Source: https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a13bd9-48cf-73c5-a046-baaff76349cf/supported-bus-services awarded GB open procedure Suitable for SMEs # Supported Bus Services [Cumberland Council](https://tendernation.io/buyers/cumberland-council) Open field Estimated value £2,709,796 Published 2 Oct 2026 Deadline Closed 28 Aug 2026 ## Who can bid - Buyer says suitable for SMEs The buyer ticked “suitable for SMEs” on the notice. Anyone can still bid. - Buyer says suitable for VCSEs The buyer ticked “suitable for voluntary, community and social enterprises” on the notice. - Split into 15 lots You can usually bid for just the lots you can deliver. - Open procedure Anyone can submit a full tender; there is no shortlisting stage. [More contracts for small businesses and VCSEs](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/for-small-businesses) ## About this tender Cumberland Council is awarding contracts for the operation of Supported Bus Services. These services form a critical element of Cumberland's transport network, ensuring continued provision of bus services where the commercial operation is not viable and supporting access for people to employment, education, healthcare and essential services across both urban and rural communities. Cumberland Council has a proactive role in shaping the local bus network, supported by government investment through Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) funding and also the Local Authority Bus Grant (LABG) funding. The council tendered for 15 bus routes. The Invitation to Tender (ITT) advised that due to funding constraints, not all services could be supported. As also advised in the ITT, following evaluation of tenders against the published award criteria, services were prioritised based on an assessment of tendered costs and current passenger usage data to calculate an estimated subsidy cost per passenger journey. Routes providing the best value for money were prioritised for award within the available budget. Following this, contracts are to be awarded to one provider for 11 routes, for a term of 12 months (with no extension periods available). Contracts will not be awarded for 4 routes. The overall value of the 11 contracts is £2,531,347 excluding VAT. ## CPV classification Transport services (excl. Waste transport) Source Find a Tender (UK) · Notice ocds-h6vhtk-067184-2026-10-02T10:46:52+01:00 [View official notice](https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/ocds-h6vhtk-067184-2026-10-02T10:46:52+01:00) Never miss a tender like this again Get AI summaries, deadline alerts and a bid pipeline for tenders matched to your business. Free to start. [Track tenders free](https://tendernation.io/register) [Buyer profile Cumberland Council: past awards and live tenders](https://tendernation.io/buyers/cumberland-council) [Sector More Transport services tenders](https://tendernation.io/sectors/transport-services) ## More tenders like this [Funeral Services and Coroners Transportation for the Black Country · Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council · 23 days left · 10 Nov 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a14571-36cd-706b-be1e-4b941b425a02/funeral-services-and-coroners-transportation-for-the-black-country) [Taxi and MPV (1-8 seats) Passenger Assistant - Taxi and MPV (1-8 seats) Passenger Assistant · East Sussex County Council · 3 days left · 21 Oct 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a1451e-c322-722f-84fe-50ab0dad61e4/taxi-and-mpv-1-8-seats-passenger-assistant-taxi-and-mpv-1-8-seats-passenge) [Special-purpose road passenger-transport services – EU-udbud 2026 - Levering af visiteret personbefordring til Kerteminde- og Langeland Kommuner · Fællesindkøb Fyn · 29 days left · 16 Nov 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a14210-325d-70c0-a34e-82e2ce002861/denmark-special-purpose-road-passenger-transport-services-eu-udbud-2026-le) [Hire of passenger transport vehicles with driver – Świadczenie usług drogowego przewozu pracowników „PKP Intercity” S.A. · "PKP Intercity" S.A. · 8 days left · 26 Oct 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a14210-0c18-730a-bd62-7e1ed78e5fd6/poland-hire-of-passenger-transport-vehicles-with-driver-swiadczenie-uslug-dr) [Non-scheduled passenger transport – Schülerbeförderung im Freistellungsverkehr\_Nienburg / Weser · Schülerbeförderung im Freistellungsverkehr · 30 days left · 16 Nov 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a14210-0b99-71af-9cc8-bf292cdc1e8b/germany-non-scheduled-passenger-transport-schulerbeforderung-im-freistellung) [Transport services (excl. Waste transport) – Ateriakuljetukset (DPS) · Satakunnan hyvinvointialue · 1458 days left · 15 Oct 2030](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a14210-0ee1-73ff-93f8-a4bdb83acb57/finland-transport-services-excl-waste-transport-ateriakuljetukset-dps)