✓Tender information last checkedLast checked 5 Oct 2026, 14:51.
Opportunity overview
The proposed Bus Services Framework is being established to support the future procurement of a wide range of bus and passenger transport services. These include secured local bus services, schools and works transport, group travel, seasonal services, Metro replacement services, and other operational or emergency transport requirements. The framework will operate as a closed framework agreement for an initial three-year period, with the option to extend for up to 24 months. The total estimated framework value is up to £200 million across the potential five-year term.
Nexus currently spends around £20 million each year on bus service contracts procured through a number of separate tendering exercises. The new framework aims to provide a more efficient and flexible procurement route, reducing the need for repeated procurements while maintaining competition and supporting effective service delivery.
Classification
CPV34120000 — Motor vehicles for the transport of 10 or more persons
CPV60000000 — Transport services (excl. Waste transport)
Lots
Secured Local Bus Services£115m
Schools and Works Transport Services£45m
Taxibus Services£1m
Demand Responsive, Community and Flexible Transport Services£5m
Metro and Ferry Replacement Services£25m
Special Events, Seasonal and Partner-Funded Services£2m
Additional information from the published procurement release. Fields appear only when supplied by the source; check the original notice and tender documents before acting.
Pre-selected tenderers - utilities/not central government
Features
The Bus Services Framework will use a single procurement process where the PSQ and ITT are issued simultaneously, enabling suppliers to submit both their qualification information and framework tender response at the same time.
The process will operate as follows:
1. PSQ and ITT Issued
Nexus publishes the procurement documents, including the PSQ, ITT, and draft framework terms and conditions.
2. PSQ Assessment
Suppliers are assessed against the mandatory qualification requirements, including legal, financial, regulatory, and technical capability. The PSQ will be evaluated on a pass/fail basis.
3. ITT Evaluation
Only suppliers that successfully pass the PSQ stage will progress to ITT evaluation. Nexus will then evaluate the submitted operational, quality and social value responses to determine framework appointment.
4. Framework Award
Suppliers achieving the required standards will be appointed to the relevant framework lots. Appointment to the framework does not guarantee work but provides access to future call-off opportunities during the framework term.
This approach reduces procurement timescales by assessing qualification and tender submissions concurrently, while ensuring that only suitably qualified operators are considered for framework appointment.
Special regime
utilities
Participation Fees
Entry 1
Description
1. MANAGEMENT CHARGE
1.1 Where a Call Off Contract is awarded by a Participating Authority other than the Authority, the Supplier shall pay to the Authority a management charge equal to one per cent (1%) of the estimated total contract value of the relevant Call Off Contract, exclusive of VAT.
1.2 The management charge shall become payable upon award of the relevant Call Off Contract and the Authority shall be entitled to invoice the Supplier for such amount.
1.3 The Supplier shall pay all undisputed invoices submitted by the Authority under this paragraph within thirty (30) days of the date of invoice.
1.4 For the avoidance of doubt:
1.4.1 no management charge shall be payable in respect of Call Off Contracts awarded by the Authority itself; and
1.4.2 the management charge is payable only where a Call Off Contract is awarded and shall not be payable merely by virtue of the Supplier's admission to the Framework.
Id
ocds-h6vhtk-06eafa
Type
win
Relative Value
Proportion
0.01
Monetary Value
award
Techniques
Has Framework Agreement
Yes
Framework Agreement
Method
withAndWithoutReopeningCompetition
Type
open
Buyer Categories
The framework will be established by Nexus (Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive) and will include a Partner Organisation Access Lot (Lot 8), which is intended to allow other eligible public sector bodies to access the framework through their own call-off contracts.
Description
Selection and award process
Framework establishment:
- Suppliers submit responses to the PSQ and ITT.
- PSQ requirements are assessed on a pass/fail basis, covering legal, financial, technical, and regulatory capability.
- Operational, quality and social value tender responses are evaluated, and successful suppliers are appointed to the framework.
Call-off contracts:
When a requirement arises, Nexus will either:
1. Run a mini competition between relevant framework suppliers
2. Use a controlled direct award process for defined emergency or urgent requirements where permitted.
For most services, pricing will be established through call-off mini-competitions, where suppliers submit service-specific prices and any additional quality responses required for the contract. Nexus will evaluate bids using the published price, quality and social value methodology. The framework is intended to move away from a purely price-based approach and will include quality and social value considerations, with a minimum 10% weighting for social value. For emergency services, pre-agreed rates may be used to support direct awards or short-form mini-competitions.
Contracts will be awarded to the supplier offering the most advantageous tender based on the published evaluation criteria for the specific call-off. Evaluation weightings may vary depending on the service requirement, but will consider a combination of price, quality and social value, rather than price alone. Payment obligations only arise once a call-off contract has been awarded.
