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Phoenix 3 Quoted Rental Framework: Transport Services

Defence Equipment and Support

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Planning

04 Sep 2026 at 08:19

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

27 May 2026 at 17:14

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Defence Equipment and Support intends to establish the Phoenix 3 Quoted Rental Framework for transport services, with Babcock Land Defence Limited acting as its procurement agent. The requirement supports the Ministry of Defence’s White Fleet and associated operations across the UK. It covers flexible rental of coaches with drivers, self-drive coaches, freight vehicles with drivers, self-drive freight vehicles, and taxis, chauffeur services and medical taxis with drivers. Demand is expected to arise from short-term operational needs, surge activity and temporary fleet replacement. The work is a defence and security transport service requirement, including vehicle hire, passenger transport, taxi provision and freight transport. The framework is intended to support nationwide operations and is identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises across the UK.

This is a planned procurement at the preliminary market engagement stage; it is not yet an invitation to tender. The buyer expects to use a quoted rental framework agreement under a defence and security procedure. A market engagement session is planned for 14 September 2026 at 12 noon, with registration expected by 11 September 2026 at 5pm GMT. Suppliers are expected to complete a request-for-information survey by 16 September 2026 at 5pm GMT. A subsequent procurement notice is expected on 19 October 2026. The planned framework period runs from 1 March 2027 to 4 March 2035. Its estimated value is £145 million excluding tax, or £174 million including tax. One planned lot covers the full transport services requirement.

The requirement is suited to UK transport and vehicle-rental businesses able to provide a broad fleet and flexible operating models. Relevant suppliers may include coach operators offering both driver-led and self-drive services; freight and logistics providers; taxi and chauffeur companies; and medical transport providers. The buyer is seeking availability, responsiveness, value for money and nationwide coverage, so firms should be prepared to demonstrate dependable access to suitable vehicles and drivers across the UK, including the ability to respond to short-term, surge and temporary replacement demand. Businesses considering participation should assess their fleet breadth, geographic reach, operational resilience and ability to coordinate multiple transport categories. SMEs are expressly identified as suitable, making this potentially relevant to smaller regional operators, provided they can support the framework’s service requirements and delivery expectations.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Phoenix 3 Quoted Rental Framework: Transport Services

Notice Description

Babcock Land Defence Limited, acting in capacity as Agent for the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) under project Phoenix 3 are seeking to establish and operationalise a new Quoted Rental Framework Agreement (Transport Services). The intended new Defence and Security Open Framework requires the provision of the following vehicle types for operations within the UK; Coach with driver Coach self-drive Freight vehicles with driver Freight vehicles self-drive Taxi, Chauffeur, and Medical Taxi with driver. These services will be required to support the Authority's White Fleet and their associated operations. The opportunity to bid for incumbency on the framework is open to SMEs across the UK.

Planning Information

Babcock Land Defence Limited, acting as Agent for the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) under Project Phoenix, would like to invite suppliers to participate in Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) for our upcoming Quoted Rental Requirement. The requirement represents a significant opportunity for suppliers to provide flexible vehicle rental solutions in support of the MOD's White Fleet operations. The requirement is expected to cover a broad range of vehicle categories, including standard and specialist vehicles, with demand driven by short-term operational requirements, surge activity, and temporary fleet replacement needs. Suppliers will be invited to contribute market insight and propose solutions that deliver availability, responsiveness, value for money, and nationwide coverage. We would like to invite you to attend a Preliminary Market Engagement Session on Monday 14th September at 12:00 hrs. The purpose of the engagement is to provide an overview of the requirement, outline the proposed procurement strategy and rules of engagement, and discuss the key commercial and operational considerations associated with the service. The session will also provide suppliers with an opportunity to ask any questions they may have. Participation in this engagement exercise is intended to promote early market awareness and facilitate open dialogue with potential suppliers ahead of the formal procurement process. Prospective bidders will be required to complete a survey for which the deadline is the 16th September at 5pm GMT. To receive joining instructions and further details of the survey (Request for Information) and requirement, please contact Thomas.drysdale@babcockinternational.com at the earliest opportunity. The deadline to sign up for the Preliminary Market Engagement Session is Friday 11th September at 5pm GMT.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06a6dd
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083695-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

63 - Supporting and auxiliary transport services; travel agencies services

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

CPV Codes

60120000 - Taxi services

60172000 - Hire of buses and coaches with driver

63521000 - Freight transport agency services

79998000 - Coaching services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£145,000,000 £100M-£1B
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
4 Sep 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
19 Oct 20262 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Mar 2027 - 4 Mar 2035 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Defence Equipment and Support
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BRISTOL
Postcode
BS34 8JH
Postcode Area
Bristol
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK5 West of England
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK52 Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
South Gloucestershire
Electoral Ward
Stoke Park & Cheswick
Westminster Constituency
Filton and Bradley Stoke

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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