Tender

SS15 124 Home to School Transport - DPS

KENT COUNTY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

17 Dec 2025 at 13:30

Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Kent County Council, the largest local council in England, is undertaking a public procurement process to provide home to school transport services through a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS). This tender is specifically designed to cater to the transport needs of children with special educational needs across the South East of the United Kingdom. It is currently in the tender stage with a publication date of 17th December 2025. The procurement is classified under transportation services and follows a restricted procedure, with the tender period ending on 21st February 2029. A budget of £750 million is allocated for this procurement, which aims to ensure the safe and efficient transport of students to and from school.

This tender presents a significant opportunity for businesses involved in transportation services, particularly those with a focus on special needs transport. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs) are encouraged to compete in this selective procurement process. The successful suppliers will provide suitable vehicles, drivers, and passenger assistants, meeting the safeguarding requirements outlined in the tender specification. Businesses with expertise in handling transportation for individuals with diverse conditions such as learning difficulties, autism, and physical disabilities will find this tender aligns well with their capabilities and can leverage this opportunity for growth within the public sector.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

SS15 124 Home to School Transport - DPS

Notice Description

Kent County Council (the Council) is the largest local council in England covering an area of 3,500 square kilometres. It has an annual expenditure of over PS1.6bn on goods and services and a population of 1.8m. The Council provides a wide range of personal and strategic services on behalf of its residents, operating in partnership with 12 district councils and over 300 parish/town councils. The Council procures and manages transport for children/ students with special educational needs in line with the requirements placed on it by Government, through the home to school statutory guidance: www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/445407/Home_to_School_Travel_and_Transport_Guidance.pdf The Council established this Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) to tender for Home to School transport and a wide range of social care transport requirements. The Supplier will be required to deliver children/students to school in a safe and efficient manner, ensuring they are ready for learning. They will be expected to deliver them home at the end of the day, in a safe and efficient manner. The Supplier will also be expected to embed a pro-active communication process which takes into account the requirements of the Council, school and the parents/guardians of the individual client. Whether a child attending school or a child requiring transport these children may have conditions covering: -Learning difficulties; -Mental health conditions; -Behavioural, emotional and social difficulties; -Speech, language and communication difficulties; -Autistic spectrum disorder; -Visual impairment; -Hearing impairment; -Multi-sensory impairment; -Physical disability; and, -Hidden disability. This requirement looks to source transportation services from the commercial market to provide transport into the selected schools. The suppliers will be required to provide: vehicles, drivers & passenger assistants to transport students to these schools ensuring that the vehicles and level of care meet the individual needs of each passenger as identified within the terms and conditions of contract, tender specification which will include appropriate safeguarding requirements. Further details of the full scope and specific requirements will be provided within the tender documentation issued under this DPS. Further background and technical information can be found within the tender documentation. This Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) was originally established in 2016, with a start date of 01 November 2016. Due to the lack of viable alternatives provided by the Procurement Act 2023 (PA23) and in line with the transition arrangements, the Council is extending the 'Supported Local Bus and Home to School Transport Services' DPS period of validity - in accordance with Regulation 28(1)(a) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 - from 01 November 2026 to 23 February 2029, to ensure continuity of service. All other terms and conditions of th

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-29482590-e0cf-4f0e-b748-1e013395aed3
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/954c2e3f-a867-4efa-aaa9-92fc9ed20347
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Dynamic
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Restricted procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

CPV Codes

60000000 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£750,000,000 £100M-£1B
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Dec 20251 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
21 Feb 20294 years to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
22 Feb 2029 - 23 Feb 2029 30 days
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
KENT COUNTY COUNCIL
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
compliance.publictransport@kent.gov.uk
Contact Phone
+443000414141

Buyer Location

Locality
MAIDSTONE
Postcode
ME14 1XQ
Post Town
Rochester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ4 Kent
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ45 Mid Kent
Delivery Location
TLJ South East (England)
Local Authority
Maidstone
Electoral Ward
Penenden Heath
Westminster Constituency
Maidstone and Malling

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts. 

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