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Passenger Transport Open Framework

The North Yorkshire Council

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Tender

27 Aug 2026 at 16:35

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

02 Apr 2026 at 10:13

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

23 May 2025 at 15:11

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

North Yorkshire Council is procuring passenger transport services through an open framework, including home-to-school transport and related routes. The framework will create a network of approved transport operators able to provide services according to vehicle capacity and accessibility requirements. It has three lots: vehicles with up to 8 passenger seats, including accessible vehicles; vehicles with 9 to 16 passenger seats, including accessible vehicles; and vehicles with 17 or more passenger seats. Most work will be delivered within North Yorkshire, with some services outside the area. The procurement is for road transport services. Suppliers may apply for any lots relevant to the services and vehicles they can provide, and the framework is intended for a range of demand-led passenger transport requirements.

The Council has reached the tender stage and invited offers through an open procedure. Enquiries had to be submitted by 17 September 2026 at 23:59, and tenders by 28 September 2026 at 12:00. The framework is expected to run from 23 November 2026 to 22 November 2034, with a maximum extent date of 30 September 2034 for lot 1. Its estimated total value is £837,500,000 excluding VAT, or £1,005,000,000 including VAT. Estimated lot values including VAT are £542,700,000 for lot 1, £140,700,000 for lot 2 and £321,600,000 for lot 3. Suppliers meeting the pass/fail threshold will be appointed without a limit on places. Call-offs will use 100% price, either through competition or direct award.

This opportunity suits established passenger transport operators, including SMEs and voluntary, community or social enterprises. Lot 1 requires licensed private hire vehicles or hackney carriages; private hire vehicles must be licensed by the authority that issued the operator licence. Lot 2 requires a valid Public Service Vehicle operator’s licence, although multiple hackney carriages or private hire vehicles may be used where the route’s minimum seating capacity is met. Accessible vehicles must meet North Yorkshire’s wheelchair-accessible vehicle specification. Lot 3 covers larger vehicles, including accessible vehicles meeting the relevant specification, route requirements and Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000. Suppliers need to satisfy the economic and technical requirements in the Procurement Specific Questionnaire and mandatory appendices. A pricing schedule is additionally needed for direct-award call-offs.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Passenger Transport Open Framework

Notice Description

North Yorkshire Council (the Authority) is seeking tenders from suitably qualified suppliers to join its Passenger Transport Open Framework. The Open Framework is being established to provide a range of passenger transport services, including Home to School Transport and other transport-related services, through a diverse network of approved Suppliers with relevant expertise and capabilities. The Open Framework will be divided into the following Lots * Lot 1 - Vehicles with up to 8 passenger seats (including accessible vehicles) * Lot 2 - Vehicles with 9 to 16 passenger seats (including accessible vehicles) * Lot 3 - Vehicles with 17 or more passenger seats Lots are categorised according to vehicle seating capacity and/or accessibility provisions rather than vehicle size. Suppliers may apply for all Lots that are relevant to the services they are able to provide. The majority of the transport will be provided within the North Yorkshire boundary however there is an element that will be delivered out of the area. This tender notice is for the award of a public contract through an open procedure in accordance with section 20(1) and (2)(a) of the PA 2023. To support the development of this procurement, the Authority issued a Request for Information (RFI) on 3 February 2025. The RFI was published to the market to gather feedback from existing and potential suppliers on key aspects of the proposed framework, including: * Procurement processes and documentation * Pricing approaches and market conditions * Barriers to participation and supplier engagement In addition, the Authority worked in partnership with Go4Growth to deliver a supplier engagement webinar. The session provided an overview of the Open Framework model and covered topics including: * Understanding Open Frameworks * Registration requirements for the Central Digital Platform * Available support tools to assist with the tendering process * The proposed high-level procurement timetable This market engagement activity has helped inform the development of the Open Framework and ensures that the procurement process is accessible, transparent, and reflective of current market conditions.

Lot Information

Up to 8 passenger seats (including accessible vehicles

All transport services are in scope for lot 1. The vehicles shall be licenced private hire or hackney carriages. All private hire vehicles used by the Supplier must be licensed by the same authority that issued the supplier's Private Hire Operator Licence. Accessible vehicles shall satisfy the requirements of the Authority's Integrated Passenger Transport wheelchair accessible vehicle specification.

