---
title: "West Midlands Combined Authority's Bus Franchising Programme Branding"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06f456"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06f456"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f456.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f456.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "West Midlands Combined Authority"
published: "2026-09-08"
---

# West Midlands Combined Authority's Bus Franchising Programme Branding

Buyer: West Midlands Combined Authority  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06f456

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## Summary

West Midlands Combined Authority commissioned branding services for its Bus Franchising Programme, delivered for utility transport buses. The work covers market research, marketing and graphic design services, including the development and application of branding for the programme and its buses. The buying organisation is West Midlands Combined Authority, a sub-central public authority based in Birmingham. The requirement is classified as a services contract and relates to public transport communications and visual identity rather than bus operation, vehicle supply or construction. Activity is associated with the West Midlands and the wider United Kingdom. The contract concerns one completed requirement covering the programme’s branding needs, with the buyer working through its transport-related public authority functions.

The procurement has been awarded and the tender is complete. West Midlands Combined Authority used a below-threshold limited competition under the utilities regime. One supplier was selected: HOW & HOW LTD. The contract was signed and began on 22 June 2026, running until 19 June 2028. Its gross value is £362,551.97. The award covers the single lot for the Bus Franchising Programme branding services. The published outcome identifies market research, marketing and graphic design as the service classifications. The award is active and the contract is active. The procurement was evaluated through the limited competition route; the available outcome data does not state individual scoring criteria or weightings.

This award shows sustained public-sector demand for integrated branding support around bus franchising and utility transport. A credible competitor for a future requirement would need to combine market research, marketing strategy and graphic design, rather than offering only isolated design production. The work is suited to an agency able to develop a coherent public transport brand and apply it consistently across bus-related communications and visual materials. Relevant capability would include understanding passenger-facing transport identities, translating programme objectives into usable branding, and managing a multi-year service relationship with a combined authority. The selected supplier is an SME, indicating that a specialist independent agency can compete for this type of public-sector branding work.

## Notice

West Midlands Combined Authority's and Transport for West Midlands Bus Franchising Programme Branding services for utilities transport buses.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/084794-2026 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Limited |
| Procurement method details | Below threshold - limited competition |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 8 Sep 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 22 Jun 2026 - 19 Jun 2028 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £362,551 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | West Midlands Combined Authority |
| Locality | BIRMINGHAM |
| Postcode area | Birmingham |
| Postcode | B19 3SD |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLG West Midlands (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLG3 West Midlands |
| ITL 3 | TLG31 Birmingham |
| Local authority | Birmingham |
| Electoral ward | Newtown |
| Westminster constituency | Birmingham Ladywood |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | HOW & HOW LTD |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

### Codes

- 79310000 - Market research services
- 79342000 - Marketing services
- 79822500 - Graphic design services

## Release History

- 8 Sep 2026 at 11:30 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/084794-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/084794-2026
  8th September 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://how.studio/
- 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-06f456. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f456.json.