Buyer Location Restrictions
Entry 1
Gazetteer
Scheme
GB-ITL
Identifiers
UKC
Submission terms
Electronic Submission Policy
allowed
Languages
en
Expected award period
Ends
1 Dec 2026, 23:59
Lots and requirements
Entry 1
Id
1
Title
Secured Local Bus Services
Description
Provision of secured local bus services, including supported routes, socially necessary services, evening and Sunday services, network links, and other tendered bus operations. Call-offs may be awarded for individual routes, route packages, geographic areas, or service tranches.
Status
active
Value
Including VAT
138,000,000
Amount
115,000,000
Currency
GBP
Award criteria
Criteria
Criterion 1
Type
quality
Name
Core Quality Questions
Numbers
Entry 1
Number
80
Weight
percentageExact
Criterion 2
Type
quality
Name
Social Value
Numbers
Entry 1
Number
20
Weight
percentageExact
Contract period
Starts
1 Dec 2026, 00:00
Ends
30 Nov 2031, 23:59
Entry 2
Id
2
Title
Schools and Works Transport Services
Description
Provision of dedicated school, college, works and education-related transport services, including home-to-school transport, scholar services, academic-year contracts, and associated route requirements.
Status
active
Value
Including VAT
54,000,000
Amount
45,000,000
Currency
GBP
Award criteria
Criteria
Criterion 1
Type
quality
Name
Core Quality Questions
Numbers
Entry 1
Number
80
Weight
percentageExact
Criterion 2
Type
quality
Name
Social Value
Numbers
Entry 1
Number
20
Weight
percentageExact
Contract period
Starts
1 Dec 2026, 00:00
Ends
30 Nov 2031, 23:59
Entry 3
Id
3
Title
Taxibus Services
Description
Provision of fixed-route and timetabled Taxibus services using smaller vehicles such as taxis, private hire vehicles, MPVs, or accessible minibuses operated as registered local bus services.
Status
active
Value
Including VAT
1,200,000
Amount
1,000,000
Currency
GBP
Award criteria
Criteria
Criterion 1
Type
quality
Name
Core Quality Questions
Numbers
Entry 1
Number
80
Weight
percentageExact
Criterion 2
Type
quality
Name
Social Value
Numbers
Entry 1
Number
20
Weight
percentageExact
Contract period
Starts
1 Dec 2026, 00:00
Ends
30 Nov 2031, 23:59
Entry 4
Id
4
Title
Demand Responsive, Community and Flexible Transport Services
Description
Provision of demand responsive, community, accessible and flexible transport services, including feeder services, rural transport, community transport operations, mobility pilots and specialist passenger transport solutions.
Status
active
Value
Including VAT
6,000,000
Amount
5,000,000
Currency
GBP
Award criteria
Criteria
Criterion 1
Type
quality
Name
Core Quality Questions
Numbers
Entry 1
Number
80
Weight
percentageExact
Criterion 2
Type
quality
Name
Social Value
Numbers
Entry 1
Number
20
Weight
percentageExact
Contract period
Starts
1 Dec 2026, 00:00
Ends
30 Nov 2031, 23:59
Entry 5
Id
5
Title
Metro and Ferry Replacement Services
Description
Provision of planned and unplanned emergency replacement transport services to support disruption, engineering works, maintenance programmes and operational incidents affecting Metro and Ferry services. Call-offs may be awarded by direct award using the ranked supplier selection mechanism detailed in the ITT, or through a short-form mini-competition requiring suppliers to submit requirement-specific pricing.
Status
active
Value
Including VAT
30,000,000
Amount
25,000,000
Currency
GBP
Award criteria
Criteria
Criterion 1
Type
quality
Name
Core Quality Questions
Numbers
Entry 1
Number
80
Weight
percentageExact
Criterion 2
Type
quality
Name
Social Value
Numbers
Entry 1
Number
20
Weight
percentageExact
Contract period
Starts
1 Dec 2026, 00:00
Ends
30 Nov 2031, 23:59
Entry 6
Id
6
Title
Special Events, Seasonal and Partner-Funded Services
Description
Provision of transport services for special events, seasonal requirements, Boxing Day operations, park-and-ride services and other services funded by partner organisations, employers, educational institutions or public bodies.
Status
active
Value
Including VAT
2,400,000
Amount
2,000,000
Currency
GBP
Award criteria
Criteria
Criterion 1
Type
quality
Name
Core Quality Questions
Numbers
Entry 1
Number
80
Weight
percentageExact
Criterion 2
Type
quality
Name
Social Value
Numbers
Entry 1
Number
20
Weight
percentageExact
Contract period
Starts
1 Dec 2026, 00:00
Ends
30 Nov 2031, 23:59
Entry 7
Id
7
Title
Emergency Bus Services
Description
Provision of short-term emergency replacement bus services required to maintain bus service continuity. Call-offs may be awarded by direct award using the ranked supplier selection mechanism detailed in the ITT, or through a short-form mini-competition requiring suppliers to submit requirement-specific pricing.
