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E-Scooter Hire Service in Dorchester, Weymouth and Portland

Dorset Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

20 Oct 2026 at 09:37

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Dorset Council plans to mobilise and provide an e-scooter hire service across Dorchester, Weymouth and Portland. The service is intended to provide shared e-scooter rental in these areas. The procurement is categorised as a service and is being considered as a concession. Dorset Council’s preliminary market engagement explored the feasibility of a wider potential scheme covering Weymouth, Portland, Chickerell and Dorchester; the stated procurement scope names Dorchester, Weymouth and Portland. The council is the buyer. The service will be delivered in Dorset, in the areas named above. This is an early-stage proposal: the council has set out its intention to procure, but has not issued an invitation to tender.

The process is at the planning stage, so there is no invitation to tender. Dorset Council has completed preliminary market engagement with e-scooter rental operators to test feasibility, understand market capability, capacity and innovation, and gauge interest. The discussions indicated potential supplier interest, subject to the final scope, contractual arrangements and procurement documents; no commitments were made. The council has not determined its route to market, and the expected procedure is not set out. The planned contract period runs from 1 February 2027 to 31 May 2028, with a maximum extent date of 26 June 2031. These are planned contract dates, not bid deadlines. The procurement is described as a concession and is below the relevant threshold. It is presented as one lot.

This proposal is likely to suit e-scooter rental operators able to mobilise and run a public-facing hire service in the named Dorset towns. The council’s market engagement focused on suppliers with experience and capability operating e-scooter services in the UK, so relevant operating experience and the capacity to deliver the service are likely to be important. The council also sought to understand market innovation, suggesting that suppliers able to explain practical service models and delivery options may be well placed to inform the eventual procurement. Market discussions found potential interest, but participation was conditional on the final scope and contract arrangements. The council says relevant insights from engagement will be shared with potential bidders through future tender documents. No particular accreditations or technical standards are identified at this planning stage.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

E-Scooter Hire Service in Dorchester, Weymouth and Portland

Notice Description

This procurement is for the mobilisation and provision of an e-Scooter hire service across the Dorchester, Weymouth and Portland areas.

Planning Information

Dorset Council undertook preliminary market engagement with a number of e-scooter rental scheme operators that had the required experience and capability to operate e-scooter services within the UK. The purpose of this engagement was to: a) Scope out the feasibility of the Council's aspirations for a potential e-scooter rental scheme covering Weymouth, Portland, Chickerell and Dorchester. The decision to proceed with this procurement was published in papers from Dorset Council's Cabinet Meeting on 28th July 2026 (https://moderngov.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/documents/s53338/Recommendation to Cabinet - e-Scooter Micromobility Rental Service.pdf). b) Better understand market capability, capacity and innovation relevant to the deliver of such a scheme. c) Assess the level of market interest in participating in any future procurement exercise. The engagement consisted of discussions conducted via Microsoft Teams with a range of potential suppliers. At the time of the engagement, Dorset Council had not determined its preferred route to market. The purpose of the discussions was to inform the Council's understanding of the market and the feasibility of the proposed scheme. The outcome of the market engagement indicated that there was potential market interest in the opportunity, subject to the final scope, contractual arrangements and procurement documentation. No written expressions of interest were requested or obtained, and no commitments were made by involved parties. All relevant information and insights arising from the preliminary market engagement that are relevant to a future opportunity will be made available to all potential bidders through the tender documentation.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-078b63
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/098772-2026
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
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

CPV Codes

60100000 - Road transport services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
20 Oct 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Feb 2027 - 31 May 2028 1-2 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
Dorset 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
DORCHESTER
Postcode
DT1 1XJ
Postcode Area
Dorchester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK6 North Somerset, Somerset and Dorset
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK64 Dorset
Delivery Location
TLK25 Dorset
Local Authority
Dorset
Electoral Ward
Dorchester West
Westminster Constituency
West Dorset

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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