Planning

Home to School Replacement Bus Framework

THE EDUCATION AUTHORITY

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

14 May 2026 at 16:51

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Education Authority of Northern Ireland is in the planning stage of a procurement process titled "Home to School Replacement Bus Framework." This initiative, related to the goods category and involving the replacement of school buses, aims to establish a four-year framework with an estimated maximum value of up to £49 million, contingent upon funding approvals. The procurement is under the UK's devolved government regulations, specifically for Northern Ireland. A Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) exercise is underway to explore market capacity and innovation, with suppliers invited to submit insights by 4th June 2026. The procurement framework is expected to be subdivided into lots for different vehicle types, with a planned start date of 1st August 2026 and a completion date of 31st July 2030.

This tender presents significant business growth opportunities, particularly for SMEs specialising in the manufacture or supply of commercial vehicles, including buses and coaches. As the project covers various vehicle types, businesses with expertise in versatile vehicle solutions catering to both mainstream and special educational needs transportation may find competitive advantage. The framework's structure, allowing for secondary competition when specific lots are funded, suggests enterprises capable of strategic bidding could secure contracts as needs arise. Engaging in the PME exercise offers businesses the chance to influence procurement strategies and highlight any innovative vehicle designs suitable for the Education Authority's operational requirements.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Home to School Replacement Bus Framework

Notice Description

EA is currently preparing to initiate the procurement process to set up a 4 year framework for the replacement of Home to School Buses. Currently no funding for fleet replacement is in place. EA are currently preparing a business case for a school bus replacement programme to a maximum value of up to PS49m over four years, which will be subject to various approvals. Funding values may vary per annum, or no funding award may available. There is no guarantee of the level of business during the period of the framework or to the exact value of any subsequent Purchase Orders. It is anticipated that the framework will be split into lots for each vehicle type. When EA receives funding to replace buses, it is intended that a secondary competition will be run from the framework for each vehicle type required. EA will reserve the right to prioritise which vehicle types are required in line with operational needs. A provisional indication of potential lots are as follows: Mainstream school buses: 22 passenger seat van conversion 33 passenger seat coach built bus 57 passenger seat coach built bus Special Educational Needs school buses 16 passenger seat / 2 wheelchair van conversion minibus 22 passenger seat / 6 wheelchair coach built bus 28 passenger seat / 8 wheelchair coach built bus All bus types and quantities are subject to funding. All EA school buses must be fully seated Class 3 category buses with no standing capacity and built to full EA specifications in every aspect. All buses in this particular framework must be diesel combustion engine vehicles. Zero emission buses are out of scope in this framework. Public/Service bus specifications are not suitable for EA home to school transport. EA are interested in feedback regarding development of vehicle designs to accommodate EA requirements.

Planning Information

The Education Authority Northern Ireland (EANI) would like to invite participation in a Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) exercise to seek the views of the market for the supply of buses. The purpose of this PME exercise is for EANI to gain an understanding of the latest developments and innovative solutions available and will be used to assist EANI in gaining a better understanding of the feasibility of the requirements, the most appropriate procurement and operational approach, the capacity of the market to deliver the requirements and an opportunity for the market to highlight any possible risks or issues. For the avoidance of doubt, this is the scoping phase of the project and is not part of any formal procurement process and there is no commitment at this stage to carry out such a process. Any information gathered will not be considered in any future tender exercise. Please note that participation or non-participation in this PME exercise shall not prevent any supplier from participating in any future procurement process, nor is it intended that any information provided shall place any supplier at an advantage or disadvantage in any future procurement exercise. Further information including the questionnaire can be downloaded from the documents section of the CfT on eTendersNI. Suppliers who wish to participate in the PME exercise must return the completed questionnaire via the messaging function of the CfT on eTendersNI no later than 15:00 on 4 June 2026.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06994a
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/044628-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Goods
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

CPV Codes

34100000 - Motor vehicles

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

34121000 - Buses and coaches

34121100 - Public-service buses

34121200 - Articulated buses

34121400 - Low-floor buses

34121500 - Coaches

34200000 - Vehicle bodies, trailers or semi-trailers

34210000 - Vehicle bodies

34211000 - Bus bodies, ambulance bodies and vehicle bodies for goods vehicles

34211100 - Bus bodies

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£4,900,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
14 May 20263 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
6 Jul 20262 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Jul 2026 - 31 Jul 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
THE EDUCATION AUTHORITY
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BELFAST
Postcode
BT1 2NQ
Post Town
Northern Ireland
Country
Northern Ireland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLN Northern Ireland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLN0 Northern Ireland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLN06 Belfast
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Belfast
Electoral Ward
Duncairn
Westminster Constituency
Belfast North

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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