Options: The total value of the framework is PS1,005,000,000. While an estimated value has been assigned to each lot, the Authority reserves the right to allocate the overall value as it deems appropriate based on the demand for services over the eight year duration. As this is a demand-led service, the value of the framework may increase over the duration. The Authority reserves the right to increase the overarching value accordingly. During the term of the open framework, modifications may be required at call-off due to: * Omission of part of the service * Provision of additional service * Vary the scope of the service - timings, number of passengers, type of vehicle, seating capacity, route taken * Long term diversion due to roadworks/closure * Addition/removal of passenger assistant * Change in passenger needs * Pupil excluded * No longer required e.g. passenger moved, changed establishment/school, capacity on another service

9-16 PASSENGER SEATS (INCLUDING ACCESSIBLE VEHICLES)

All transport services are in scope for lot 2. All vehicles shall be operated under a valid Public Service Vehicle (PSV) Operator's Licence held by the supplier. Two or more Hackney Carriages and/or Private Hire vehicles may be utilised, where the minimum number of passenger seats, as specified in the Route Specification, are provided. Accessible vehicles shall satisfy the requirements of the Authority's Integrated Passenger Transport wheelchair accessible vehicle specification.

Options: The total value of the framework is PS1,005,000,000. While an estimated value has been assigned to each lot, the Authority reserves the right to allocate the overall value as it deems appropriate based on the demand for services over the eight year duration. As this is a demand-led service, the value of the framework may increase over the duration. The Authority reserves the right to increase the overarching value accordingly. During the term of the open framework, modifications may be required at call-off due to: * Omission of part of the service * Provision of additional service * Vary the scope of the service - timings, number of passengers, type of vehicle, seating capacity, route taken * Long term diversion due to roadworks/closure * Addition/removal of passenger assistant * Change in passenger needs * Pupil excluded * No longer required e.g. passenger moved, changed establishment/school, capacity on another service

17+ PASSENGER SEATS

All transport services are in scope for lot 3. Vehicles licenced for 17 - 22 passengers which are accessible need to meet IPT requirements as set out in specifications, where required. Vehicles licenced for 17 - 22 passengers which are accessible need to meet IPT requirements as set out in the specification, where required. Vehicles licenced for 23 passengers or above need to meet the requirements of the service Route Specification and the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations (PSVAR) 2000 requirements, or as subsequently amended, where specified in the Route Specification. Suppliers with PSVAR Exemptions for closed Home to School transport services shall comply with the requirements at all times.

Options: The total value of the framework is PS1,005,000,000. While an estimated value has been assigned to each lot, the Authority reserves the right to allocate the overall value as it deems appropriate based on the demand for services over the eight year duration. As this is a demand-led service, the value of the framework may increase over the duration. The Authority reserves the right to increase the overarching value accordingly. During the term of the open framework, modifications may be required at call-off due to: * Omission of part of the service * Provision of additional service * Vary the scope of the service - timings, number of passengers, type of vehicle, seating capacity, route taken * Long term diversion due to roadworks/closure * Addition/removal of passenger assistant * Change in passenger needs * Pupil excluded * No longer required e.g. passenger moved, changed establishment/school, capacity on another service

Planning Information

North Yorkshire Council are working with Go4Growth who are available to assist transport operators in understanding the new Procurement Act 2023 processes, to support you in tendering for public sector opportunities if you need their help. Webinars will be taking place in May 2026 providing further information on requirements, Go4Growth support and Procurement timelines. If you want to be notified of upcoming webinars, please send an email to charlotte.stolarski@northyorks.gov.uk stating "Passenger Transport webinars". This will ensure that you are added to the list. Further information including how to apply, will be circulated in due course; however, it is envisaged that this new model of commissioning services will be published around May/June 2026.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-052396
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/081942-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open 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
£837,500,000 £100M-£1B
Lots Value
£837,500,000 £100M-£1B
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
27 Aug 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
28 Sep 20264 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
20 May 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
23 Nov 2026 - 22 Nov 2034 Over 5 years
Recurrence
2028-04-01

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
The North Yorkshire Council
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
NORTHALLERTON
Postcode
DL7 8AD
Postcode Area
Darlington
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLE Yorkshire and The Humber
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLE2 North Yorkshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLE22 North Yorkshire
Delivery Location
TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLE Yorkshire and The Humber, TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLI London, TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England)
Local Authority
North Yorkshire
Electoral Ward
Romanby
Westminster Constituency
Richmond and Northallerton

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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