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Published 31 Oct 2025, 15:37 GMT

Official UK procurement notice

North Northamptonshire Council Local Bus Framework

Official notice

Authority: North Northamptonshire Council (Local council)

Open framework schemeServicesOpen procedureAbove thresholdSME suitableVCSE suitable
Sectors: Transport & Passenger Services (60) Delivery: East Midlands (UKF2)
Framework ceiling (notional)£36,000,000framework ceiling, not attributable revenue
Submissions closed 5 Dec 2025awarded 19 Dec 2025
Awarded to BLAND'S (RUTLAND) LTD +4 more
Framework period 4 yrsends 1 Feb 2030 · starts 2 Feb 2026

Re-procurement plannedNorth Northamptonshire Council Transport to School and Social Care Transport Framework · tender expected

What is being bought

Published requirement description

North Northamptonshire Council has developed a bus framework which will play a role in enhancing accessibility across North Northants. As a relatively new authority, this

framework aims to either replace services previously Procured by the former Northamptonshire County Council, and/or to introduce new services, with the potential for them to be commercially viable by the end of the contracts. This framework will be opened

in accordance with the requirements under the Procurement Act 2023 and all call off contracts will be awarded via further competition only.

  • Not divided into lots: Although this requirement could be broken into lots, perhaps by vehicle type / size doing so would not benefit providers or the Council. The market is small and it would be likely that lots would consist of very few providers / very low competition. There are no direct awards via this framework, only further competitions which will consist of all providers being invited to take part. Further competitions will consist of a variety of contract sizes and requirements which would suit both large providers SME's and VCSE.
  • The authority expects to re-tender this requirement around 1 Dec 2026, 23:59 GMT.
  • No preliminary market engagement: The Procurement in this instance is to create a framework, which was considered that engagement did not materially affect the procurement procedure, criteria, or specifications. The window to apply is also longer than the minimum requirement allowing more time for providers to ask clarification questions, if this is deemed necessary.

CPV: Public road transport services

How this framework works

From the published notice
Type
Closed framework · open framework scheme (admission reopens)
Call-offs
every call-off is a further competition among the appointed suppliers
Bids received
5 bids received · 5 suppliers appointed
Framework period
4 yrs from 2 Feb 2026
Scheme runs until
1 Feb 2030
Published description of the framework

As per the specification document for each of the further competitions. Usually the date rate for a specific bus service.

Call-offs published through it7

Notices that name this framework as their framework in the official record, latest 5 of 7. Many call-offs are never published, so this is a floor, not utilisation.

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · value published
Lot #1Awarded 4 yrsSMEVCSEPublished value£36,000,000
Contract period: 2 Feb 2026 – 1 Feb 2030 (4 yrs)Value: £36,000,000 exc. VAT · £43,200,000 inc. VAT
Delivery: East MidlandsEligibility: SME eligibleVCSE eligible
60112000 Public road transport services

What it takes to win
i

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 more
How bids were scored
  • At Further competition stage only: At further competition stage both quality and price will be considered criteria for each individual further competition required.
What this means for your bid
  • “North Northamptonshire Council Local Bus Framework” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, not a single contract: each call-off is a further competition, so the pricing contest starts after appointment.

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record
Procedure method
Open procedure
Legal basis
UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
Procurement category
Services
Notice status
Awarded
Procurement threshold
Above threshold (FTS publication)
Regulatory regime
Standard
Commercial structure
Open framework scheme
Who may use this agreement
Not stated in the notice; call-off rights may be limited to the establishing authority
Competition type
Competitive procedure
GPA / WTO covered
Unspecified in notice
Recurring procurement
Yes · next expected 1 Dec 2026
First published
31 Oct 2025, 15:37 GMT
Last source update
21 Aug 2026, 19:36 BST
Award evaluation window
Submission end – 16 Dec 2025
Authority reference
NNC00000656
FTS notice number
2025/S 000-070191
Latest notice
Contract details notice (UK7)
Classification (CPV)
Public road transport services
Delivery area
East Midlands (UKF2)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-05d849 Find a Tender

