Tender

DFTO Ground Transportation

DFT OPERATOR LIMITED 'DFTO'

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

22 May 2026 at 13:05

Summary of the contracting process

The public procurement process is being conducted by DFT Operator Limited (DFTO), located at Waterloo Station in London, United Kingdom. They are seeking to establish a Dynamic Market for "DFTO Ground Transportation," which encompasses Managed Bus/Coach and Managed Taxi Services. The industry category is focused on services, specifically within the realm of public transport and taxi services, with key regions including various UK regions such as UKM9, UKL14, and others. The tender is currently in the 'active' procurement stage, with the Dynamic Market expected to launch on 1 June 2026 and run until 31 May 2034. The procurement method is open, ensuring a dynamic and flexible procurement process for service providers.

This tender offers significant opportunities for businesses involved in transportation services, including bus, coach, and taxi provisioning, allowing for substantial business growth and expansion into new regional markets. Companies specializing in logistics, vehicles, and service management within the public transportation sector would be well-suited to compete for inclusion in the Dynamic Market. This ongoing opportunity is beneficial for operators with capabilities to provide managed transport solutions to Train Operating Companies (TOCs) and the wider public sector, fostering competition through ongoing Call-Off Competitions under this framework. The Dynamic Market structure supports adaptability and growth to meet evolving transportation needs across the United Kingdom.

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Notice Title

DFTO Ground Transportation

Notice Description

DFT Operator "DFTO" intends to establish and operate a Dynamic Market to enable Train Operating Companies (TOCs) within the DFTO group and the public sector to run further call off competitions for Managed Bus/Coach (Rail Replacement Services) and Managed Taxi Services. DFTO will act as the contracting authority for the establishment, governance and ongoing management of the Dynamic Market. Individual TOCs will act as Customers and will conduct Call-Off Competitions and award Call-Off Contracts under the Dynamic Market in their own capacity as contracting authorities. The Dynamic Market will remain open for its duration, allowing Suppliers to apply for admission at any time, subject to meeting the Conditions for Membership. Admitted Suppliers will be invited by Customers to participate in Call-Off Competitions for specific requirements. DFTO will not be a party to any Call-Off Contract awarded under the Dynamic Market unless expressly stated otherwise. The structure of this Dynamic Market is intended to support future organisational change within the rail sector and may be utilised by successor bodies to DFTO in accordance with applicable legislation. The term of the Dynamic Market is anticipated to be 8 years from the date of publication of the intentions notice (Estimated to be 31/03/2026). Please note for the purposes of publishing this notice nominal dates have been inputted and are not reflective of the actual . Contract start and end dates will determined by the users of the Dynamic Market. For more information about this opportunity, please visit the eSourcing portal at: https://dfto.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-London:-Taxi-services./3C8SQCEM6M To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://dfto.delta-esourcing.com/respond/3C8SQCEM6M

Lot Information

Lot 1 Buses and Coaches

Managed Bus and Coach Services (Rail Replacement) Suppliers will be expected to provide bus and coach transport services to replace or supplement rail services for the entire geographical area that they apply for. This may include and is not limited to: (a)Planned rail replacement services during engineering works (b)Emergency rail replacement during disruption or service failure (c)Event or demand management services (d)Local shuttle services between stations (e)Longer distance coach services where appropriate Suppliers must provide: (f)Suitable PSVAIR/PSVAR-licensed vehicles and qualified drivers (g)Capacity appropriate to passenger demand (h)Coordination with rail operations and station staff (i)Compliance with all applicable safety, transport and accessibility regulations

Lot 2 Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles

Managed Taxi Services Suppliers shall provide managed taxi and private hire vehicle services in the geographical area that they apply for to deliver the transportation of: (a)Train crew (including drivers and conductors) (b)Operational railway staff (c)Passengers where alternative transport is required This may include but is not limited to: (d)Crew transport between depots, stations, and operational locations (e)Passenger taxis during disruption, last train situations, accessibility requirements or where rail services cannot operate (f)Ad-hoc or pre-booked journeys arranged through the Authority's booking channels (g)Accessible vehicles where required (h)24/7 availability to support operational railway requirements Suppliers may be required to provide booking management, dispatch, journey tracking and reporting capability. Operational Requirements Suppliers must: (a)Provide reliable and timely services aligned with rail operational needs (b)Maintain all appropriate licensing, insurance, and regulatory compliance (c)Meet all applicable legal safety, safeguarding, and accessibility requirements (d)Support 24/7 operations where required (e)Provide data and reporting on journeys and performance

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06a15d
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/047934-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK13 - Dynamic Market Intention Notice
Procurement Type
Dynamic
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Dynamic market
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation

60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)


CPV Codes

34121000 - Buses and coaches

34121100 - Public-service buses

60112000 - Public road transport services

60120000 - Taxi services

60172000 - Hire of buses and coaches with driver

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 May 2026Today
Submission Deadline
31 May 20349 years to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
DFT OPERATOR LIMITED 'DFTO'
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SE1 8SW
Post Town
South East London
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI4 Inner London - East
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI45 Lambeth
Delivery Location
TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLI London, TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England), TLL Wales, TLL1 West Wales and The Valleys, TLL14 South West Wales, TLL2 East Wales, TLM Scotland, TLM5 North Eastern Scotland, TLM7 Eastern Scotland, TLM8 West Central Scotland, TLM9 Southern Scotland

Local Authority
Lambeth
Electoral Ward
Waterloo & South Bank
Westminster Constituency
Vauxhall and Camberwell Green

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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