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PME for Domestic Courier Service

Direct Rail Services Limited

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

22 Sep 2026 at 09:23

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Direct Rail Services Limited is researching a domestic courier and road transport service for its rail depots. The requirement covers transport between DRS depots and between those depots and third-party locations across the UK. The appointed logistics supplier may need to provide cost-effective, efficient transport solutions, including a potential shuttle service between depots and ad hoc deliveries to or from suppliers. Ad hoc consignments are expected to include parcels, pallets, oversized cargo and dangerous goods, limited to non-nuclear materials. This is a services requirement covering courier and road transport activity, with delivery locations across the United Kingdom.

This procurement is at the planning stage and is currently market engagement, rather than an invitation to tender. DRS is seeking information about suppliers’ capabilities through a request for information, with responses requested by 2 October 2026. The buyer expects the next notice to be published on 16 November 2026. The anticipated contract period is 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2028. The estimated value is £200,000 excluding VAT, or £240,000 including VAT. The planned procurement is above the relevant threshold and is expected to use a framework agreement. There is one planned lot, intended to be suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises.

This engagement will suit logistics, courier and road transport providers able to operate across the UK and support movements between operational depots and supplier locations. Relevant capability includes routine domestic parcel and pallet delivery, depot shuttle operations, urgent or ad hoc response, and handling oversized cargo. Suppliers should also be able to transport non-nuclear dangerous goods where required. The requirement may suit SMEs, and businesses with flexible fleet capacity and the operational control to combine planned movements with urgent deliveries are likely to be well placed when the procurement reaches the market. The buyer is specifically looking for efficient, cost-effective logistics solutions, so suppliers should prepare evidence of service capability, coverage and delivery performance.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

PME for Domestic Courier Service

Notice Description

Direct Rail Services (DRS) has requirements for domestic courier services. Domestic means the transportation between DRS depots and between DRS depots and 3rd party locations within the UK. We look for a logistic service supplier who can provide cost effective and efficient logistic solutions for our transport requirement, including potential shuttle service between DRS depots, and ad hoc service for any urgent delivery and the delivery to / from our suppliers, where required. The required ad hoc services are as follows: * Parcels * Pallets * Oversized cargo * Dangerous good service (Non-nuclear materials) DRS is currently seeking to understand the capabilities of the market for this requirement.

Planning Information

Direct Rail Services (DRS) has requirements for domestic courier services. Domestic means the transportation between DRS depots and between DRS depots and 3rd party locations within the UK. We look for a logistic service supplier who can provide cost effective and efficient logistic solutions for our transport requirement, including potential shuttle service between DRS depots, and ad hoc service for any urgent delivery and the delivery to / from our suppliers, where required. The required ad hoc services are as follows: • Parcels • Pallets • Oversized cargo • Dangerous good service (Non-nuclear materials) DRS is currently seeking to understand the capabilities of the market for this requirement. Please respond to the RFI via the Atamis portal: https://atamis-2464.my.site.com/s/Welcome

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-077706
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/089420-2026
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)

64 - Postal and telecommunications services

CPV Codes

60100000 - Road transport services

64120000 - Courier services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£200,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 Sep 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
16 Nov 20262 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Jan 2027 - 31 Dec 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Direct Rail Services Limited
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
CARLISLE
Postcode
CA6 4SJ
Postcode Area
Carlisle
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD1 Cumbria
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD13 Cumberland
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Cumberland
Electoral Ward
Dalston and Burgh
Westminster Constituency
Carlisle

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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