---
title: "Bus Grant Fares and Ticketing - Kids Go Free - December - First Bus"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-05f1c8"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05f1c8"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05f1c8.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05f1c8.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "THE WEST OF ENGLAND COMBINED AUTHORITY"
published: "2025-12-09"
---

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

Buyer: THE WEST OF ENGLAND COMBINED AUTHORITY  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-05f1c8

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05f1c8)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05f1c8.json)

## Summary

The procurement process detailed involves The West of England Combined Authority, located in Bristol, United Kingdom. The contract titled "Bus Grant Fares and Ticketing – Kids Go Free - December - First Bus" targets the services industry, particularly within the travel tickets and package tours segment. This initiative, designed to support free travel for under 16s over the Christmas period, was awarded through a direct award procurement method due to exclusive service rights held by the supplier, First West of England Limited. The procurement is in the award stage, with a contract period from 20th December 2025 to 4th January 2026. Key dates include the scheduled end of the standstill period on 18th December 2025 and the contract signature scheduled for 20th December 2025.

This tender presents an opportunity for large businesses with a focus on transport services, particularly those capable of meeting specific service delivery within exclusive rights settings. Companies in the travel and transport sector who hold or can strategically gain similar exclusive service rights would be well-suited to compete in such tenders. By participating, businesses can enhance their market presence, leverage exclusive service territories, and potentially influence future public procurement strategies by establishing strong relationships with public authorities like The West of England Combined Authority.

## Notice

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

### Procurement Information

he 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/081061-2025 |
| 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 | 9 Dec 2025 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 26 Nov 2025 |
| Contract period | 20 Dec 2025 - 4 Jan 2026 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £233,673 |
| 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

- 9 Dec 2025 at 13:59 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/081061-2025
- 9 Dec 2025 at 13:48 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/081055-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/081061-2025
  9th December 2025 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/081055-2025
  9th December 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-05f1c8. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05f1c8.json.