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Coach and Minibus Framework

UNIVERSITY OF EAST ANGLIA

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

Award

26 Aug 2026 at 16:43

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

22 Jul 2026 at 16:14

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

01 May 2026 at 12:35

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

25 Nov 2025 at 15:48

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The University of East Anglia bought passenger transport services for students, faculty staff, guests, sports teams and business professionals throughout the academic year. The requirement covers coach hire in various capacities and minibus hire with a driver, for local, regional and national journeys, including one-way, return, short-notice and pre-booked services. It was divided into three service areas: coaches with 36 or more seats, small or medium coaches with 17 to 35 seats, and minibuses with up to 16 seats. The work is delivered from the University’s Norwich base and covers journeys to destinations across the UK. This is a closed, multi-supplier framework for bus and coach hire with drivers, serving the University’s recurring transport needs.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded following an open procedure. Each of the three lots has an awarded value of £300,000 gross: the 36-plus-seat coach lot went to Central Connect Transport, ICT Coaches, AFSC, Freestones Coaches and Jubilee Coaches (Rollesby); the 17-to-35-seat coach lot went to ICT Coaches, AFSC, Central Connect Transport, Freestones Coaches and Sanders Coaches; and the minibus lot went to ICT Coaches, Central Connect Transport, AFSC and Freestones Coaches. Awards were made on 9 July 2026 and contracts were signed on 1 August 2026. Each contract runs from 1 August 2026 to 31 July 2029, with a discretionary extension to 31 July 2030. Evaluation weighted commercial terms at 60% and quality at 40%.

This award shows established demand from the University of East Anglia for a broad, responsive passenger transport operation rather than a single scheduled route. Suppliers well placed for a future requirement would operate compliant coaches and minibuses across the three capacity bands, provide suitably qualified drivers, and handle both planned academic travel and short-notice requests. Relevant capability includes organising one-way and return journeys, serving local, regional and national destinations, and supporting varied passengers such as students, staff, guests, sports teams and business professionals. The successful supplier mix also shows that small and medium-sized enterprises can compete for each service area. Credible operators would need enough fleet access, driver capacity, availability and operational coordination to support a multi-supplier framework and its direct-award or mini-competition call-offs.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

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 Framework will cover the provision of: - Coach hire (various capacities) - Minibus hire (with driver) - Local, regional and national journeys - One-way and return journeys - Short-notice and pre-booked services.

Lot Information

Coach

Renewal: Maximum 1 year discretionary extension

Small/Medium Coach

Renewal: Maximum 1 year discretionary extension

Minibus

Renewal: Maximum 1 year discretionary extension

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/081502-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation

60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

CPV Codes

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

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

60000000 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

60172000 - Hire of buses and coaches with driver

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£300,000 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
£300,000 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
26 Aug 2026Today
Submission Deadline
15 Jun 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
8 Dec 2025Expired
Award Date
9 Jul 20261 months ago
Contract Period
1 Aug 2026 - 31 Jul 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
UNIVERSITY OF EAST ANGLIA
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
NORWICH
Postcode
NR4 7TJ
Postcode Area
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
TLH15 Norwich and East Norfolk
Local Authority
Norwich
Electoral Ward
University
Westminster Constituency
Norwich South

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
6
Supplier Names

AFSC LIMITED

CENTRAL CONNECT TRANSPORT LIMITED

FREESTONES COACHES LIMITED

ICT COACHES LTD

JUBILEE COACHES (ROLLESBY) LTD

SANDERS COACHES LIMITED

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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