--- title: "Couriers TPP Comms to Market" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-04e452" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-04e452" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04e452.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04e452.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS (DEFRA NETWORK ETENDERING PORTAL)" published: "2025-02-19" --- # Couriers TPP Comms to Market Buyer: DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS (DEFRA NETWORK ETENDERING PORTAL) Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-04e452 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-04e452) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04e452.json) ## Summary The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced a procurement process for "Couriers TPP Comms to Market" under the courier services category. This process, currently in the planning stage, is guided by the new Procurement Act 2023, which aims to simplify and open up public procurement. The planned changes will take effect on 24 February 2025. Key industry classifications include various postal and courier services, with a focus on parcel delivery and transport services. The procurement method is tender-based, with Defra acting as the main buying organization located in London, UK. This tender presents significant business growth opportunities, particularly for firms specialised in courier and postal services. Businesses that can offer efficient and reliable postal services, including parcel transport by road and railway, are well-suited to compete. The new procurement framework is designed to be more accessible to SMEs and innovative businesses. New features include a central digital platform and a simplified bidding process, which could lower barriers to entry and provide a level playing field for new market entrants. Companies currently holding Defra contracts should prepare for a seamless transition by familiarising themselves with the new regulations and digital tools. ## Notice Communication only ### Lot Information Lot 1 This Prior Information Notice (PIN) relates to Corporate Services - Couriers category. The intention is to share some updates regarding the application of the new Procurement Act in this area. Other such notices may be published by other category teams within Defra, and if your business operates across multiple categories you should review all relevant notices for updates. The Procurement Act 2023 is new legislation that will change the way the public sector buys goods and services. It aims to: * create a simpler and more flexible commercial system * open up public procurement to new entrants * take tougher action on underperforming suppliers * embed transparency throughout the commercial lifecycle The changes are expected to start on 24 February 2025. The existing legislation will apply until 24 February 2025. After 24 February 2025, it will only apply to procurements and contracts that started before this date, i.e. if the Invitation to Tender (ITT) was published, a voluntary transparency notice was published, or a pricing request was issued. The new features for suppliers include: * a central digital platform * a simplified bidding process * more flexible commercial frameworks * a new duty on contracting authorities to consider barriers facing SMEs and VCSEs * a stronger exclusions framework What will stay the same If you are an existing or potential supplier to Defra and have live contracts, are a member of an existing framework, or are planning to bid for a procurement that has or will start prior to the new regime commencing, that arrangement will continue to be subject to the existing Public Contracting Regulations until the contract ends. The same principle applies to any contracts that are subject to any other associated procurement regulations, such as The Utilities Contracts Regulations. What you need to do If you are a supplier, you should: * read the government guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/transforming-public-procurement * sign up for regular TPP updates: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdMgwpZ1kwubGUpKMLwu0ZpHS8zdWmXKgaHUJKRl-SwqQT95w/viewform * read the government TPP Knowledge Drops: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-official-transforming-public-procurement-knowledge-drops We recommend that you familiarise yourself with the new Central Digital Platform using these guidance videos: * An overview of the central digital platform, an enhanced Find a Tender service: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSfxoZoV3yI * How to register an organisation and the first administrator in 3 easy steps https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnjCa4swtjA * Detailed walkthrough: How an administrator completes and updates supplier info https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4ZdbMGRqeQ * The central digital platform, an enhanced Find a Tender service: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSfxoZoV3yI If you have a question about the new procurement act, contact the Transforming Public Procurement helpdesk at: procurement.reform@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/005960-2025 | | Notice type | Planning Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 19 Feb 2025 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 19 Feb 2025 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planned | | Lots status | Planned | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS (DEFRA NETWORK ETENDERING PORTAL) | | Locality | LONDON | | Post town | South West London | | Postcode | SW1P 4DF | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLI London | | ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West | | ITL 3 | TLI35 Westminster and City of London | | Local authority | Westminster | | Electoral ward | St James's | | Westminster constituency | Cities of London and Westminster | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 18 - Clothing, footwear, luggage articles and accessories - 60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport) - 64 - Postal and telecommunications services ### Codes - 18933000 - Mail or parcel bags - 60160000 - Mail transport by road - 60161000 - Parcel transport services - 60220000 - Mail transport by railway - 64100000 - Post and courier services - 64110000 - Postal services - 64113000 - Postal services related to parcels - 64120000 - Courier services - 64121000 - Multi-modal courier services - 64121100 - Mail delivery services - 64121200 - Parcel delivery services ## Release History - 19 Feb 2025 at 16:14 - Planning - Planning Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/005960-2025 ## Notice URLs - https://defra-family.force.com/s/Welcome - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdMgwpZ1kwubGUpKMLwu0ZpHS8zdWmXKgaHUJKRl-SwqQT95w/viewform - https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/transforming-public-procurement - https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-official-transforming-public-procurement-knowledge-drops - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSfxoZoV3yI - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4ZdbMGRqeQ - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnjCa4swtjA ## 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-h6vhtk-04e452. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04e452.json.