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Transport for School Swimming

Stoke-on-Trent City Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

09 Oct 2026 at 10:43

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Stoke-on-Trent City Council intends to procure transport for its school swimming service. The work is to carry pupils between their schools and their chosen swimming pools, coordinating journeys across multiple schools and venues. The council’s stated preference is for one coach operator to provide the complete transport service, allowing vehicles to be scheduled flexibly for different schools and pool facilities. The schedule may require a different vehicle for the return journey from the outward trip. This is passenger transport with drivers, delivered for schools and swimming venues in Stoke-on-Trent. The council is seeking a coordinated service that can manage busy periods when several schools are travelling to or from venues.

The process is at planning: the council has set out its intention to procure, but has not invited tenders. It expects to seek market feedback on service capacity, delivery models, scheduling, lesson durations, contract length, pricing, emissions, efficiency and operational risks. The council’s engagement milestone is dated 31 December 2026. The procurement is estimated at £450,000 excluding VAT (£540,000 including VAT). The planned contract period runs from 22 April 2027 to 21 April 2030. One lot is planned, and the council’s description points to a single-operator delivery model. The stated suitability information indicates the work is suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises. No evaluation basis or procurement procedure is stated at this planning stage.

This work is likely to suit coach and passenger transport operators able to provide vehicles with drivers and coordinate regular school journeys. The council is seeking capacity to transport groups of 30 to 60 pupils, with vehicles and drivers available on weekdays between 9:30am and 3:00pm. Suppliers should be prepared to explain how they would manage multiple schools travelling to and from three venues during peak periods, including situations where vehicles need to be reassigned between journeys or a different vehicle is needed for the return trip. The council also wants views on handling 30- and 60-minute lessons, efficient scheduling, reducing emissions, suitable pricing and contract models, and potential delivery risks or innovations. No specific accreditation is indicated.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Transport for School Swimming

Notice Description

Stoke-on-Trent City Council offers a swimming service to local schools. Part of the service is the provision of transport to and from the schools and their chosen swimming pool. We are seeking a single coach operator to provide the complete transport solution. The schedule can be intense and, on occasions, a different vehicle from that used for the outward trip may be required for the return trip. Conversely, the same vehicle may be utilised to take different schools to differing pool facilities, hence the opportunity for efficiency is maximised with a single operator. This also allows us to be able to offer the schools a co-ordinated service.

Planning Information

The Council is particularly interested in understanding: • Capacity to transport groups of 30 to 60 pupils. • Availability of vehicles and drivers between 9:30am and 3:00pm Monday to Friday. • The suitability of single-provider versus multi-provider delivery models. • Approaches to managing multiple schools travelling to and from the three venues during peak periods. • Any operational challenges associated with 30- and 60-minute lesson durations. • Recommended contract lengths and pricing models. • Opportunities to reduce emissions and improve service efficiency. • Any risks, barriers, or innovations that should be considered during procurement. For further information and service requirements please contact John Cliffe via email : john.cliffe@stoke.gov.uk

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-07846d
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/095523-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
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)

CPV Codes

60170000 - Hire of passenger transport vehicles with driver

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£450,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
9 Oct 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
22 Apr 2027 - 22 Apr 2030 3-4 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
Stoke-on-Trent City 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
STOKE-ON-TRENT
Postcode
ST4 1HH
Postcode Area
Stoke-on-Trent
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLG West Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLG2 Shropshire and Staffordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLG23 Stoke-on-Trent
Delivery Location
TLG23 Stoke-on-Trent
Local Authority
Stoke-on-Trent
Electoral Ward
Hartshill Park & Stoke
Westminster Constituency
Stoke-on-Trent Central

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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