED AUTHORITY  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-055975

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-055975)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-055975.json)

## Summary

The procurement process, overseen by The West of England Combined Authority, involves a direct contract award for the "Bus Grant Fares and Ticketing – Kids Go Free" initiative with First Bus. The contract supports subsidised fares to provide free travel for children under 16. The award stage of this contract was initiated on 4th July 2025, with the contract period set from 19th July to 5th September 2025. Based in Bristol (postal code BS1 6AL), this tender falls under the industry category of "Sale of travel tickets and package tours services." The procurement was executed through a direct award method as per the Procurement Act 2023, justified by exclusive supplier rights wherein no reasonable alternatives exist.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses engaged in the provision of public transport services, particularly those with specialisms in ticketing and fare systems. Enterprises capable of offering similar exclusive services or those equipped to manage large-scale transport initiatives may find growth potential in securing similar contracts in the future. Additionally, businesses with innovative solutions or adaptations to support public transport authorities in enhancing subsidised fare programmes could leverage such projects to expand their market presence.

## Notice

This contract supports the Kids Go Free subsidised fare initiative that allows for free travel for the under 16s, with this supplier.

### Procurement Information

The Procurement Act 2023 (the Act) permits direct awards to be made in certain circumstances. The relevant justification is contained in Paragraph 5 of Schedule 5 of the Act which states: "The following conditions are met in relation to the public contract-- (a) due to a particular supplier having intellectual property rights or other exclusive rights, only that supplier can supply the goods, services or works required, and (b) there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works. [Emphasis added] Each of the bus operators has been awarded competitively tendered bus routes which they have exclusive rights to operate so that both limbs (a) and (b) are satisfied.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/037567-2025 |
| Notice type | UK5 - Transparency Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Direct award |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 4 Jul 2025 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 4 Jul 2025 |
| Contract period | 18 Jul 2025 - 5 Sep 2025 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £734,037 |
| 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 | THE WEST OF ENGLAND COMBINED AUTHORITY |
| Locality | BRISTOL |
| Post town | Bristol |
| Postcode | BS1 6AL |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLK5 West of England |
| ITL 3 | TLK51 Bristol, City of |
| Local authority | Bristol, City of |
| Electoral ward | Central |
| Westminster constituency | Bristol Central |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 63 - Supporting and auxiliary transport services; travel agencies services

### Codes

- 63512000 - Sale of travel tickets and package tours services

## Release History

- 4 Jul 2025 at 15:45 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/037567-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/037567-2025
  4th July 2025 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- https://www.westofengland-ca.gov.uk/about-us/contact-us/

## 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-055975. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-055975.json.