--- title: "SS15 124 Home to School Transport - DPS" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-29482590-e0cf-4f0e-b748-1e013395aed3" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-29482590-e0cf-4f0e-b748-1e013395aed3" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-29482590-e0cf-4f0e-b748-1e013395aed3.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-29482590-e0cf-4f0e-b748-1e013395aed3.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "KENT COUNTY COUNCIL" published: "2025-12-17" --- # SS15 124 Home to School Transport - DPS Buyer: KENT COUNTY COUNCIL Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-b5fd17-29482590-e0cf-4f0e-b748-1e013395aed3 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-29482590-e0cf-4f0e-b748-1e013395aed3) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-29482590-e0cf-4f0e-b748-1e013395aed3.json) ## Summary Kent County Council, the largest local council in England, is undertaking a public procurement process to provide home to school transport services through a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS). This tender is specifically designed to cater to the transport needs of children with special educational needs across the South East of the United Kingdom. It is currently in the tender stage with a publication date of 17th December 2025. The procurement is classified under transportation services and follows a restricted procedure, with the tender period ending on 21st February 2029. A budget of £750 million is allocated for this procurement, which aims to ensure the safe and efficient transport of students to and from school. This tender presents a significant opportunity for businesses involved in transportation services, particularly those with a focus on special needs transport. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs) are encouraged to compete in this selective procurement process. The successful suppliers will provide suitable vehicles, drivers, and passenger assistants, meeting the safeguarding requirements outlined in the tender specification. Businesses with expertise in handling transportation for individuals with diverse conditions such as learning difficulties, autism, and physical disabilities will find this tender aligns well with their capabilities and can leverage this opportunity for growth within the public sector. ## Notice Kent County Council (the Council) is the largest local council in England covering an area of 3,500 square kilometres. It has an annual expenditure of over PS1.6bn on goods and services and a population of 1.8m. The Council provides a wide range of personal and strategic services on behalf of its residents, operating in partnership with 12 district councils and over 300 parish/town councils. The Council procures and manages transport for children/ students with special educational needs in line with the requirements placed on it by Government, through the home to school statutory guidance: www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/445407/Home_to_School_Travel_and_Transport_Guidance.pdf The Council established this Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) to tender for Home to School transport and a wide range of social care transport requirements. The Supplier will be required to deliver children/students to school in a safe and efficient manner, ensuring they are ready for learning. They will be expected to deliver them home at the end of the day, in a safe and efficient manner. The Supplier will also be expected to embed a pro-active communication process which takes into account the requirements of the Council, school and the parents/guardians of the individual client. Whether a child attending school or a child requiring transport these children may have conditions covering: -Learning difficulties; -Mental health conditions; -Behavioural, emotional and social difficulties; -Speech, language and communication difficulties; -Autistic spectrum disorder; -Visual impairment; -Hearing impairment; -Multi-sensory impairment; -Physical disability; and, -Hidden disability. This requirement looks to source transportation services from the commercial market to provide transport into the selected schools. The suppliers will be required to provide: vehicles, drivers & passenger assistants to transport students to these schools ensuring that the vehicles and level of care meet the individual needs of each passenger as identified within the terms and conditions of contract, tender specification which will include appropriate safeguarding requirements. Further details of the full scope and specific requirements will be provided within the tender documentation issued under this DPS. Further background and technical information can be found within the tender documentation. This Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) was originally established in 2016, with a start date of 01 November 2016. Due to the lack of viable alternatives provided by the Procurement Act 2023 (PA23) and in line with the transition arrangements, the Council is extending the 'Supported Local Bus and Home to School Transport Services' DPS period of validity - in accordance with Regulation 28(1)(a) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 - from 01 November 2026 to 23 February 2029, to ensure continuity of service. All other terms and conditions of th ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/954c2e3f-a867-4efa-aaa9-92fc9ed20347 | | Notice type | Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Dynamic | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Selective | | Procurement method details | Restricted procedure | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 17 Dec 2025 | | Submission deadline | 21 Feb 2029 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 22 Feb 2029 - 23 Feb 2029 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £750,000,000 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Active | | Lots status | Not specified | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | KENT COUNTY COUNCIL | | Locality | MAIDSTONE | | Post town | Rochester | | Postcode | ME14 1XQ | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLJ South East (England) | | ITL 2 | TLJ4 Kent | | ITL 3 | TLJ45 Mid Kent | | Local authority | Maidstone | | Electoral ward | Penenden Heath | | Westminster constituency | Maidstone and Malling | | Delivery location | TLJ South East (England) | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport) ### Codes - 60000000 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport) ## Release History - 17 Dec 2025 at 13:30 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/954c2e3f-a867-4efa-aaa9-92fc9ed20347 ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/954c2e3f-a867-4efa-aaa9-92fc9ed20347 17th December 2025 - Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder - https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Maidstone:-Transport-services-(excl.-Waste-transport)./6AW23S749Y Please follow this link to view the notice. ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-29482590-e0cf-4f0e-b748-1e013395aed3. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-29482590-e0cf-4f0e-b748-1e013395aed3.json.