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Potential Procurement Opportunity for Open Framework for the Provision of Passenger Transport Services

Herefordshire Council

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Planning

10 Sep 2026 at 15:43

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
PlanningUpdate

25 Aug 2026 at 06:11

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

05 Aug 2026 at 07:48

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Herefordshire Council intends to establish an open framework for passenger transport services across Herefordshire, replacing its Passenger Transport Dynamic Purchasing System as part of a mixed-economy model. The anticipated scope covers three service areas: contracted transport using vehicles with at least nine passenger seats, for mainstream, college, special educational needs and social care transport; hackney carriage and private hire transport using vehicles with up to eight passenger seats, mainly for special educational needs and social care transport; and public transport, using vehicles from minibuses to double-deckers to operate registered local bus services. Passenger assistants may also be required. The council is the buyer and the services will be delivered in Herefordshire. The procurement is for transport services rather than vehicle supply alone.

This procurement is at the planning stage: the council has announced an intention to procure, not an invitation to tender. It expects to use an open procedure to establish an open framework, with a future notice currently expected on 26 October 2026. The anticipated contract period for the structured first lot is 1 May 2027 to 30 April 2035. That lot is planned to cover contracted passenger transport vehicles with at least nine seats and drivers, and is identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises. The council held virtual market-engagement events on 13 and 21 August 2026, and shared presentation material afterwards. The wider framework is anticipated to have three lots, although only the first lot has structured dates and suitability details at this stage.

This will suit passenger transport operators able to provide vehicles and qualified drivers for commissioned council transport, particularly businesses serving schools, colleges, special educational needs and social care. Operators with larger minibuses, coaches or other vehicles carrying at least nine passengers should assess the first planned lot; smaller hackney carriage and private hire operators, and bus operators, may be relevant to the other anticipated lots. The framework may also require passenger assistants, so suppliers with suitable support staff and safeguarding-focused operating arrangements should prepare for that requirement. The opportunity is intended to include small and medium-sized enterprises, making it relevant to local and regional transport firms as well as larger providers. Businesses should use the planning phase to monitor the forthcoming procurement and align their fleet, driver capacity and service coverage with the council’s requirements.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Potential Procurement Opportunity for Open Framework for the Provision of Passenger Transport Services

Notice Description

Herefordshire Council wishes to establish an Open Framework ("the framework") for the Provision of Passenger Transport Services. The new framework will replace the Council's Passenger Transport Dynamic Purchasing System and will form part of a mixed-economy model approach for the Council. At this stage, it is anticipated that the framework will comprise 3 Lots: Lot 1 - Passenger Carrying Vehicles contracted transport (including an option for provision of passenger assistants). For the provision of Admitted Participant supplied vehicles 9 passenger seats or more and drivers. Services commissioned will include mainstream and college transport but may also include Special Educational Needs and social care transport. Lot 2 - Hackney/Private Hire Transport (including an option for provision of passenger assistants). For the provision of Admitted Participant supplied vehicles of up to and including 8 passenger seats and drivers. Services commissioned will include Special Educational Needs and social care transport but may also include mainstream school transport. Lot 3 - Public transport. For the provision of Admitted Participant supplied vehicles and drivers to provide registered local bus services. Vehicles will normally range from a minibus to a double-deck vehicle.

Planning Information

The market engagement events will be held virtually by Microsoft Teams by invite only on: • Thursday 13th August, 09:30 - 11:00 • Friday 21st August, 13:30 - 15:00 Suppliers who are interested in attending should please email Transport.Support@herefordshire.gov.uk or contact us via Pro-Contract https://www.supplyingthesouthwest.org.uk by the timescales detailed below: • for the 13th August event, 12:00, midday 12th August • for the 21st August event, 12:00, midday 20th August The message should be titled "Market Engagement Event - Proposed Open Framework". Suppliers should confirm: • preferred event date • organisation name • name of attendee/s (maximum 2 per supplier) • email address(es) that the Microsoft Teams invite should be sent to. Suppliers will then be sent a link to a Microsoft Teams meeting invite which they will need to join on the day.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06dbcc
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/086041-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Procurement Type
Dynamic, Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

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
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
10 Sep 20263 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
26 Oct 20263 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 May 2027 - 30 Apr 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
Herefordshire 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
HEREFORD
Postcode
HR4 0LE
Postcode Area
Hereford
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLG West Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLG1 Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLG11 Herefordshire, County of
Delivery Location
TLG11 Herefordshire, County of
Local Authority
Herefordshire, County of
Electoral Ward
Widemarsh
Westminster Constituency
Hereford and South Herefordshire

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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