---
title: "North Northamptonshire Council Bus Framework Mini-Competition CONTRACT PW2617"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06f511"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06f511"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f511.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f511.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "North Northamptonshire Council"
published: "2026-09-08"
---

# North Northamptonshire Council Bus Framework Mini-Competition CONTRACT PW2617

Buyer: North Northamptonshire Council  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06f511

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[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f511.json)

## Summary

North Northamptonshire Council procured local bus operation to strengthen existing commercial services 17, 18 and 19 between Ise Lodge and Desborough. The purpose is to provide three buses an hour along the corridor between Desborough and Kettering, with the service extended on the last bus to Thrapston via Barton Latimer. This is a passenger transport service rather than a vehicle supply or construction contract. Delivery is focused on the North Northamptonshire corridor, including Ise Lodge, Desborough, Kettering, Thrapston and Barton Latimer. The contracting authority is North Northamptonshire Council, based in Corby. The requirement is classified as road transport services and forms one bus-service requirement under the council’s framework mini-competition.

The procurement is complete and was awarded on 12 May 2026 to MIDLAND RED (SOUTH) LIMITED. It used a competitive selective mini-competition under a framework, with one completed lot. The awarded contract value is £1,500,000 including applicable taxes, and the contract period runs from 8 September 2026 to 3 September 2028. An optional extension could take the maximum end date to 2 September 2029. The award covers the operation of the specified local bus services and is recorded as active. The selected supplier is also identified as Stagecoach through its business contact details. The published outcome records competition under the framework as the basis for the award.

This award shows demand for commercially capable bus operators able to run frequent scheduled services across North Northamptonshire and connect market towns and surrounding communities. A credible future competitor would need the operational capacity to provide three buses an hour on the Desborough–Kettering corridor, maintain reliable service 17, 18 and 19 operations, and cover the extended final journey to Thrapston via Barton Latimer. Relevant strengths include local route planning, timetable and driver management, fleet availability, passenger service delivery and compliance with the requirements for operating local bus services. The winning supplier is a large transport business, indicating that scale and established bus-operating infrastructure were relevant to this requirement.

## Notice

1.1. North Northamptonshire Council (hereafter referred to as 'the Council') requires quotations for the operation of local bus service 17. North Northamptonshire Council (hereafter referred to as 'the Council') requires a contract for the strengthening of existing commercial buses services 17,18 and 19 between Ise Lodge and Desborough to provide a three bus an hour service on the corridor between Desborough and Kettering. The contract also contains a projection of the service on the last bus to Thrapston via Barton Latimer.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/085126-2026 |
| Notice type | UK6 - Contract Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Selective |
| Procurement method details | Award under framework |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 8 Sep 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 12 May 2026 |
| Contract period | 8 Sep 2026 - 3 Sep 2028 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £1,500,000 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | North Northamptonshire Council |
| Locality | CORBY |
| Postcode area | Northampton |
| Postcode | NN17 1QG |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLF East Midlands (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLF2 Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire |
| ITL 3 | TLF25 North Northamptonshire |
| Local authority | North Northamptonshire |
| Electoral ward | Corby West |
| Westminster constituency | Corby and East Northamptonshire |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | MIDLAND RED (SOUTH) LIMITED |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

### Codes

- 60100000 - Road transport services

## Release History

- 8 Sep 2026 at 18:06 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/085126-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/085126-2026
  8th September 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://www.stagecoachbus.com
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/api/1.0/ocdsReleasePackages/ocds-h6vhtk-05d849
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- https://www.northnorthants.gov.uk/

## 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-06f511. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f511.json.