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2026-08-18 0900 QOC593 Lowestoft - Aurora Eccles School, Quidenham, Norfolk (4 seater vehicle with a passenger assistant required) - AWARD

Suffolk County Council Passenger Transport

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

19 Aug 2026 at 14:33

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Suffolk County Council Passenger Transport procured passenger transport services for the QOC593 route between Lowestoft and Aurora Eccles School in Quidenham, Norfolk. The requirement is for a four-seater vehicle with a passenger assistant. This is a scheduled education transport service intended to carry passengers to and from the school. The main work category is transport services (CPV 60000000). The named buying organisation is Suffolk County Council Passenger Transport, based in Ipswich, Suffolk. The requirement was run as a mini-competition under the council’s Dynamic Purchasing System for the supply of passenger transport services. The service relates specifically to the Lowestoft and Quidenham route rather than a broad regional transport operation.

The procurement is complete and was awarded through a mini-competition under a Dynamic Purchasing System. Submissions were due by 09:00 on 18 August 2026, with clarification questions due by 09:00 on 17 August 2026. Rainbows Transport was awarded the contract on 19 August 2026 for £308,985. The awarded contract runs from 1 September 2026 to 31 July 2031. Suffolk County Council reserved the right to extend the contract up to 31 July 2033. The procurement was for services and the recorded tender status is complete. The published outcome identifies one active award and one supplier. The requirement was recorded as unsuitable for SMEs and voluntary, community or social enterprises.

This award shows sustained demand from Suffolk County Council for dedicated school passenger transport on a defined route, using a small vehicle and a passenger assistant. A credible future supplier would need to provide a reliable four-seater vehicle, passenger-assistant cover and dependable daily operation between Lowestoft and Aurora Eccles School in Quidenham. The work would suit an established passenger transport operator with sufficient staffing resilience to cover absences, strong safeguarding and school-transport procedures, and the operational capacity to deliver a consistent service over a multi-year arrangement. Experience of transporting school passengers, managing route-based services and meeting council requirements would help demonstrate readiness for this buyer’s specific need.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

2026-08-18 0900 QOC593 Lowestoft - Aurora Eccles School, Quidenham, Norfolk (4 seater vehicle with a passenger assistant required) - AWARD

Notice Description

Suffolk County Council is seeking a mini competition against the following Dynamic Purchasing System: 'The supply of Passenger Transport Services', OJEU Notice Id: 2018/S 031-067685. QOC593 Lowestoft - Aurora Eccles School, Quidenham, Norfolk (4 seater vehicle with a passenger assistant required). Further details can be found in the 'Tenders / My Tenders' area of this website, by selecting the 'View Details' button for this project. The deadline for returned submissions is Tuesday 18th August 2026 at 0900. Please note late returns will NOT be permitted. The deadline for clarification questions is Monday 17th August 2026 at 0900 which must be generated via the correspondence option on the website. The council reserves the right to extend this contract up until 31st July 2033.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-45aedb0d-a422-4785-bd26-294f3603836d
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/2373d2f5-1057-43f5-95b0-0b96ed00ac4d
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Dynamic
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
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
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£308,985 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
19 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
18 Aug 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
19 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Contract Period
1 Sep 2026 - 31 Jul 2031 4-5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Suffolk County Council Passenger Transport
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
SUFFOLK
Postcode
IP1 2BX
Postcode Area
Ipswich
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH6 Suffolk
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH62 Ipswich
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Ipswich
Electoral Ward
Gipping
Westminster Constituency
Ipswich

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Rainbows Transport

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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