Official UK procurement notice
Demand Responsive Bus Service
Authority: NORTH EAST LINCOLNSHIRE COUNCIL (Local council)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionNorth East Lincolnshire Council are seeking to appoint a new delivery partner for a transformational Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) service and the associated booking and scheduling provision. The DRT service is also known as Phone n Ride.
The aim is to provide an effective DRT service across the North East Lincolnshire area. Whilst the conventional bus network provides extensive coverage throughout the main urban areas of Grimsby and Cleethorpes, there are some journeys which cannot be made, either due to the location of the origin/destination points or at the time at which the individual wishes to travel. The aim of the DRT service is primarily to support accessibility for local residents who for whatever reason do not have appropriate access to conventional bus services.
- The authority expects to re-tender this requirement around 1 Mar 2029, 23:59 GMT.
- How the procedure runs: The competitive flexible procedure is made up of two stages: Stage 1 - Invitation to Tender Stage 2 - Demonstration Stage 1 involves tenderers submitting an invitation to tender. The tenderers response to quality will be evaluated during stage 1. Tenderers that remain in the process following the end of stage 1 will be invited to stage 2. Stage 2 will involved demonstration of software and evaluation of cost.
CPV: Hire of passenger transport vehicles with driver · Public road transport services · Special-purpose road passenger-transport services
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1AwardedRenewalPublished value£2,100,000
- Economic & financial standing
Economic and Financial Standing Information - tenderers to ensure that they have up-to-date economic and financial standing information available on the Find a Tender Service.
Insurance - Employer's (Compulsory) Liability Insurance = £10m
Public Liability Insurance = £5m, relevant motor vehicle insurance.
General Data Protection Regulations - tenderers demonstrate that they have implemented appropriate technical and organisational measures to ensure and demonstrate that the processing of personal data and sensitive personal data is performed in accordance with the GDPR.
Further details about the conditions of participation and the award criteria can be found in the associated tender documents - it put it on tenderers to check the tender documentation any other requirements that form part of the Conditions of Participation.
- Technical & professional ability
ISO27001:2022 - Information Security Management (including ISO27002 companion standard) or equivalent or approved.
ISO27017:2015 - Information security controls within a Cloud computing environment or equivalent or approved.
ISO27018:2019 - Protecting PII (personally identifiable information) in a public Cloud computing environment.
PSV "O" license for vehicles with up to eight service user's seats to enable vehicles to be used for bus services.
PSV "O" license for vehicles with a capacity between 9-16 seats.
Further details about the conditions of participation and the award criteria can be found in the associated tender documents - it put it on tenderers to check the tender documentation any other requirements that form part of the Conditions of Participation.
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Published sub-criteria (6)
- Customer Service: 5
- Out of Office Cover: 5
- Software System Implementation and Methodology: 6
- Cost: 60
- Social Value: 4
- Carbon Reduction: 4
Published award criteria (11)
- Accessibility Requirements: Pass/Fail
- Cloud Principles: Pass/Fail
- Service Implementation Plan: 8% Tenderers must score a minimum acceptable score of 3. Failure to do so may make your tender non-compliant.
- Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery: 8% Tenderers must score a minimum acceptable score of 3. Failure to do so may make your tender non-compliant.
- Customer Service: 5%
- Out of Office Cover: 5%
- Software System Implementation and Methodology: 6%
- Social Value: 4%
- Carbon Reduction: 4%
- Demonstration: Pass/Fail
- Cost: 60%
- Economic & financial standing
Economic and Financial Standing Information - tenderers to ensure that they have up-to-date economic and financial standing information available on the Find a Tender Service.
Insurance - Employer's (Compulsory) Liability Insurance = £10m
Public Liability Insurance = £5m, relevant motor vehicle insurance.
General Data Protection Regulations - tenderers demonstrate that they have implemented appropriate technical and organisational measures to ensure and demonstrate that the processing of personal data and sensitive personal data is performed in accordance with the GDPR.
Further details about the conditions of participation and the award criteria can be found in the associated tender documents - it put it on tenderers to check the tender documentation any other requirements that form part of the Conditions of Participation.
- Technical & professional ability
ISO27001:2022 - Information Security Management (including ISO27002 companion standard) or equivalent or approved.
ISO27017:2015 - Information security controls within a Cloud computing environment or equivalent or approved.
ISO27018:2019 - Protecting PII (personally identifiable information) in a public Cloud computing environment.
