AWARD OUTCOME
What happened
North Northamptonshire Council has published an award notice for bus service 16, covering Monday-to-Saturday operation between Thrapston and Kettering Leisure Village, with projections to Raunds. The active award is to Midland Red (South) Limited for £188,150 gross.
Published outcomeAward announced to Midland Red (South) Limited. The record shows a future signature date of 13 October 2026, so it does not evidence that the contract has been signed.
Market significanceThis is a below-threshold transport-services award under an existing framework, with an initial period running from 14 October 2026 to 4 September 2027 and optional annual extensions.
AWARDED SUPPLIERS AND LOTS
1 supplier record analysed
MIDLAND RED (SOUTH) LIMITED
99% confidenceAward 1 · Lots 1 · 188150 GBP · Active award
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Award 1 names MIDLAND RED (SOUTH) LIMITED as supplier and states a gross value of GBP 188,150.
LIFECYCLE
Award or contract stage
Published notice type
99% confidenceContract award notice on Find a Tender (UK6)
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Award document 094960-2026 is described as a Contract award notice on Find a Tender.
Award status
98% confidenceActive
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Award 1 has status "active".
Award decision date
99% confidence30 September 2026
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Award 1 date is 2026-09-30.
Signature status
98% confidenceNot evidenced as signed; signature was scheduled for 13 October 2026
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Award milestone type "futureSignatureDate" has dueDate 2026-10-13 and status "scheduled".
VALUES
Published values explained
Award value
99% confidence£188,150 gross
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Award 1 value records amountGross 188150, amount 188150 and currency GBP.
Lot-level value
99% confidenceUnknown
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Lot 1 has no published value amount.
TIMELINE
Procurement timeline
Award decision date
99% confidence30 September 2026
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Award 1 date is 2026-09-30.
Scheduled signature date
98% confidence13 October 2026
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The futureSignatureDate milestone is due 2026-10-13.
Initial contract start date
99% confidence14 October 2026
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Award 1 contractPeriod startDate is 2026-10-14.
Initial contract end date
99% confidence4 September 2027
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Award 1 contractPeriod endDate is 2027-09-04.
Award notice publication date
99% confidence7 October 2026
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Award notice 094960-2026 was published 2026-10-07.
SCOPE
What was awarded
Service
98% confidenceOperation of bus service 16, Monday to Saturday
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The tender description states that quotations were invited for operation of bus service 16 on Monday to Saturdays.
Route coverage
96% confidenceThrapston and Kettering Leisure Village, with projections to Raunds
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The tender description specifies the service between Thrapston and Kettering Leisure Village and Thrapston with projections to Raunds.
Procurement category
99% confidencePublic road transport services (CPV 60112000)
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Award item 1 carries CPV 60112000, described as Public road transport services.
Delivery region
98% confidenceUKF25, United Kingdom
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Award item delivery address specifies region UKF25, United Kingdom.
PROCEDURE
Procedure and competition
Procurement method
99% confidenceSelective
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Tender procurementMethod is "selective".
Method detail
99% confidenceBelow threshold - award under framework
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Tender procurementMethodDetails states "Below threshold - award under framework".
Competition indicator
94% confidenceCompetitive procurement flagged
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Tender field competitive is true.
Framework reference
98% confidenceRelated framework process ocds-h6vhtk-05d849
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The release identifies a related process with relationship "framework" and identifier ocds-h6vhtk-05d849.
Bid count and evaluation details
99% confidenceUnknown
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Information not supplied in the published notice.
CONTRACT TERMS
Published contract terms
Initial term
99% confidence14 October 2026 to 4 September 2027
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Award 1 contractPeriod specifies these start and end dates.
Extension provision
99% confidenceOptional annual extensions
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Award 1 hasRenewal is true and renewal description states "Optional annual extensions".
Maximum extent date
99% confidence31 August 2030
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Award 1 contractPeriod maxExtentDate is 2030-08-31.
Contract signature
98% confidenceNot confirmed
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The only signature-related record is a scheduled futureSignatureDate milestone.
COMMERCIAL VIEW
Commercial observations
Award structure
98% confidenceOne active award covers the single published lot
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The tender contains lot 1 only, and award 1 relates to lot 1.
Value attribution
98% confidence£188,150 is attributable to the sole award and its sole named supplier
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Award 1 lists one supplier, MIDLAND RED (SOUTH) LIMITED, and records GBP 188,150.
Commercial basis
99% confidenceAwarded under a framework
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The procurement method detail says award under framework and identifies a related framework process.
DATA QUALITY
Gaps and source limitations
Notice status
99% confidenceAward notice published before the scheduled signature date
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The notice was published on 7 October 2026, while signature was scheduled for 13 October 2026.
Lot metadata
99% confidenceLot 1 has no published title, description or individual value
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The lot record contains no title, description or value amount.
Competition information
99% confidenceInformation not supplied in the published notice
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No bid count, bidder identities or evaluation results are included.
Pricing detail
99% confidenceInformation not supplied in the published notice
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The notice provides an award total but no pricing breakdown or unit rates.
SOURCE DATA LIMITATIONS
Information not supplied in the published notice
- The source does not confirm that the contract has been signed.
- Lot 1 has no published title, description or individual value.
- Bid count, bidder identities, evaluation results and award rationale are not published.
- The notice does not provide a pricing breakdown or unit rates.
- The notice does not state the number or timing of optional annual extensions.
MARKET THEMES
Relevant award themes
North Northamptonshire Councilbus service 16Midland Red South Limitedpublic road transport servicesThrapstonKetteringRaundsframework award
COMMON QUESTIONS
About this award
Who was awarded the bus service 16 contract?
MIDLAND RED (SOUTH) LIMITED is the named supplier for award 1.
What is the award value?
The published award value is £188,150 gross.
Has the contract been signed?
The published record does not confirm signature. It records a signature date scheduled for 13 October 2026.
How long is the initial contract period?
The stated initial period is 14 October 2026 to 4 September 2027, with optional annual extensions.
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.