Scope
Reference
06979-2025
Description
The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) supports the provision of an extensive passenger transport network across the West Midlands, both in fulfilment of statutory duties and to enable access to facilities and services.
Current Subsidised Bus Contracts expiring on 1st November 2025 and 3rd January 2026 need to be re-procured in order to ensure the routes contained within each contract remain operational. There are fourteen (14) contracts in total that are being tendered.
Please note the value of the procurement published is the total aggregrated value of all fourteen (14) contracts.
Please also note there are two (2) contract commencement dates within this round of bus tenders. The soonest contract start of 2nd November 2025 has been entered into this notice, however, there are contracts that will commence 4th January 2026. Full details of contract terms can be found within the Invitation to Tender documentation.
Total value (estimated)
- £20,079,770 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 2 November 2025 to 30 October 2027
- Possible extension to 29 October 2029
- 3 years, 11 months, 28 days
Description of possible extension:
Based on performance and available funding.
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 60000000 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)
- 34121100 - Public-service buses
Contract locations
- UKG - West Midlands (England)
Participation
Legal and financial capacity conditions of participation
A Financial viability self assessment will be carried out by the supplier, which they will be required to submit as part of their Tender Submisson.
This will be assessed in Two (2) stages, it will be ratified by the Authority prior to the evaluation of tenders. It will then be assessed again prior to award, once the total aggregated annual contract value is known for each bidder.
Full documentation and guidance is included within the 'Invitation to Tender' pack.
Technical ability conditions of participation
Please see Part 3 of the 'Qualification' envelope for a full list of our 'Conditions of Participation' for this opportunity. Please note all 'Conditions of Participation' must be passed in order for suppliers tenders to be considered further/evaluated.
Particular suitability
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Submission
Enquiry deadline
11 June 2025, 5:00pm
Tender submission deadline
27 June 2025, 5:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
4 August 2025
Recurring procurement
Publication date of next tender notice (estimated): 7 May 2029
Award criteria
| Name | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial/Price | Price | 100% |
Other information
Description of risks to contract performance
1) Worsening Highway Conditions
2) Exceptional Cost Inflation
3) Change to travel demand or travel patterns
Applicable trade agreements
- Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Open procedure
Special regime
Utilities
Justification for not publishing a preliminary market engagement notice
No Market Engagement has been undertaken for the contracts/services being tendered during this round. The decision not to conduct Market Engagement was taken due to potential major changes to the current West Midlands Bus network and the WMCA tendering/commercial model.
Market Engagement will form a key part in any future tender opportunities once the landscape is known, this opportunity to engage will be published to the open market via Find a Tender Service (FTS).
Contracting authority
West Midlands Combined Authority
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PGMD-1353-PZVX
16 Summer Lane
Birmingham
B19 3SD
United Kingdom
Email: procurement.team@wmca.org.uk
Website: http://www.WMCA.org.uk
Region: UKG31 - Birmingham
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government