The flexibility of distributed energy resources (DERs) accommodated in active distribution networks (ADNs) can be aggregated and then used to provide ancillary services to the transmission system. In this context, this paper presents a linear optimization method for the transmission system operator (TSO) to allocate its required active power reserve from aggregated resources installed in active distribution systems (ARADSs) as well as dispatchable bulk power plants (DBPPs). It consists in a linear optimization problem that minimizes the sum of the expected cost of active power reserve allocated from all possible providers (including ARADSs and DBPPs) and the expected cost of load not served over a desired time horizon. The value of lost load (VOLL) index is used as a criterion to realize an economical balance between the expected cost of allocated reserve and expected cost of load not served. The method leverages scenarios of power system contingencies and forecast errors of loads and renewable generation to represent typical operational uncertainties. A simulation proof-of-concept using real-data from the transmission system operator of Switzerland, Swissgrid, is provided to illustrate the performance of the method.