AWARD OUTCOME
What happened
Translink has concluded and signed a single-supplier framework with BAMFORD BUS COMPANY LIMITED for wheelchair-accessible, diesel low-emission double-deck buses for stage-carriage operations.
Published outcomeAward 1 covers lot 1 and names BAMFORD BUS COMPANY LIMITED as the verified supplier. The contract record is active and states it was signed on 14 October 2026.
Market significanceThe framework has a stated net value of £60 million (£72 million gross), with an initial three-year term and potential extensions of up to 60 months.
AWARDED SUPPLIERS AND LOTS
1 supplier record analysed
BAMFORD BUS COMPANY LIMITED
99% confidenceAward 1 · Lots 1 · £60,000,000 net; £72,000,000 gross GBP · verified supplier; award and associated contract active
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Award 1 names supplier GB-COH-12214576 for lot 1. Supplier verification matched company number 12214576 to BAMFORD BUS COMPANY LIMITED. Contract 1 reports £60,000,000 amount and £72,000,000 amountGross.
LIFECYCLE
Award or contract stage
Planning notice published
99% confidence13 January 2026
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Release history lists planned procurement notice 002818-2026 released 2026-01-13.
Tender notice published
99% confidence12 February 2026
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Release history lists tender notice 012774-2026 released 2026-02-12.
Award announced
99% confidence10 August 2026
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Award record 1 has award_date 2026-08-10; release history lists contract award notice 075875-2026 on that date.
Contract signed and started
99% confidence14 October 2026
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Contract 1 is active, with dateSigned and period startDate both 2026-10-14.
Contract details published
99% confidence15 October 2026
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Contract document 097358-2026 was published 2026-10-15.
VALUES
Published values explained
Contract value, net
99% confidence£60,000,000
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Contract 1 value.amount is 60000000 GBP.
Contract value, gross
99% confidence£72,000,000
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Contract 1 value.amountGross is 72000000 GBP.
Value allocation
98% confidenceThe published contract value is associated with the single-supplier contract for lot 1.
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Contract 1 is linked to award 1, which names one supplier and related lot 1.
TIMELINE
Procurement timeline
Initial contract term
99% confidence14 October 2026 to 13 October 2029
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Contract 1 period runs from 2026-10-14 to 2029-10-13.
Maximum possible end date
99% confidence13 October 2034
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Contract 1 period.maxExtentDate is 2034-10-13.
Award-to-signing interval
98% confidenceAbout 65 days
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Award date is 10 August 2026 and contract dateSigned is 14 October 2026.
SCOPE
What was awarded
Requirement
99% confidenceSupply of wheelchair-accessible, diesel low-emission double-deck buses for stage-carriage operations.
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Tender title and description state this requirement.
Procurement category
99% confidenceGoods
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Award 1 mainProcurementCategory is goods.
Classification
99% confidenceCPV 34121000 — Buses and coaches
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Award item 1 additional classification is CPV 34121000, described as Buses and coaches.
Delivery region
99% confidenceNorthern Ireland (UKN)
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Award item 1 delivery address region is UKN.
Lot structure
99% confidenceOne lot (lot 1)
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Tender data lists lot 1; award 1 is related to lot 1.
PROCEDURE
Procedure and competition
Procedure
99% confidenceSelective procedure — competitive flexible procedure
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Tender procurementMethod is selective and procurementMethodDetails is Competitive flexible procedure.
Framework structure
99% confidenceClosed single-supplier framework without reopening competition
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Tender techniques state a framework agreement with method withoutReopeningCompetition, type closed, and description Single Supplier Framework.
Regime
99% confidenceUtilities; covered by the GPA
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Tender specialRegime is utilities and coveredBy lists GPA.
Competition data
99% confidenceNumber of tenders, bidder identities, evaluation scores and award rationale were not supplied in the published data.
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No bid-count, score, evaluation, or award-rationale fields are present in the supplied notice data.
CONTRACT TERMS
Published contract terms
Contract status
99% confidenceActive
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Contract 1 status is active.
Contract signing date
99% confidence14 October 2026
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Contract 1 dateSigned is 2026-10-14.
Extension provision
99% confidenceExtensions of up to 60 months
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Contract 1 hasRenewal is true and renewal description states Extensions of up to 60 months.
Maximum term
98% confidenceUp to eight years, if the stated extensions are used
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Initial period ends 13 October 2029 and maxExtentDate is 13 October 2034.
COMMERCIAL VIEW
Commercial observations
Commercial route to market
99% confidenceA single supplier can receive framework business without reopening competition.
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The framework is described as single supplier and method withoutReopeningCompetition.
Demand certainty
99% confidenceThe published record states the framework value but does not provide quantities, call-off commitments, pricing schedules or minimum purchase commitments.
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No quantities, pricing breakdown, call-off commitment, or minimum-volume terms are included in the supplied data.
Product focus
99% confidenceThe requirement is specifically for diesel low-emission double-deck buses rather than a broad vehicle fleet category.
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Tender description expressly specifies diesel low-emission double deck buses.
DATA QUALITY
Gaps and source limitations
Published contract evidence
99% confidenceA contract details notice provides an active contract status, signing date, term, extension provision and values.
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Contract 1 includes status, dateSigned, period, renewal and value fields; document 097358-2026 is a Contract details notice.
Lot detail
99% confidenceLot 1 has no published title, description or separate lot value.
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Supplied lot 1 record has null title, description and value_amount.
Competition and evaluation detail
99% confidenceInformation not supplied in the published notice.
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The supplied data contains no tender count, scoring, evaluation narrative, pricing comparison or award rationale.
Value presentation
99% confidenceBoth net and gross contract values are published; no pricing or quantity breakdown is supplied.
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Contract 1 reports amount £60,000,000 and amountGross £72,000,000, but no itemised pricing or quantities.
SOURCE DATA LIMITATIONS
Information not supplied in the published notice
- Lot 1 title, description and individual lot value were not supplied in the published data.
- Information not supplied in the published notice: tender count, bid prices, evaluation scores, award rationale and detailed pricing.
- No bus quantities, delivery schedule, call-off profile, minimum commitment or performance terms were supplied.
- The published extension description does not state how or when extensions will be exercised beyond allowing up to 60 months.
MARKET THEMES
Relevant award themes
Translink bus frameworkBAMFORD BUS COMPANY LIMITEDdouble-deck diesel busesNorthern Ireland bus procurementP-3370wheelchair-accessible buses
COMMON QUESTIONS
About this award
Who won Translink's P-3370 bus framework?
BAMFORD BUS COMPANY LIMITED, verified against company number 12214576.
What is the value of the framework?
The published contract value is £60 million net and £72 million gross.
When does the contract run?
The initial period is 14 October 2026 to 13 October 2029, with extensions of up to 60 months and a stated maximum end date of 13 October 2034.
What is being supplied?
Wheelchair-accessible, diesel low-emission double-deck buses for stage-carriage operations.
ProcuraAxis award analysis supplements, but does not replace, the official award notice, contract data or procurement documents. “Awarded” does not by itself prove that a contract has been signed.