PSV "O" license for vehicles with up to eight service user's seats to enable vehicles to be used for bus services.
PSV "O" license for vehicles with a capacity between 9-16 seats.
Further details about the conditions of participation and the award criteria can be found in the associated tender documents - it put it on tenderers to check the tender documentation any other requirements that form part of the Conditions of Participation.
- Price carries 60 of 84 points: a 10% discount moves about 6 points. This one is won on the number: sharpen the price before polishing the prose.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Competitive flexible procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Cancelled
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Yes · next expected 1 Mar 2029
- First published
- 22 Oct 2025, 11:30 BST
- Last source update
- 2 Sept 2026, 09:36 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 15 Jul 2026
- Authority reference
100109236- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-030968- Latest notice
- Procurement termination notice (UK12)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-05d168Find a Tender
- How it runs
The competitive flexible procedure is made up of two stages:
Stage 1 - Invitation to Tender
Stage 2 - Demonstration
Stage 1 involves tenderers submitting an invitation to tender. The tenderers response to quality will be evaluated during stage 1. Tenderers that remain in the process following the end of stage 1 will be invited to stage 2.
Stage 2 will involved demonstration of software and evaluation of cost.
- Risks
In December 2024 the Government issued a White Paper on Local Government Re-Organisation entitled the "English Devolution White Paper".
In March 2025 Greater Lincolnshire submitted their suggested re-organisation plan to the Government and are awaiting a response.
Final proposals will be submitted in November 2025 and implementation of the changes is expected by Government to be by 2028 at the earliest.
Whilst the expected impact of most changes to Local Government will be settled at Government Level (Change in Law) please be aware that it may be government policy or expedient that any affected party will be recommended to agree bi-lateral or multi-lateral changes to their existing contractual arrangements.
There is a possibility that due to local government reorganisation this contract will need to be novated to another public body carrying out the same functions as the Authority.
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- 5 May 2026, 13:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 29 Apr 2026, 16:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Tenders can be submitted via uk.eu-supply.com/login.asp ↗
Timeline
22 Oct 2025 → 1 Oct 2026 · 9 dates- Planning notice published367 days ago22 Oct 2025, 11:30 BST
- Market engagement339 days ago19 Nov 2025, 23:59 GMT
The PME information can be found on the Council's e tendering portal YORtender. uk.eu-supply.com/login.asp ↗ Under the reference 104536.
Submissions and any clarifications are to be submitted via YORtender.
- Next notice expected285 days ago12 Jan 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Tender notice published205 days ago2 Apr 2026, 14:31 BST
- Clarification questions by178 days ago29 Apr 2026, 16:00 BST
- Submission deadline172 days ago5 May 2026, 13:00 BST
- Award decision expected by101 days ago15 Jul 2026, 23:59 BST
- Latest notice published52 days ago2 Sept 2026, 09:36 BST
- Contract starts24 days ago1 Oct 2026, 00:00 BST
Notice history
8 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 22 Oct 2025- Preliminary market engagement notice published22 Oct 2025, 11:30 BSTUK2
- Tender notice published2 Apr 2026, 14:31 BSTUK4
- Published value published: £2,100,0002 Apr 2026, 14:31 BST
- Status changed to active2 Apr 2026, 14:31 BST
- Procurement method changed2 Apr 2026, 14:31 BST
- Deadline published: 5 May 2026, 13:00 BST2 Apr 2026, 14:31 BST
- Procurement termination notice published2 Sept 2026, 09:36 BSTUK12
- Status changed to complete2 Sept 2026, 09:36 BST
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| supplier not published | — | 28 Aug 2026 | CancelledThe contracting authority has decided not to proceed with the award of this contract due to a change of direction in organisational priorities. This decision follows an internal review of strategic objectives and is made in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023 and Section A paragraph 24.1 of the Authority's tender documents. The procurement process is therefore concluded without award. It is anticipated that a new procurement exercise will commence mid to late October 2026. |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (5)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Bidding documents and specifications All associated tender documents are available via YORtender - https://yortender.eusupply.com/login.asp?B=YORTENDER Click on the link, then click on current tender opportunities, then search using the reference number.
- Technical specifications The technical specification is available via YORtender - https://yortender.eusupply.com/login.asp?B=YORTENDER Click on the link, then click on current tender opportunities, then search using the reference number.
Notices published for this procedure
- Procurement termination notice Procurement termination notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender