Planning

Early Market Engagement - UEA Coach and Minibus Framework

UNIVERSITY OF EAST ANGLIA

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

25 Nov 2025 at 15:48

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The University of East Anglia (UEA), located at Norwich Research Park, Norwich, is currently in the planning stage of a procurement process for a coach and minibus framework aimed at providing transportation services for students, faculty staff, guests, sports teams, and business professionals throughout the academic year. This procurement process seeks engagement from suppliers who can provide these services either directly or through a framework consortium. The industry category falls under services, specifically focusing on the hire of passenger transport vehicles. An important deadline for the preliminary market engagement is 8th December 2025, by which suppliers should submit their responses. Ultimately, the contract is expected to commence on 2nd February 2026 and conclude on 1st February 2030, highlighting a significant time frame for interested suppliers.

This tender provides robust growth opportunities, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) capable of supplying transportation services with high compliance standards. Businesses engaged in providing reliable, safe, and legally compliant road transport services will find this an appealing opportunity. The UEA aims to explore market capabilities and innovations as part of this engagement process, positioning local and national SMEs to potentially secure one or more lots within the framework agreement. Suppliers meeting criteria such as holding valid operator licenses, maintaining mandatory insurance minimums, and ensuring drivers meet professional standards will be well-suited to compete for this opportunity, thereby expanding their service offerings and client base.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Early Market Engagement - UEA Coach and Minibus Framework

Notice Description

The University of East Anglia have a requirement for the transportation of Students, Faculty Staff, Guests, Sports Teams and Business professionals throughout the academic year, to a number of local and national destinations. The UEA intend to award a framework contract composed of two lots, coach and minibus, and we expect around 5 suppliers per lot. Suppliers can be awarded a place in both lots. The purpose of the request is to explore the range of available options for potential future service delivery and to gather feedback, in particular from the local SME market. This engagement will help inform our approach to any potential future procurement and ensure that it is shaped by a clear understanding of market capabilities, innovations, and capacity. *** This is not a call for competition or an invitation to tender. This is an invitation to participate in a market consultation exercise in relation to the provision of Coach and Minibus services. *** Key Service Requirements are: - Provide reliable road transport services across multiple UEA departments. - Operators must allocate a suitable vehicle for each booking and ensure service is prompt, safe and compliant. - Operators must hold valid Operator Licence and maintain at least Amber DVSA OCRS rating, notifying UEA of any changes. - Expected mandatory insurance minimums: # Public Liability: PS2m # Employers' Liability: PS10m. Drivers will be expected to: - Hold correct licences and CPC. - Undergo 6-monthly licence checks and yearly DVLA verification. - Have DBS clearance. - Meet professional standards.

Planning Information

The UEA is interested in responses from suppliers that can provide, directly or via a framework consortium, a coach and minibus service suitable for the UEA's specification of requirements. Please complete the MS Form found here: https://forms.office.com/e/MsEUaE9ewv. We expect this to take around 20-30 minutes and responses will be consolidated at the end of the day, Monday 8th December. We value your contribution to the shaping of the next iteration of the contract. Thank you!

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05e8a0
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/076978-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

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

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation

60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

CPV Codes

34114400 - Minibuses

34115200 - Motor vehicles for the transport of fewer than 10 persons

34120000 - Motor vehicles for the transport of 10 or more persons

60170000 - Hire of passenger transport vehicles with driver

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
25 Nov 20252 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
8 Dec 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
2 Feb 2026 - 1 Feb 2030 4-5 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
UNIVERSITY OF EAST ANGLIA
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
procurement@uea.ac.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
NORWICH
Postcode
NR4 7TJ
Post Town
Norwich
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH5 Norfolk
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH51 Norwich and East Norfolk
Delivery Location
TLH1 East Anglia
Local Authority
Norwich
Electoral Ward
University
Westminster Constituency
Norwich South

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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