Status
active
Value
Including VAT
6,000,000
Amount
5,000,000
Currency
GBP
Award criteria
Criteria
Criterion 1
Type
quality
Name
Core Quality Questions
Numbers
Entry 1
Number
80
Weight
percentageExact
Criterion 2
Type
quality
Name
Social Value
Numbers
Entry 1
Number
20
Weight
percentageExact
Contract period
Starts
1 Dec 2026, 00:00
Ends
30 Nov 2031, 23:59
Entry 8
Id
8
Title
Partner Organisation Access Lot
Description
Access route for eligible partner organisations to procure their own passenger transport services through the framework, including bus, school, replacement, community and event transport requirements, in accordance with the framework rules and access arrangements.
Status
active
Value
Including VAT
2,400,000
Amount
2,000,000
Currency
GBP
Award criteria
Criteria
Criterion 1
Type
quality
Name
Core Quality Questions
Numbers
Entry 1
Number
80
Weight
percentageExact
Criterion 2
Type
quality
Name
Social Value
Numbers
Entry 1
Number
20
Weight
percentageExact
Contract period
Starts
1 Dec 2026, 00:00
Ends
30 Nov 2031, 23:59
Items and delivery
Item 1
Id
1
Related Lot
1
Additional Classifications
Entry 1
Scheme
CPV
Id
34120000
Description
Motor vehicles for the transport of 10 or more persons
Entry 2
Scheme
CPV
Id
60000000
Description
Transport services (excl. Waste transport)
Delivery locations
Entry 1
Region
UKC
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Item 2
Id
2
Related Lot
2
Additional Classifications
Entry 1
Scheme
CPV
Id
34120000
Description
Motor vehicles for the transport of 10 or more persons
Entry 2
Scheme
CPV
Id
60000000
Description
Transport services (excl. Waste transport)
Delivery locations
Entry 1
Region
UKC
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Item 3
Id
3
Related Lot
3
Additional Classifications
Entry 1
Scheme
CPV
Id
34120000
Description
Motor vehicles for the transport of 10 or more persons
Entry 2
Scheme
CPV
Id
60000000
Description
Transport services (excl. Waste transport)
Delivery locations
Entry 1
Region
UKC
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Item 4
Id
4
Related Lot
4
Additional Classifications
Entry 1
Scheme
CPV
Id
34120000
Description
Motor vehicles for the transport of 10 or more persons
Entry 2
Scheme
CPV
Id
60000000
Description
Transport services (excl. Waste transport)
Delivery locations
Entry 1
Region
UKC
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Item 5
Id
5
Related Lot
5
Additional Classifications
Entry 1
Scheme
CPV
Id
34120000
Description
Motor vehicles for the transport of 10 or more persons
Entry 2
Scheme
CPV
Id
60000000
Description
Transport services (excl. Waste transport)
Delivery locations
Entry 1
Region
UKC
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Item 6
Id
6
Related Lot
6
Additional Classifications
Entry 1
Scheme
CPV
Id
34120000
Description
Motor vehicles for the transport of 10 or more persons
Entry 2
Scheme
CPV
Id
60000000
Description
Transport services (excl. Waste transport)
Delivery locations
Entry 1
Region
UKC
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Item 7
Id
7
Related Lot
7
Additional Classifications
Entry 1
Scheme
CPV
Id
34120000
Description
Motor vehicles for the transport of 10 or more persons
Entry 2
Scheme
CPV
Id
60000000
Description
Transport services (excl. Waste transport)
Delivery locations
Entry 1
Region
UKC
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Item 8
Id
8
Related Lot
8
Additional Classifications
Entry 1
Scheme
CPV
Id
34120000
Description
Motor vehicles for the transport of 10 or more persons
Buyer location · Newcastle upon Tyne · UKC22 · NE4 5DE · United Kingdom
Delivery location · UKC · United Kingdom
Notice and amendment history
3 published notice versions reviewed by ProcuraAxis.
3 VERSIONS
1
080557-2026Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ·
2
080680-2026Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ·
3
093829-2026Tender notice on Find a Tender ·
PROCURAAXIS ANALYSIS
ProcuraAxis Analysis
Our approved analysis of the opportunity appears below the official tender information.
ANALYSIS PREVIEW
Opportunity intelligence at a glance
Nexus is tendering a closed bus and passenger transport framework covering local bus, school and works transport, taxibus, demand-responsive/community transport, Metro and Ferry replacement, events and emergency services. The framework is valued at up to £200 million over up to five years.
Who this may suit
Suitable for bus operators and passenger transport providers able to deliver one or more of the eight service categories in the North East of England. Supplier qualification and submission requirements are not provided.
Key points identified
Service capabilityProvide passenger transport services within one or more framework lots.Evidence: The framework covers secured bus, school, taxibus, community, replacement, event and emergency transport services.
Taxibus operating modelOperate fixed-route and timetabled Taxibus services as registered local bus services, using taxis, private hire vehicles, MPVs or accessible minibuses.Evidence: Lot 3 description.
Submission requirementsUnknown.Evidence: No submission deadline or tender documentation setting out selection and submission requirements is supplied.
96% approved-analysis confidence5 supplier criteria identified4 risks or unknowns
ProcuraAxis structures information found in published procurement records, checks the result for consistency and publishes only approved analysis. Confidence describes the completeness and consistency of the available source information; it is not a guarantee of eligibility or contract award.
Nexus is tendering a closed bus and passenger transport framework covering local bus, school and works transport, taxibus, demand-responsive/community transport, Metro and Ferry replacement, events and emergency services. The framework is valued at up to £200 million over up to five years.
Who this may suit
Suitable for bus operators and passenger transport providers able to deliver one or more of the eight service categories in the North East of England. Supplier qualification and submission requirements are not provided.
Key deliverables
Secured local bus services
School, college and works transport
Taxibus and accessible minibus services
Demand-responsive and community transport
Metro, Ferry and emergency replacement services
Seasonal, special-event and partner-funded transport
SUPPLIER REQUIREMENTS
5 criteria identified
Service capability
98% confidence
Provide passenger transport services within one or more framework lots.
View supporting evidence
The framework covers secured bus, school, taxibus, community, replacement, event and emergency transport services.
Taxibus operating model
98% confidence
Operate fixed-route and timetabled Taxibus services as registered local bus services, using taxis, private hire vehicles, MPVs or accessible minibuses.
View supporting evidence
Lot 3 description.
Submission requirements
99% confidence
Unknown.
View supporting evidence
No submission deadline or tender documentation setting out selection and submission requirements is supplied.
Supplier eligibility criteria
99% confidence
Unknown.
View supporting evidence
No explicit supplier eligibility, financial standing, insurance, location, company-size or accreditation criteria are supplied.
Partner organisation access
95% confidence
Eligible partner organisations may procure passenger transport through Lot 8 in accordance with framework rules and access arrangements.
View supporting evidence
Lot 8 description.
COMMERCIAL AND DELIVERY
Contract intelligence
Commercial
Estimated total framework value
99% confidence
Up to £200,000,000.
View supporting evidence
Opportunity description and value_max.
Lot values
99% confidence
Lot 1 £115m; Lot 2 £45m; Lot 3 £1m; Lot 4 £5m; Lot 5 £25m; Lot 6 £2m; Lot 7 £5m; Lot 8 £2m.
View supporting evidence
Lot value_amount fields.
Framework term
99% confidence
Initial three years, with an extension option of up to 24 months.
View supporting evidence
Opportunity description.
Call-off award method
98% confidence
Lots 5 and 7 may use direct award through a ranked supplier selection mechanism or a short-form mini-competition with requirement-specific pricing.
View supporting evidence
Lot 5 and Lot 7 descriptions.
Delivery
Delivery area
93% confidence
UKC (North East England).
View supporting evidence
Delivery location region is UKC.
Delivery scope
98% confidence
Passenger transport operations, including planned, seasonal and emergency requirements.
View supporting evidence
Opportunity and lot descriptions.
PROCEDURE
How to respond
Notice status
98% confidence
Open tender.
View supporting evidence
display_status is open; source_status is active.
Procurement method
99% confidence
Selective; competitive flexible procedure.
View supporting evidence
procurement_method and procurement_method_details.
Framework type
99% confidence
Closed framework agreement.
View supporting evidence
Opportunity description.
Submission deadline
99% confidence
Unknown.
View supporting evidence
submission_deadline is null at opportunity and lot level.
RISKS AND UNKNOWNS
Points requiring attention
Missing submission deadline
99% confidence
The notice is marked open but no submission deadline is supplied.
View supporting evidence
Opportunity and all lot submission_deadline fields are null.
Closed framework
96% confidence
Suppliers not appointed to the framework may not access subsequent call-off opportunities.
View supporting evidence
The opportunity describes the arrangement as a closed framework agreement.
Emergency response demand
97% confidence
Lots 5 and 7 include planned and unplanned disruption or short-term emergency services, which may require rapid mobilisation.
View supporting evidence
Lot 5 and Lot 7 descriptions.
Call-off competition
96% confidence
Some replacement-service call-offs may be awarded by ranked direct award or mini-competition, creating uncertain future call-off volumes and award routes.
View supporting evidence
Lot 5 and Lot 7 descriptions.
ProcuraAxis analysis supplements, but does not replace, the original notice and tender documents. Always verify eligibility, deadlines and commercial terms with the issuing authority.
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