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Independent Travel Training

Suffolk County Council

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

Award

28 Aug 2026 at 16:20

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

05 May 2026 at 14:20

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

26 Jan 2026 at 16:57

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

12 Dec 2025 at 14:39

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Suffolk County Council procured an Independent Travel Training service for people who live in Suffolk. The service teaches members of the public to use public transport safely and independently. It is intended for clients with disabilities, mental health needs, learning disabilities and autism, helping them develop a valuable life skill and reducing future demand for council transport services. This is an education and training service (CPV 80000000), delivered across Suffolk. The procurement comprised one lot and was identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community and social enterprises. Suffolk County Council is the buying organisation, while the service requirement relates to residents and transport provision within the county.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded. Suffolk County Council used an open procedure under the light-touch regime. Three bids were received, with one reaching the final stage. Essex County Council IPTU was awarded the contract on 24 April 2026 for £3,032,400 including VAT (£2,527,000 excluding VAT). The contract was signed on 10 August 2026 and runs from 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2031, with an option to extend by up to two years, to 30 September 2033. Award evaluation was based on quality, including social value, weighted at 60%, and commercial considerations at 40%. Requirements included appropriate insurance, data-protection compliance, recognised health-and-safety arrangements, safeguarding and DBS compliance, and relevant experience with young people with SEND and adults with learning disabilities, autism or mental health needs.

This award indicates a substantial, recurring requirement for specialist travel training linked to public transport and reducing reliance on council-provided transport. A credible future supplier would need to deliver independently across Suffolk and support people with disabilities, mental health needs, learning disabilities and autism. Relevant experience with young people with special educational needs and disabilities, and with adults with learning disabilities, autism or mental health needs, would be important, supported by clear case studies. Providers would also need robust safeguarding arrangements, DBS compliance, data-protection controls and a recognised health-and-safety management system. The requirement is suitable for SMEs and voluntary, community and social enterprises, so organisations in those sectors with appropriate delivery capacity may be well placed to compete when the council next assesses this service.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Independent Travel Training

Notice Description

Suffolk County Council has awarded a contract for an Independent Travel Training service. Independent Travel Training is provided to members of the public who reside in Suffolk, to teach them how to use public transport safely and independently. The service is for clients with disabilities, mental health and learning needs. The clients gain a valuable life skill, which in turns aims to reduce the future demand on council transport services. The advertised value here is PS3,032,400 inclusive of VAT. (this includes optional extension period)

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: Option to extend for up to a further 2 years (24 months) The contracting authority reserves the right to carry out a subsequent procurement of similar goods, services or works in reliance on the direct award justification in paragraph 8 of Schedule 5 to the Procurement Act 2023.

Planning Information

To support our procurement activity and develop the scope and specification of the contract, we are undertaking Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) to help Suffolk County Council: 1) Identify potential Independent Travel Training providers and their intention to bid. 2) Help shape the service specification and improve the future delivery of the service, including a move to an SCC provided Travel Training referral system. 3) Understand potential barriers for SMEs and opportunities to minimise some of these barriers. 4) Bidding considerations including TUPE. 5) Understand providers' views on the proposed pricing model. Suffolk County Council propose to hold informal sessions with interested parties via Microsoft Teams, the dates for these sessions are: 17th December 2025 6th January 2026 7th January 2026 Interested parties are requested to email transporttraveltraining@suffolk.gov.uk to arrange a meeting. We would also encourage providers who are interested in this opportunity to register for the new Central Digital Platform, following the guidance at the following web address: https://shorturl.at/kigPg

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05f4fb
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/082343-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services

CPV Codes

80000000 - Education and training services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£2,527,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£2,527,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
£2,527,000 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
£2,527,000 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
28 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
27 Feb 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
26 Jan 2026Expired
Award Date
24 Apr 20264 months ago
Contract Period
1 Oct 2026 - 30 Sep 2031 Over 5 years
Recurrence
2031-01-07

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Suffolk County 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
IPSWICH
Postcode
IP1 2BX
Postcode Area
Ipswich
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH6 Suffolk
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH62 Ipswich
Delivery Location
TLH14 Suffolk CC
Local Authority
Ipswich
Electoral Ward
Gipping
Westminster Constituency
Ipswich

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Essex County Council IPTU

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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