--- title: "Bus Grant Fares and Ticketing - Kids Go Free - First Bus" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-055976" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-055976" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-055976.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-055976.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-055976 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-055976) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-055976.json) ## Summary The procurement process conducted by The West of England Combined Authority involves a direct award for the initiative titled "Bus Grant Fares and Ticketing – Kids Go Free - First Bus". This is categorised under the services industry and pertains specifically to the sale of travel tickets and package tours services, with the location centred in Bristol, United Kingdom. The procurement stage is currently at the award phase, with the contract period commencing on 19th July 2025 and concluding on 5th September 2025. The procurement method utilised is a direct award, justified under the Procurement Act 2023 due to the exclusive rights held by the supplier, First West of England Limited. The financial implication of this contract reveals a gross value of £880,844.40, with a net amount of £734,037.00. An important milestone is the standstill period, which ends on 16th July 2025. This procurement presents significant opportunities for businesses involved in the transportation and travel ticketing sector. With the direct award approach, companies that can offer unique services or hold exclusive rights have a chance to secure valuable contracts. The focus on facilitating free travel for under-16s aligns with broader public service initiatives, making it ideal for suppliers that can align their services with public accessibility and community benefit goals. Large-scale transportation companies, particularly those capable of managing subsidised fare initiatives, would find such opportunities lucrative for expanding their market coverage and enhancing community engagement. ## 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/037579-2025 | | Notice type | UK6 - Contract Award Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Direct | | Procurement method details | Direct award | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Large | | All stages | Award | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 4 Jul 2025 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | 1 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 | ## Supplier | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Number of suppliers | 1 | | Supplier names | FIRST WEST OF ENGLAND | ## 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 16:00 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/037579-2025 - 4 Jul 2025 at 16:00 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/037578-2025 - 4 Jul 2025 at 16:00 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/037577-2025 - 4 Jul 2025 at 15:59 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/037576-2025 - 4 Jul 2025 at 15:45 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/037568-2025 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/037579-2025 4th July 2025 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/037578-2025 4th July 2025 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/037577-2025 4th July 2025 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/037576-2025 4th July 2025 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/037568-2025 4th July 2025 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - http://firstbus.co.uk - 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-055976. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-055976.json.