This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

06 Jul 2026 at 00:00

Summary of the contracting process

The Scottish Government has initiated a procurement process under the title "DCAF - Secure Transport and Escort of Children to Scottish Ministers," aimed at appointing an external service provider to deliver secure transport and escort services for children within Scotland. This tender, under the "General public services" category, is particularly focused on providing a child-centred approach in line with recent legislative changes in Scotland's justice system. The process is currently in the tender stage, with electronic submissions being accepted until 5th August 2026 and the contract anticipated to start in January 2027 for a three-year duration. The procurement method is an open procedure, reflecting inclusivity and competitive participation, with an estimated contract value of £1,000,000.

This tender presents a significant business opportunity for enterprises specialising in secure transport services, particularly those with experience in handling sensitive cases involving minors. Businesses proficient in providing trauma-informed and rights-based services will find this tender well-suited for their capabilities. To be successful, potential bidders must demonstrate relevant operational experience, maintain robust financial health, and possess requisite certifications such as Prison Custody Officer (PCO) certification for staff. Additionally, a strong emphasis is placed on sustainable supply chain practices, making it relevant for businesses committed to resilience and compliance with environmental management standards.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

DCAF - Secure Transport and Escort of Children to Scottish Ministers

Notice Description

Scottish Ministers seek to appoint an external service provider for the provision of Secure Transport and Escort of Children.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Scottish Ministers are responsible for the placement and management of children under the age of 18 who are sentenced to detention by the courts, including responsibility for their secure transportation. Legislative changes introduced through the Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Act 2024 reinforce Scotland's commitment to a rights-based, trauma-informed, child-centred justice system. The service will provide secure transport and escort services for children between courts, secure centres, hospitals, and other premises across Scotland. This will include, but is not limited to planned, unplanned and standby escorts, and custody and supervision at court, and transfer arrangements when a child reaches the age of 18, where required. The Service will only cover children whose secure transport and escort are the responsibility of Scottish Ministers. The contract is anticipated to commence in January 2027 for a period of 36 months with the option to extend by up to a further 24 months.

Renewal: The contract may be extended by a period of up to 24 months

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000836392
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUL559506
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
OJEU - F2 - Contract Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

75 - Administration, defence and social security services


CPV Codes

60130000 - Special-purpose road passenger-transport services

75231220 - Prisoner-escort services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£1,000,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
6 Jul 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
5 Aug 20263 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
EDINBURGH
Postcode
EH6 6QQ
Post Town
Edinburgh
Country
Scotland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM1 East Central Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM13 City of Edinburgh
Delivery Location
TLM Scotland

Local Authority
City of Edinburgh
Electoral Ward
Leith
Westminster Constituency
Edinburgh North and Leith

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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.

