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Provision of School & Local Transport Services, Oban & Lorn

Argyll and Bute Council

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

27 Aug 2026 at 16:47

Award Notice
TenderUpdate

12 Jun 2026 at 14:41

Tender Notice
Tender

15 May 2026 at 13:23

Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Argyll and Bute Council commissioned a transport operator to provide safe and secure school and local transport services in Oban and Lorn. The work falls within transport services, excluding waste transport (CPV 60000000), and covers journeys serving schools and the local area. Delivery is centred on Argyll and Bute, with the council based in Lochgilphead. The requirement includes operating an appropriate vehicle fleet, maintaining vehicles, managing capacity and communicating with the council. It also covers discipline on vehicles, environmental initiatives, community benefits and fair work practices. The council uses electronic ordering and supports electronic payment and invoicing arrangements. Optional journeys may be included, excluded, started or stopped under the agreed pricing arrangements.

This completed open-procedure procurement was awarded to Craig of Campbeltown Ltd, with one bid received. The award was active and the contract was signed on 14 August 2025. The contract value is £7,276,443.78 excluding any unspecified tax treatment. The contract period runs from 17 August 2026 to 28 June 2031, with a possible extension of up to two years at the council’s discretion, subject to satisfactory performance and contractor agreement. Bids were evaluated on price at 75%, alongside capacity, environmental initiatives, fleet and maintenance, vehicle discipline, client communications and community benefits. The tender deadline was 17 June 2026 at noon, following an amendment, and bids had to remain valid for 120 days. Variants were not allowed.

This award demonstrates sustained demand from Argyll and Bute Council for integrated school and local transport in Oban and Lorn. A credible future competitor would need the operational capacity to run scheduled passenger journeys safely, a suitable and well-maintained fleet, and robust systems for driver and passenger discipline. Evidence of clear communication with the council and reliable service management would be important. Suppliers should also be able to demonstrate practical environmental initiatives, community benefits and fair work practices, while pricing journeys transparently, including optional services that may be instructed separately. The single bid received indicates that a supplier able to combine local coverage, fleet capability and dependable delivery could be well placed when this requirement returns to market.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of School & Local Transport Services, Oban & Lorn

Notice Description

Argyll and Bute Council are looking to Contract with a transport operator who will provide safe and secure school and local transport services within Oban and Lorn.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Argyll and Bute Council are looking to Contract with a transport operator who will provide safe and secure school and local transport services within Oban and Lorn.

Options: Where specific journeys within the TS1A documents (timetables) are identified as optional or subject to Council approval, the Tenderer shall provide separate and clearly identifiable prices for those journeys as detailed in Part 3: Specification and the Pricing Schedule. Prices for these services shall be submitted in addition to the core Contract price and must not be incorporated into the base price for the Contract unless explicitly instructed. The Council reserves the right, at Contract Award stage or at any point during the Contract Period, to: - Include all, some or none of the separately priced journeys; - Instruct their commencement or cessation; or - Vary the scope of the Contract accordingly, without this giving rise to any entitlement to compensation beyond the agreed prices submitted for those services.

Renewal: The contract end date (28/06/2031) is indicative only and is expected to occur immediately after schools close for the summer in 2031. The Contract may be extended for a further period of up to two (2) years at the Council's discretion, subject to satisfactory performance and following agreement with the Contractor.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-069a01
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/081948-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

CPV Codes

60000000 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£7,276,443 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
27 Aug 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
15 Jun 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
17 Aug 2026 - 28 Jun 2031 4-5 years
Recurrence
4 years and 8 months or 6 years and 8 months from award.

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Argyll and Bute 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
LOCHGILPHEAD
Postcode
PA31 8RT
Postcode Area
Paisley
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM2 Highlands and Islands
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM20 Highlands and Islands
Delivery Location
TLM63 Lochaber, Skye and Lochalsh, Arran and Cumbrae, and Argyll and Bute
Local Authority
Argyll and Bute
Electoral Ward
Mid Argyll
Westminster Constituency
Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Craig of Campbeltown Ltd

Further Information

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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