Official UK procurement notice
South Yorkshire Bus Franchising Phase One
Authority: South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (Local council)
What is being bought2 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionSouth Yorkshire Bus Franchising Phase One:
Operators are invited to submit tenders for the delivery of franchised bus services across South Yorkshire. This procurement comprises two lots:
Lot 1 - Service delivery from Olive Grove Depot (Sheffield)
Lot 2 - Service delivery from Leger Way Depot (Doncaster)
Comprehensive requirements, specifications and submission instructions are set out within the Invitation to Participate'
- How the procedure runs: SYMCA are undertaking a Competitive Flexible Procedure in relation to this opportunity. The process undertaken will consist of the following: Stage 1: Invitation to Participate. This stage is open to all operators who are interested in bidding for the anchor depots referenced in this opportunity. Stage 2: Invitation to Negotiate. This stage will be restricted to shortlisted bidders following conclusion of stage 1. Further information can be found in the Invitation to Participate including the mechanism for contract awards.
CPV: Hire of buses and coaches with driver · Public road transport services
Lots and requirements (2)Procurement structure
2 lots · all with a published value (£522,582,459 together) · win at most 1 of them · same evaluation weights on every lotLot #1Olive Grove Depot - SheffieldRenewalPublished value£352,974,802
SYMCA require a bidder to operate and maintain the relevant depot and associated facilities at Olive Grove Depot within Sheffield, as provided by SYMCA, and to deliver the franchised bus services operated from that depot for the duration of contract term.
Lot #2Leger Way Depot - DoncasterRenewalPublished value£169,607,657
SYMCA require a bidder to operate and maintain the relevant depot and associated facilities at Leger Way Depot within Doncaster, as provided by SYMCA, and to deliver the franchised bus services operated from that depot for the duration of contract term.
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 award criteria (3)
- Quality
- Social Value
- Price
- Price carries 40 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 4 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
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
- Closed
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Utilities
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 18 Sept 2025, 12:52 BST
- Last source update
- 2 Apr 2026, 15:57 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 5 Jan 2027
- Authority reference
ProContract DN811809- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-030799- Latest notice
- Tender notice (UK4)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-059d1dFind a Tender- Contract terms summary
N/A
- How it runs
SYMCA are undertaking a Competitive Flexible Procedure in relation to this opportunity.
The process undertaken will consist of the following:
Stage 1: Invitation to Participate. This stage is open to all operators who are interested in bidding for the anchor depots referenced in this opportunity.
Stage 2: Invitation to Negotiate. This stage will be restricted to shortlisted bidders following conclusion of stage 1.
Further information can be found in the Invitation to Participate including the mechanism for contract awards.
- Risks
N/A
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- 5 May 2026, 17:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 22 Apr 2026, 12:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
All submissions must be via the following e tendering portal procontract.due-north.com ↗
Timeline
18 Sept 2025 → 5 Sept 2027 · 8 dates- Planning notice published18 Sept 2025, 12:52 BST
- Market engagement207 days ago31 Mar 2026, 23:59 BST
South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority is inviting bus operators to attend a Pre-Market Engagement Day 12 November 2025, to find out more about bidding for the first tranche of franchised bus services in South Yorkshire.
Background
In March 2025, Mayor Oliver Coppard confirmed the decision to franchise the South Yorkshire bus network. Now, the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) is preparing for a new era of bus services across Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield. The first services will begin in Sheffield and Doncaster in September 2027,
09:30 - 14:30 Wednesday 12 November 2025
Sheffield - location to be confirmed (Please note: this is an in-person event).
During this event, the bus franchising team at South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority will:
Share our vision and project timelines
Explain how procurement and contracting will work
Introduce the team behind the plans
Ask for bus operators views and feedback in shaping our journey.
Further information can be found via ProContract, Ref DN791163.
Who this event is for: This event is in-person and open to any bus operator who is interested in providing bus services in South Yorkshire.
- Tender notice published206 days ago2 Apr 2026, 11:49 BST
- Clarification questions by186 days ago22 Apr 2026, 12:00 BST
- Next notice expected176 days ago1 May 2026, 23:59 BST
- Submission deadline173 days ago5 May 2026, 17:00 BST
- Today25 Oct 2026
- Award decision expected byin 73 days5 Jan 2027, 23:59 GMT
- Contract startsin 315 days5 Sept 2027, 00:00 BST
Notice history
7 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 18 Sept 2025- Preliminary market engagement notice published18 Sept 2025, 12:52 BSTUK2
- Tender notice published2 Apr 2026, 11:49 BSTUK4
- Published value updated to £522,582,4592 Apr 2026, 11:49 BSTwas £0
- Status changed to active2 Apr 2026, 11:49 BST
- Procurement method changed2 Apr 2026, 11:49 BST
- Deadline published: 5 May 2026, 17:00 BST2 Apr 2026, 11:49 BST
- Tender notice published2 Apr 2026, 15:57 BSTUK4
Published amendments (1)
Typo error amended in description of Lot 1.2 - Leger Way.
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (4)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Bidding documents and specifications All associated information and tender documents are available free of charge via ProContract. The reference number is DN811809 There are no restrictions on who can register or bid for the opportunity via ProContract at this stage.
Notices published for this procedure
- Tender notice Tender 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