Official UK procurement notice
North-South Wales Coach Operator Service (Bangor - Carmarthen)
Authority: Transport for Wales (TFW) (Public body)
What is being bought
Published requirement description*** Previous UK12 Procurement Termination Notice published in error - OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-069f20 ***
To confirm, award decision made in line with previous UK4 Tender Notice.
The Welsh Government (WG) and Transport for Wales (TfW) share a clear ambition to deliver a more accessible, efficient and sustainable transport network across Wales. Along the west coast of Wales, this includes improving public transport connectivity and encouraging a modal shift away from private car use, in line with the National Transport Delivery Plan and Regional Transport Plans.
A Welsh Transport Appraisal Guidance (WelTAG) Stage 3 appraisal identified the introduction of an express coach service between Bangor and Carmarthen as the preferred intervention to support these objectives. By reducing the number of intermediate stops, improving journey times and providing a high-quality onboard passenger experience, the service is intended to attract longer-distance travellers, including students, tourists and local residents. It will also aid future strategic investment in the wider public transport network and support the delivery of integrated, multimodal travel across Wales.
Transport for Wales intends to introduce the service in October 2026 through the appointment of one or more operating partners following completion of a competitive procurement process.
Read the full description (412 more characters)
The contract will appoint one or more suitably qualified operators to deliver the express coach service on behalf of Transport for Wales. The successful operator(s) will be responsible for the operation of the service in accordance with the contract specification, including day-to-day service delivery, and compliance with all operational, safety and performance requirements established by Transport for Wales.
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · no lot value publishedLot #1Lot 1Awarded
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Direct award
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Notice status
- Awarded without competition
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Utilities
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Direct award — no call for competition
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- No (one-off requirement)
- First published
- 9 Sept 2026, 16:52 BST
- Last source update
- 9 Sept 2026, 16:52 BST
- Authority reference
C001366.00- Latest notice
- Transparency notice (UK5)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f601
- Why no open competition
- Urgency
- Published justification
- Please see previous OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-069f20 UK12 published in error. Publication of a UK5 only way to enable progression to a UK6. To confirm, this is not a Direct Award. A Competitive Flexible Procedure has been undertaken via a UK4.
- Risks
- As per OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-069f20
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics — not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
Edwards CoachesSME25 Oct 2026 — 24 Oct 2027 · up to 24 Oct 2030Extensions: Initial term of one (1) year, with the option to extend for three (3) x further periods of up to one (1) year, at TfW's sole discretion. · Options: While additional purchases are not more…anticipated at this time, TfW may require variation to volumes and frequencies of scope in the future. If such a requirement is established, variations will be processed via the contracted change control process and subject to compliance with the Procurement Act 2023 Regulations and internal governance procedures. | £14,097,511 | — | Standstill |
Notice history
2 events · 1 release on Find a Tender · since 9 Sept 2026- Contract signature expected21 Sept 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
- Transparency notice published9 Sept 2026, 16:52 BSTUK5
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- Edwards Coaches LtdAwarded supplierView supplier profile →
Official documents & specifications (2)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Conflict of interest declarationNot published
Notices published for this procedure
- Transparency notice Transparency notice on Find a Tender