Scope
Reference
DN782811
Description
Award of De Minimis Bus Contracts.
Award of a number of subsidy contracts. These contracts are exempt from the Procurement Act 2023 regulations as they are awarded on a De Minimis basis as provided for under the Transport Act and Service Subsidy Agreements (Tendering) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2004.
Local authorities or Passenger Transport Authorities/Executives with forecast expenditure on bus service subsidies in any one year of £600,000 or more will be able to spend up to 25% of this on de minimis contracts; within this 25% there is no limit on the expenditure in any year with any single operator.
Contract 1. De Minimis subsidy for service 154 (M-F and Sun). Contract numbers 0632 - 0643 (Mon - Fri) and 0644-0646 (Sun)
Supplier
Contract value
- £331,024 excluding VAT
- £397,228 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Earliest date the contract will be signed
16 July 2025
Contract dates (estimated)
- 17 July 2025 to 16 March 2026
- 8 months
Main procurement category
Services
Options
The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid.
Possible amendment/addition to route to ensure needs of service users are met.
CPV classifications
- 60100000 - Road transport services
Contract locations
- UKF2 - Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire
Contract 2. De Minimis subsidy for service 93. Contract number 0624-0631
Supplier
Contract value
- £30,000 excluding VAT
- £36,000 including VAT
Below the relevant threshold
Earliest date the contract will be signed
16 July 2025
Contract dates (estimated)
- 17 July 2025 to 31 March 2026
- 8 months, 15 days
Main procurement category
Services
Options
The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid.
Amendment/addition to route to ensure needs of service users are met.
CPV classifications
- 60100000 - Road transport services
Contract locations
- UKF2 - Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire
Contract 3. De Minimis subsidy for service 2. Contract number 0648-0649.
Supplier
Contract value
- £31,185 excluding VAT
- £37,422 including VAT
Below the relevant threshold
Earliest date the contract will be signed
16 July 2025
Contract dates (estimated)
- 17 July 2025 to 16 March 2026
- 8 months
Main procurement category
Services
Options
The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid.
Addition/amendment to route to ensure service user needs are met.
CPV classifications
- 60100000 - Road transport services
Contract locations
- UKF2 - Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire
Other information
Description of risks to contract performance
Force majeure events, fuel shortages, staff shortages, service provider insolvency, legal, licencing and regulatory changes, strikes/union action, IT system failures, data breaches/hacking events, vandalism, disputes with sub-contractors.
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Direct award
Direct award justification
- Single supplier - intellectual property or exclusive rights
- Additional or repeat goods, services or works - extension or partial replacement
Whilst classed as a direct award, the award is exempt from the provisions of the Procurement Act by way of the De Minimis provisions set out in the Service Subsidy Agreements (Tendering) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2004.
No other operator could viably provide the necessary service and connections due to Centrebus, Central Connect and Kinchbus being the sole providers of the registered commercial services.
Local authorities or Passenger Transport Authorities/Executives with forecast expenditure on bus service subsidies in any one year of £600,000 or more will be able to spend up to
25% of this on de minimis contracts; within this 25% there is no limit on the expenditure in any one year that may be incurred on an individual de minimis contract or the amount of de minimis contract expenditure in any year with any single operator.
Suppliers
CENTRAL CONNECT TRANSPORT LIMITED
- Companies House: 09964786
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PWXQ-9484-GMPT
29 Arboretum Street
Nottingham
NG1 4JA
United Kingdom
Region: UKF14 - Nottingham
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): Yes
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Contract 2. De Minimis subsidy for service 93. Contract number 0624-0631
CENTREBUS LIMITED
- Companies House: 03872099
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PMCQ-6846-ZRCY
43 Wenlock Way
Leicester
LE4 9HU
United Kingdom
Email: chris.almond@centrebus.co.uk
Website: http://www.centrebus.info/
Region: UKF21 - Leicester
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): Yes
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Contract 1. De Minimis subsidy for service 154 (M-F and Sun). Contract numbers 0632 - 0643 (Mon - Fri) and 0644-0646 (Sun)
Kinchbus Limited
Mansfield Road
Heanor
DE75 7BG
United Kingdom
Email: talk@kinchbus.co.uk
Region: UKF13 - South and West Derbyshire
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): Yes
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Contract 3. De Minimis subsidy for service 2. Contract number 0648-0649.
Contracting authority
Leicestershire County Council
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PNHT-9235-VXDV
County Hall
Leicester
LE3 8RA
United Kingdom
Region: UKF22 - Leicestershire CC and Rutland
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government