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Framework Agreement for the Provision of Transportation of Children, Young People & Adults (9-16 Passenger Seat Vehicles)

Blackpool Council

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

21 Aug 2026 at 14:22

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

03 Jul 2026 at 11:03

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Blackpool Borough Council procured passenger transport services for children, young people and adults identified by the council. The requirement covers public and special-purpose road passenger transport, including the hire of vehicles with drivers, using vehicles with 9 to 16 passenger seats. The council is establishing a ranked framework of service providers to operate transport routes in Blackpool and the surrounding delivery area covered by the council’s requirements. Providers are expected to fulfil allocated routes, which may be within or outside the borough. The arrangement is intended for suppliers able to provide suitable vehicles, drivers and reliable route-level transport for vulnerable or otherwise identified passengers.

The procurement has reached the award stage and the tender is complete. It used an above-threshold open procedure for one lot. Abacus Travel and REDRAW TRAVEL LTD were selected for the ranked framework, which can contain up to six providers; the award is recorded as pending, with a standstill period ending on 2 September 2026. The award value is £3,360,000 gross (£2,800,000 excluding tax). The awarded contract period is 3 September 2026 to 31 August 2028, with two one-year extensions available, up to 31 August 2030. The framework was evaluated on quality at 45%, price at 35% and social value at 20%. Two bids were received, both from SMEs.

This outcome demonstrates established demand from Blackpool Borough Council for managed passenger transport using 9–16 seat vehicles with drivers. A credible future competitor would need dependable minibuses, suitably qualified and vetted drivers, robust scheduling and dispatch arrangements, and the operational capacity to cover all allocated routes, including journeys outside the borough when required. Suppliers should be able to maintain consistent service for children, young people and adults identified by the council, while managing route changes and additional routes during the framework arrangement. The evaluation also shows that service quality and demonstrable social value are significant alongside price, so bidders would need evidence of reliable performance, safeguarding-aware delivery and meaningful community benefits.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Framework Agreement for the Provision of Transportation of Children, Young People & Adults (9-16 Passenger Seat Vehicles)

Notice Description

The Contracting Authority is looking to establish a ranked framework of Service Providers that are able to provide transport for Children, Young People and Adults identified by the Council. A full scope of the Contracting Authority's requirements can be found in Appendix A - Specification. The Contracting Authority wishes to appoint Suppliers who can clearly demonstrate the ability to meet our requirements and who offers the most advantageous tender. It is anticipated that the framework term will be from August 2026 to July 2028, with the option to extend incrementally for a period of 1+1 years (subject to contract review and budget availability).

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06c327
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079967-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

CPV Codes

60112000 - Public road transport services

60130000 - Special-purpose road passenger-transport services

60170000 - Hire of passenger transport vehicles with driver

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£2,800,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£2,800,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
£3,360,000 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 Aug 20263 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
3 Aug 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
21 Aug 20263 weeks ago
Contract Period
3 Sep 2026 - 31 Aug 2028 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Pending
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Blackpool 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
BLACKPOOL
Postcode
FY1 1NB
Postcode Area
Blackpool
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD4 Lancashire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD42 Blackpool
Delivery Location
TLD42 Blackpool
Local Authority
Blackpool
Electoral Ward
Talbot
Westminster Constituency
Blackpool South

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
2
Supplier Names

Abacus Travel

RedRaw Travel Ltd

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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