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In deliveryUnited KingdomServicesFramework agreement£36,000,000Add to pipeline

North Northamptonshire Council Local Bus Framework

Awarded to BLAND'S (RUTLAND) LTD, CENTREBUS LIMITED, CommMiniBus Limited +2 more

North Northamptonshire Council(buyer)

Published
Published 31 October 2025
Deadline
Closed 5 December 2025
See 4 live opportunitiesHow Skim finds tendersView original notice ↗

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Overview

North Northamptonshire Council awarded a local bus services framework valued at £36 million to five operators: Bland's (Rutland) Ltd, Centrebus Limited, CommMiniBus Limited, Lawson's of Corby Ltd, and Midland Red (South) Limited. The framework, awarded in December 2025, aims to enhance accessibility across North Northants by replacing services previously procured by the former Northamptonshire County Council and introducing new services with potential commercial viability, with call-off contracts to be awarded via further competition.

Contracting authority

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Key details

Country
United Kingdom
Status
In delivery
Category
Services
Estimated value
£36,000,000
Procedure
Open procedure
Rules
Procurement Act 2023
Contract type
Framework agreement
SME suitable
Yes
Published
31 October 2025
Questions by
28 November 2025
Deadline
Closed
Classification (CPV)
Public road transport services

Award outcome

Awarded value
£36,000,000
Award date
19 December 2025
Contract period
2 February 2026 → 1 February 2030
Contract length
4 years
Bids received
5
Winners
  • BLAND'S (RUTLAND) LTD
  • CENTREBUS LIMITED
  • CommMiniBus Limited
  • LAWSON'S OF CORBY LTD
  • MIDLAND RED (SOUTH) LIMITED

This contract ends on 1 February 2030.

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Competition and scoring

Bids received

5

4 from SMEs

Open and restricted tenders in Transport services (excl. Waste transport) drew a median of 11 bids over the last 24 months; 9% received only one.

Who bid

  • BLAND'S (RUTLAND) LTDWinner
  • CommMiniBus LimitedWinner
  • MIDLAND RED (SOUTH) LIMITEDWinner
  • CENTREBUS LIMITEDWinner
  • LAWSON'S OF CORBY LTDWinner

How bids were scored

  • At Further competition stage only

Market context

Typical award in Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

£49,932

Median of 11,684 awards in the last 24 months

This award is 721.0× the median.

North Northamptonshire Council in the last 12 months

164

contracts awarded, worth £1,167,710,846 in total

See their procurement profile →

Recent awards in Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

The latest contracts other buyers awarded under the same classification.

Notice history

Every published notice in this contracting process, newest first.

  1. Contract

    21 August 2026

  2. Contract

    19 December 2025

  3. Contract Notice

    31 October 2025

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