Bus Services Contract Awarded for Early Morning and Late Evening Routes
Summary
Portsmouth City Council has awarded a contract for BSIP-funded early morning and weekend late evening bus services on routes 1, 2, 3, 7, and 8. The contract, awarded to an incumbent operator due to technical and economic reasons, will run from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2026, to improve access to employment and support the night-time economy.
What changed
Portsmouth City Council has awarded a contract for additional early morning weekday and weekend late evening bus services on routes 1, 2, 3, 7, and 8. This award, funded by the Department for Transport's Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP), is for the period January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2026. The contract was awarded directly to the incumbent operator under Section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023, citing the absence of competition for technical and economic reasons, such as integration with existing services, ticketing systems, and operational efficiencies.
This notice serves as a contract award notice, indicating the procurement process is complete for this specific service enhancement. Regulated entities in the transportation sector, particularly those operating within the Portsmouth City Council area, should note the operational changes and funding mechanisms. While this is a contract award and not a rule imposing new obligations on external entities, it signifies a public sector investment in improving local transport infrastructure and accessibility.
Source document (simplified)
Award
BSIP Funded Early Morning and Weekend Late Evening Bus Services on Routes 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8
- Portsmouth City Council UK6: Contract award notice - Procurement Act 2023 - view information about notice types
Notice identifier: 2026/S 000-026502
Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-06719f (view related notices)
Published 23 March 2026, 5:38pm
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Contents
Scope Contract 1. BSIP Funded Early Morning and Weekend Late Evening Bus Services (Routes 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8) Procedure Supplier Contracting authority
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Description
The contract is for the provision of additional early morning weekday journeys and weekend late evening journeys on core bus routes within the Portsmouth City Council area.
The services supplement existing commercial bus services on routes 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8 and are funded by the Department for Transport through the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP). For the period 1st January 2026 to 31st December 2026.
The additional journeys are designed to integrate directly with the incumbent operator's existing commercial network, including route alignment, timetable integration and ticketing arrangements, in order to improve access to employment and support the night time economy.
This contract is awarded in accordance with Section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023, relying on Schedule 5, paragraph 6 - absence of competition for technical reasons.
The additional services must integrate seamlessly with the incumbent operator's existing commercial bus network. Each additional journey operates immediately before or after existing commercial services and, in some cases, only for part of the route.
There is no reasonable alternative supplier capable of delivering these services without causing disproportionate technical and economic difficulties, including:
• Inability to economically mobilise vehicles and staff for limited early morning and late evening operating windows;
• Requirement for passengers to change vehicles mid route if a different operator were used;
• Incompatibility of ticketing systems, requiring passengers to purchase multiple tickets and preventing use of return or weekly tickets; and
• Duplication of operational and administrative costs for the contracting authority.
Accordingly, competition is absent for technical and economic reasons and a direct award is justified.
Notes for clarification:
The Transparency notice indicated the estimated contract dates were 6th April 2026 to 31 December 2026, the actual contract period is for one year, 1st January 2026 to 31st December 2026.
The Transparency notice also estimated the standstill period would end on 1st April 2026 and the earliest date the contract would be signed is 6th April.
As this award notices is being published on 23rd March 2026 the standstill period will end on 2nd April 2026 and earliest date the contract will be signed is 3rd April 2026.
Contract 1. BSIP Funded Early Morning and Weekend Late Evening Bus Services (Routes 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8)
Supplier
Contract value
- £236,482.32 excluding VAT
- £283,778.78 including VAT Above the relevant threshold
Award decision date
1 January 2026
Standstill period
- End: 1 April 2026
- 7 working days
Earliest date the contract will be signed
3 April 2026
Contract dates (estimated)
- 3 April 2026 to 31 December 2026
- 8 months, 28 days
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
Public road transport services
Contract locations
- UKJ31 - Portsmouth
Procedure
Procedure type
Direct award
Supplier
First Hampshire & Dorset Limited
- Companies House: 01999120 Hoeford, Gosport Road
Fareham
PO16 0ST
United Kingdom
Email: david.attrill@firstbus.co.uk
Region: UKJ35 - South Hampshire
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Supported employment provider: No
Public service mutual: No
Contract 1. BSIP Funded Early Morning and Weekend Late Evening Bus Services (Routes 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8)
Contracting authority
Portsmouth City Council
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PCNL-5714-PRZV Civic Offices, Guildhall Square
Portsmouth
PO1 2AL
United Kingdom
Email: procurement@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
Website: https://www.portsmouth.gov.uk /
Region: UKJ31 - Portsmouth
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government
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