---
title: "Provision of Local Bus Transport for Students to New College Durham"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-05a723"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05a723"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05a723.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05a723.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "NEW COLLEGE DURHAM"
published: "2025-11-21"
---

# Provision of Local Bus Transport for Students to New College Durham

Buyer: NEW COLLEGE DURHAM  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-05a723

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## Summary

New College Durham has concluded a direct award contract with Go North East Limited for the provision of local bus transport services to facilitate student travel to the college's sites within County Durham. The contract was awarded on 7th November 2025 and is to run until 26th June 2026. The procurement process was governed by the Procurement Act 2023, recognising Go North East's exclusive operational capability to deliver the required services. This contract falls under the services category with a gross value of £1,119,840. The procurement stage is complete, focusing on transport services and involving regular, flexible schedules, numerous access points, affordable solutions, and modern ticketing systems.

This contract represents a significant opportunity for large transport providers with the capacity to handle complex logistical operations, as it requires comprehensive coverage, fleet readiness, and advanced digital service offerings. For businesses in the transport sector, particularly those with established networks and technological infrastructure, participating in similar tenders can enhance their portfolio and secure long-term governmental partnerships. The emphasis on direct award indicates potential for businesses with unique capabilities and resources aligned with specific contract requirements.

## Notice

The contracting authority has awarded a contract for the provision of local bus transport services to facilitate the travel of students from all surrounding areas to New College Durham sites within County Durham. The service must provide: * Frequent services to accommodate flexible college hours, recognising that students do not always travel within traditional core times. (covering all routes during college hours every 15 minutes) * Numerous pick-up and drop-off locations across the surrounding areas to ensure accessibility for all students. * Affordable transport solutions, taking into account the financial pressures on students and families. * Modern ticketing options, including the use of a mobile app or travel card, to allow easy access, booking, and monitoring of journeys. The service is required for a period of ten (10) months

### Procurement Information

This contract is being directly awarded without competition under the relevant provisions of the Procurement Act 2023 on the grounds that only Go North East has the operational capability, fleet availability, established network, and route coverage necessary to deliver the required services in full. Key reasons include: * Exclusive Coverage: Go North East is the sole operator with an existing network of scheduled and supported services covering all surrounding areas of County Durham required for student transport. * Operational Readiness: The provider already operates buses on the required routes and can mobilise immediately without the need for additional infrastructure or licensing. * Service Flexibility: Go North East has the fleet and scheduling capacity to deliver services across a broad range of hours, matching the flexible nature of college timetables. * Accessibility: The operator can provide numerous pick-up and drop-off points to match the college's requirements. * Affordable Travel: Go North East is uniquely positioned to deliver services at affordable student rates through its established fare structures and concessionary schemes. * Digital Ticketing: The provider already offers modern travel solutions including mobile apps and travel cards, which are necessary for student convenience and efficient service management. * No Viable Alternative: Market assessment confirmed that no other local operator can provide comprehensive coverage across the catchment area while meeting the frequency, affordability, and technology requirements.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/075951-2025 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details 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 | 21 Nov 2025 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 2 Oct 2025 |
| Contract period | 7 Nov 2025 - 26 Jun 2026 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £1,119,840 |
| Contracts value | £1,119,840 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | NEW COLLEGE DURHAM |
| Locality | DURHAM |
| Post town | Durham |
| Postcode | DH1 5ES |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLC North East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear |
| ITL 3 | TLC41 Durham |
| Local authority | County Durham |
| Electoral ward | Framwellgate and Newton Hall |
| Westminster constituency | City of Durham |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | GO NORTH EAST |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

### Codes

- 60000000 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

## Release History

- 21 Nov 2025 at 11:21 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/075951-2025
- 27 Oct 2025 at 16:26 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/068703-2025
- 2 Oct 2025 at 14:37 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/061846-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/075951-2025
  21st November 2025 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/068703-2025
  27th October 2025 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/061846-2025
  2nd October 2025 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://www.gonortheast.co.uk
- 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-05a723. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05a723.json.