Planning

Professional Off Road 4x4 Driver and On / Off Road Trailer Towing, Training Contract 2025

ENVIRONMENT AGENCY

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

02 Oct 2025 at 12:07

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

10 Sep 2025 at 11:16

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Environment Agency is currently in the planning stage of a procurement process for a "Professional Off Road 4x4 Driver and On / Off Road Trailer Towing, Training Contract 2025". This service procurement, categorised under education and training services, is designed to cater for the training needs of approximately 2,000 staff. The initiative is to enhance driving and towing capabilities, aligned with relevant legislative requirements. The tender is valued at GBP 2 million (gross amount of GBP 2.4 million) and spans a period from 23 January 2026 to 22 January 2029, with the potential for a two-year extension. The engagement process includes a preliminary market notice, and tender documentation will be available for pricing from 24 October 2025. The procurement takes into account both small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) as potential contributors.

This contract provides ample opportunities for businesses specialising in driver training, particularly those with expertise in off-road 4x4 and trailer towing education. Companies that can deliver training to dispersed teams across various geographical locations and incorporate sustainability practices into their operations will find this tender especially suitable. The Environment Agency's commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2030 and embedding sustainability in operational practices calls for innovative submissions that address environmental impacts. Suppliers will also benefit from financial predictability with terms requiring price stability for the first three years, and potential expanded scope with the possible inclusion of the Defra Group. This dynamic allows for tailored and scalable business engagements that can contribute effectively to the Agency's objectives.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Professional Off Road 4x4 Driver and On / Off Road Trailer Towing, Training Contract 2025

Notice Description

The training is required to meet EA departmental driving policies and legislative requirements including Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 (HSAW), The Road Traffic Act 1988 and The Highway Code. This contract will deliver training for circa 2,000 EA staff that in their operational delivery capacity require additional 4x4 driver and trailer towing training. Either because they are assessed as being high risk or they use specialist vehicles and/or tow trailers in their role. EA employees use our fleet of 4x4 vehicles and trailers to gain access to remote locations and to move equipment, materials or livestock to locations where they carry out their work. Examples of goods carried using trailers includes but is not limited to: - * Small construction / maintenance equipment * Live fish * Water pumps * Boats * Loose stones Our current training portfolio focuses on: * Off road 4x4 driver training and assessment - Lantra accredited * On road trailer towing and assessment- previously B+E licence training and test * Off road trailer towing and assessment - Lantra accredited EA are looking for supplier(s) that can provide professional off road 4x4 driving and on and off-road trailer training for geographically dispersed teams. All training is refreshed every 5 years to ensure that employees remain confident and competent The purpose of this Contract is to coordinate and deliver the required training, to a Professional standard, ensuring that employees are: * Competent, safe and fully trained to a professional standard * Trained to a consistent standard to support the flexibility we need to move resources around the country (mutual aid) for incident response. * Confident to operate the 4x4 vehicles and tow equipment that is high value. The successful Tenderer(s) must work with us to deliver more sustainable services under this contract. These requirements reflect the aspirations of our sustainability policy and the commitment to reach net zero. The successful Tenderer(s) must always support the client in delivering eMission2030. Responsibility for embedding sustainability in ways of working and delivering sustainable outcomes lies with all parties involved in this Contract. Flexibility of the Contract: The specification of requirements is initially for EA but allows provision for Defra Group to sign up at some point if required. EA are open to Defra should they wish to join and a need to agree a process for contract management. Value for Money and Cost Management: The contract will be a 5-year contract and tenders will be asked to fix their prices for the initial 3 years to create financial predictability. There will be breakpoint review meetings at the end of year 3 and year 4 - January 2029 and January 2030. At these points, the EA may decide to continue, reduce the scope or terminate the Contract.

Planning Information

Tender to be available 24/10/2025 for pricing.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-059779
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/061698-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Dynamic, Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services

CPV Codes

80000000 - Education and training services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£2,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
2 Oct 20254 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
3 Oct 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
23 Jan 2026 - 22 Jan 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
ENVIRONMENT AGENCY
Contact Name
Network Procurement
Contact Email
network.procurement@defra.gov.uk
Contact Phone
03459335577

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1P 4DF
Post Town
South West London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

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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