How it was run

Official notice
Run through: In-tend · Who buys & how to bid on In-tend
Supplier login requiredElectronic submission allowedLanguage: EN
Access & registration note: Free · one account per buying organisation's portal · reCAPTCHA on signup
Appointment period ends
5 Dec 2025, 13:00 GMT
Clarification deadline
28 Nov 2025, 16:00 GMT
Submission channel
Official e-sourcing portal
Electronic submission
Allowed
Accepted languages
en
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

in-tendhost.co.uk/nnc/aspx/Home ↗

Timeline

31 Oct 2025 → 21 Aug 2026 · 8 dates
  1. Tender notice published356 days ago
    31 Oct 2025, 15:37 GMT
  2. Clarification questions by328 days ago
    28 Nov 2025, 16:00 GMT
  3. Admission / appointment period ends321 days ago · period end, not a bid countdown
    5 Dec 2025, 13:00 GMT
  4. Award decision expected by310 days ago
    16 Dec 2025, 23:59 GMT
  5. Assessment summaries sent308 days ago
    19 Dec 2025
  6. Standstill ends290 days ago
    5 Jan 2026, 23:59 GMT
  7. Contract starts263 days ago
    2 Feb 2026
  8. Latest notice published62 days ago
    21 Aug 2026, 19:36 BST

Notice history

5 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 31 Oct 2025
  1. Tender notice published
    31 Oct 2025, 15:37 GMT
    UK4
  2. Contract award notice published
    19 Dec 2025, 11:07 GMT
    UK6
  3. Status changed to complete
    19 Dec 2025, 11:07 GMT
  4. Contract signature expected
    6 Jan 2026, 23:59 GMT
    scheduled
  5. Contract details notice published
    21 Aug 2026, 19:36 BST
    UK7

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Suppliers appointed 51 award · see the list ↓
Bids received 54 from SMEs
Named bidders 5published on the award notice
Contracts signed 1latest 30 Jan 2026
Awarded toValueDateStatus
BLAND'S (RUTLAND) LTDSME, Centrebus LimitedSME, CommMiniBus LimitedSME, Lawson's of CorbySME, Midland Red (South) Limited2 Feb 2026 – 1 Feb 2030£36,000,00019 Dec 2025Awarded

Contracts

Bid statistics published by the authority

BidsSMEVCSEValid bid range
5final-stage tenders40—

Who bid

Bidders as named on the Procurement Act 2023 award notice. “Won” means the bidder holds an award on this notice.

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

North Northamptonshire Council

Contracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central government GB-PPON: PQCM-5634-HGCN The Corby Cube, George Street, Corby, East Midlands, NN17 1QGContact email

Framework contractors & participating bidders

5 commercial parties on the notice
  • BLAND'S (RUTLAND) LTDFramework contractorGB-COH: 04674751GB-PPON: PWNY-8485-GRLM 1 The Forum Minerva Business Park, Peterborough, East of England, PE2 6FTContact email
  • CENTREBUS LIMITEDFramework contractorGB-COH: 03872099GB-PPON: PMCQ-6846-ZRCY 43 Wenlock Way, Leicester, East Midlands, LE4 9HUContact email
  • CommMiniBus LimitedFramework contractorGB-COH: 12407664GB-PPON: PLJC-2246-QZWG 10 Hamblin Court, Rushden, East Midlands, NN10 0RUContact email
  • LAWSON'S OF CORBY LTDFramework contractorGB-COH: 08777516GB-PPON: PJRZ-3219-NJCZ 12 Crucible Road, Corby, East Midlands, NN17 5TSContact email
  • MIDLAND RED (SOUTH) LIMITEDFramework contractorGB-COH: 01556310GB-PPON: PMCT-4725-ZDYW One Stockport Exchange, Stockport, North West, SK1 3SWContact email

Official documents & specifications (3)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure

  • Contract details notice contractContract details noticeUK7Contract details notice on Find a Tender
  • Contract award notice awardContract award noticeUK6Contract award notice on Find a Tender
  • Tender notice tenderTender noticeUK4Tender notice on Find a Tender