Tender

SS15 96 DPS - Supported Local Bus (including Kent Karrier) and Home to School Transport Services

KENT COUNTY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

TenderAmendment

18 Dec 2025 at 09:20

Tender Notice
Tender

17 Dec 2025 at 13:10

Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Kent County Council, the largest county council in England, is undertaking a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for supported local bus services and home to school transport services. This process was initiated on 1st January 2017 and is now being extended from 31st December 2027 to 23rd February 2029 to ensure service continuity. The total value of this DPS is £100 million, covering an extensive area in the South East of the United Kingdom, with a key focus on road transport services. The procurement method is a selective, restricted procedure. The tender period concludes on 22nd February 2029, and the contract period will follow, starting on 23rd February 2029 and ending on 24th February 2029.

This tender presents significant opportunities for business growth, particularly for SMEs and VCSEs specialised in transport services. Companies that are capable of providing public service or privately hired vehicles for transport services will have the potential to secure contracts through this DPS. Firms with the capacity to cater to the logistics of home to school transport for pupils meeting certain eligibility criteria will find this tender especially relevant. Through the DPS, businesses have the chance to expand their client base, improve operational efficiencies, and engage in long-term partnerships with Kent County Council, fostering both community connectivity and service delivery excellence.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

SS15 96 DPS - Supported Local Bus (including Kent Karrier) and Home to School Transport Services

Notice Description

Kent County Council (the Council) is the largest county 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. This requirement is from the Growth, Environment and Transport Directorate is for the provision of services operated using PSV or Community (Section 19 or 22) Bus Permits. The requirements relate to the Council's activity in respect of Supported Local Bus (including Kent Karrier) and Home to School Transport Services. Supported Bus services are procured for the delivery of socially necessary bus services (including Kent Karrier), where the authority will fund the provision of a local bus service which is not commercially viable, which would therefore not otherwise run but which the authority has identified as meeting a social need i.e. rural connectivity. Home to School Transport services are procured to provide school transport for those pupils who are determined by our Education and Young People's Directorate as eligible for free home to school transport. Where the volume of pupils is sufficient to justify a larger vehicle (minibus, coach or bus) these will require provision of this transport by a Public Service Vehicle Licensed Operator who can run services either as a public bus service or as a privately hired vehicle. 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 established in 2016, with a start date of 01 January 2017. 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 31 December 2027 to 23 February 2029, to ensure continuity of service. All other terms and conditions of the DPS remain unchanged. This Dynamic Purchasing System has a total value of PS100 million, covering the period from its establishment in 2017 through to the end of its period of validity.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-beb62e8f-47f7-4cf3-bed7-32d5a7a8e1b1
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/66d4a800-296c-4f8a-8554-2f22c51454a7
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

60100000 - Road transport services

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
18 Dec 20251 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
22 Feb 20294 years to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
23 Feb 2029 - 24 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

Notice Documents

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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