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-r6ebe6-0000836392-2026-07-06T00:00:00Z",
    "date": "2026-07-06T00:00:00Z",
    "ocid": "ocds-r6ebe6-0000836392",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "org-22",
            "name": "Scottish Government",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "Scottish Government"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Victoria Quay, The Shore",
                "locality": "Edinburgh",
                "region": "UKM",
                "postalCode": "EH6 6QQ"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "brody.johnston@gov.scot",
                "telephone": "+44 412425466",
                "url": "https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer",
                "centralPurchasingBody"
            ],
            "details": {
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "Ministry or any other national or federal authority, including their regional or local subdivisions",
                        "scheme": "TED_CA_TYPE"
                    },
                    {
                        "id": "01",
                        "description": "General public services",
                        "scheme": "COFOG"
                    }
                ],
                "url": "http://www.scotland.gov.uk"
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "org-26",
            "name": "Edinburgh Sheriff Court",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "Edinburgh Sheriff Court"
            },
            "address": {
                "locality": "Edinburgh"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "url": "http://"
            },
            "roles": [
                "reviewBody"
            ]
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "name": "Scottish Government",
        "id": "org-22"
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "CASE/850444",
        "title": "DCAF - Secure Transport and Escort of Children to Scottish Ministers",
        "description": "Scottish Ministers seek to appoint an external service provider for the provision of Secure Transport and Escort of Children.",
        "status": "active",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "75231220",
                        "scheme": "CPV"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UKM"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "value": {
            "amount": 1000000,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "procurementMethod": "open",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Open procedure",
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "submissionMethod": [
            "electronicSubmission"
        ],
        "submissionMethodDetails": "http://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk",
        "tenderPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2026-08-05T12:00:00Z"
        },
        "awardPeriod": {
            "startDate": "2026-08-05T12:00:00Z"
        },
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "JUL559506",
                "documentType": "contractNotice",
                "title": "DCAF - Secure Transport and Escort of Children to Scottish Ministers",
                "description": "Scottish Ministers seek to appoint an external service provider for the provision of Secure Transport and Escort of Children.",
                "url": "https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUL559506",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ],
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "description": "Scottish Ministers are responsible for the placement and management of children under the age of 18 who are sentenced to detention by the courts, including responsibility for their secure transportation. Legislative changes introduced through the Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Act 2024 reinforce Scotland's commitment to a rights-based, trauma-informed, child-centred justice system. The service will provide secure transport and escort services for children between courts, secure centres, hospitals, and other premises across Scotland. This will include, but is not limited to planned, unplanned and standby escorts, and custody and supervision at court, and transfer arrangements when a child reaches the age of 18, where required. The Service will only cover children whose secure transport and escort are the responsibility of Scottish Ministers. The contract is anticipated to commence in January 2027 for a period of 36 months with the option to extend by up to a further 24 months.",
                "status": "active",
                "value": {
                    "amount": 1000000,
                    "currency": "GBP"
                },
                "awardCriteria": {
                    "criteria": [
                        {
                            "type": "quality",
                            "name": "Operational Delivery Model",
                            "description": "20"
                        },
                        {
                            "type": "price",
                            "description": "25"
                        }
                    ]
                },
                "hasOptions": false,
                "submissionTerms": {
                    "variantPolicy": "notAllowed"
                },
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "durationInDays": 1080
                },
                "hasRenewal": true,
                "renewal": {
                    "description": "The contract may be extended by a period of up to 24 months"
                }
            }
        ],
        "participationFees": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "type": [
                    "document"
                ]
            }
        ],
        "bidOpening": {
            "date": "2026-08-05T12:00:00Z"
        },
        "communication": {
            "atypicalToolUrl": "http://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk"
        },
        "contractTerms": {
            "hasElectronicPayment": true,
            "hasElectronicOrdering": true,
            "electronicInvoicingPolicy": "allowed"
        },
        "coveredBy": [
            "GPA"
        ],
        "selectionCriteria": {
            "criteria": [
                {
                    "type": "suitability",
                    "description": "It shall be a requirement of the contract that all relevant staff must be a certified Prison Custody Officer (PCO). Accordingly, Bidders must confirm that appropriate staff will have, or undertake to achieve, PCO Certification prior to thew Full Service Commencement Date of the Contract."
                },
                {
                    "type": "economic",
                    "description": "4B.4 - Financial Ratios 4B.5.1a/b, 4B.5.2 and 4B.5.3 - Insurance",
                    "minimum": "4B.4 - Bidders must demonstrate a Current Ratio of not less than 1.0 Current Ratio will be calculated as follows: Total Current Assets divided by Total current liabilities. There must be no qualification or contra-indication from any evidence provided in support of the bidders economic and financial standing. 4B.5.1 - It is a requirement of this contract that bidders hold, or can commit to obtain prior to the commencement of any subsequently awarded contract, the types and levels of insurance indicated below: 48.5.1a - Professional Risk Indemnity: in the sum of not less than 10,000,000 GBP 4B.5.1b - Employer's (Compulsory) Liability Insurance In accordance with the legal obligation for the time being enforced. 4B.5.2 - Public Liability Insurance (including Abuse Liability) in the value of not less than 10,000,000 GBP 4B.5.3 - Additional insurances as described in Schedule 1 - Specification"
                },
                {
                    "type": "technical",
                    "description": "4C.1.2 - Relevant Experience 4C.4 - Supply Chain Management/Tracking Systems Used 4C.7 - Environmental Management 4C.10 - Proportion (%) to be Sub-Contracted",
                    "minimum": "4C.1.2 - Bidders will be required to provide examples that demonstrate that they have the relevant experience to deliver the services/supplies within the past three years. 4C.4 - If bidders intend to use a supply chain to deliver the requirements detailed in the Contract Notice, they should confirm they have (or have access to) the relevant supply chain management and tracking systems to ensure a resilient and sustainable supply chain. This will include confirmation that they have the systems in place to pay subcontractors through the supply chain promptly and effectively, and provide evidence when requested of: a. their standard payment terms b. >=95% of all supply chain invoices being paid on time (in accordance with the terms of contract) in the last financial year. If the bidder is unable to confirm (b) they must provide an improvement plan, signed by their Director, which improves the payment performance. Note: Accepted evidence includes but is not limited to: - extract of terms & conditions detailing standard payment terms - a summarised accounts payable report showing payment on time performance - credit report 4C.7 - Bidders are required to provide details of the environmental management measures which will be available when performing the contract: 4C.10 - Bidders will be required to confirm whether they intend to subcontract and, if so, for what proportion of the contract."
                }
            ]
        },
        "submissionTerms": {
            "languages": [
                "en"
            ],
            "bidValidityPeriod": {
                "durationInDays": 180
            }
        },
        "classification": {
            "id": "60130000",
            "scheme": "CPV"
        },
        "hasRecurrence": false,
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "32014L0024",
            "scheme": "CELEX"
        }
    },
    "language": "EN",
    "relatedProcesses": [
        {
            "id": "1",
            "relationship": [
                "planning"
            ],
            "scheme": "EU-OJ",
            "identifier": "2026/S 000-042433"
        }
    ],
    "description": "Economic operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015. Single Procurement Document will be scored on a pass/fail basis. Award Criteria Questions can be found in the ITT together with the weightings. Question scoring methodology for award criteria outlined in Invitation to Tender. Bidders must complete the SPD (Scotland) to demonstrate adherence to the exclusion and selection criteria for this procurement. The buyer is using PCS-Tender to conduct this ITT exercise. The Project code is 32261. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2343 (SC Ref:836392)",
    "links": [
        {
            "rel": "canonical",
            "href": "https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000836392"
        }
    ],
    "noticetype": "OJEU - F2 - Contract Notice"
}