BSIP Funded Early Morning and Weekend Late Evening Bus Services on Routes 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8

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.