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School and Social Care Transport

Reading Borough Council

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Tender

02 Sep 2026 at 11:52

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

11 Mar 2026 at 15:26

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Reading Borough Council is procuring school and social care transport services across Reading. The requirement is divided into school transport and ad hoc transport for children and young people known to social care. School transport covers bespoke travel assistance, including taxi and minibus arrangements, for eligible pupils, particularly children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities. Ad hoc transport covers journeys to appointments and activities, and transport when children move placements. The services fall within road transport and social work support services (CPV 60100000 and 85312000). Work will be delivered in Reading, United Kingdom. The council is establishing a framework to replace its existing arrangements for bespoke school transport and to provide transport services commissioned as social care needs arise.

The procurement has reached tender: Reading Borough Council invited suppliers to submit offers through an open procedure. It is an above-threshold, eight-year framework running from 5 January 2027 to 4 January 2035, with an estimated value of £36 million excluding VAT and £43.2 million including VAT. Expressions of interest and submissions were due by 23:59 on 7 October 2026. The anticipated award decision date was 6 November 2026. Both lots are assessed on a 50% quality and 50% price basis. Quality assurance includes pass/fail and minimum-standard requirements, with a score of at least 60%. Framework call-offs use a structured ranked direct-award process, selecting suitable providers according to vehicle type and capacity, training and safeguarding compliance, and submitted prices.

This opportunity suits transport operators able to provide safe, reliable taxi, minibus and other road transport for pupils, children and young people. Suppliers should have vehicles in suitable types and capacities, together with the operational capacity to respond to planned school journeys and occasional social care requirements such as appointments, activities and placement moves. Relevant staff training and safeguarding compliance are central to provider suitability, so bidders need robust procedures, appropriately trained personnel and evidence that these requirements can be maintained during delivery. The framework is marked as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises, making it relevant to smaller local transport businesses as well as larger operators. Suppliers must be able to price services competitively and accept individual call-off requirements, including routes, start dates and special arrangements.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

School and Social Care Transport

Notice Description

RBC are completing a Framework exercise for the provision of School and Social Care Transport - The tender is split into two lots: Lot 1 - school transport The Council has a statutory duty to provide free travel assistance to pupils who meet the qualifying criteria. Most of the pupils who qualify receive a bus pass. For children and young people with special educational needs and/or a disability may be eligible to bespoke travel arrangements, such as a taxi or minibus. There are currently 536 pre-16 and 90 post-16 learners receiving transport arranged by the local authority at a forecasted cost of PS4.52m for the financial year 2025 - 2026. The current framework used to award contracts to deliver these bespoke arrangements is coming to an end and this is the Council's opportunity to review how we procure the transport. Full details of the requirement can be found in the Specification at Annex 1. The tender documents contain proposals for the works. Lot 2 - ad hoc transport for children and young people known to social care. From time to time the Council requires transport for children and young people to attend appointments and activities or for when moving placements. Suppliers that would like to take part in this process are invited to "Express Interest" upon which they will be given access to the full documentation delivered through this portal. Documents can be accessed from the "My Tenders" area of this website by selecting the "View Details" button for the project. Expressions of interest will only be accepted until 23:59 07/10/2026. Any questions relating to this opportunity should be made via the correspondence link on this portal.

Lot Information

School Transport

The Council has a statutory duty to provide free travel assistance to pupils who meet the qualifying criteria. Most of the pupils who qualify receive a bus pass. For children and young people with special educational needs and/or a disability may be eligible to bespoke travel arrangements, such as a taxi or minibus. There are currently 536 pre-16 and 90 post-16 learners receiving transport arranged by the local authority at a forecasted cost of PS4.52m for the financial year 2025 - 2026. The current framework used to award contracts to deliver these bespoke arrangements is coming to an end and this is the Council's opportunity to review how we procure the transport. Full details of the requirement can be found in the Specification at Annex 1. The tender documents contain proposals for the works.

Ad hoc transport for children and young people known to social care

From time to time the Council requires transport for children and young people to attend appointments and activities or for when moving placements.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06677a
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083000-2026
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
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

60100000 - Road transport services

85312000 - Social work services without accommodation

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£36,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
2 Sep 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
7 Oct 20263 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
8 Apr 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
5 Jan 2027 - 4 Jan 2035 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Reading Borough 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
READING
Postcode
RG1 2LU
Postcode Area
Reading
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ16 Berkshire West
Delivery Location
TLJ11 Berkshire
Local Authority
Reading
Electoral Ward
Abbey
Westminster Constituency
Reading Central

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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