--- title: "SEND & Social Care Transportation" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-055f2d" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-055f2d" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-055f2d.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-055f2d.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL" published: "2026-03-23" --- # SEND & Social Care Transportation Buyer: NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-055f2d [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-055f2d) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-055f2d.json) ## Summary Newcastle City Council is currently in the planning stage for the commissioning of services related to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and social care transportation. The Council's current contractual arrangements are set to expire on 31 August 2026. To explore options for new arrangements that will commence during summer 2026, a market engagement event is scheduled for Tuesday, 7 April 2026, from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm at the Newcastle Civic Centre Banqueting Hall. Interested providers and stakeholders are encouraged to attend to discuss the upcoming procurement, which falls under the transport services industry category. This procurement process will involve taxi, minibus, and coach services and address various transport needs within Newcastle upon Tyne and the surrounding region. The contract's estimated gross value is £62.4 million, with a procurement method expected to include a framework agreement, and the contract set to start on 22 June 2026, with potential renewal extending until 2030. This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in transport services, particularly those catering to special needs and social care sectors. Organisations ready to deliver comprehensive transportation solutions, including home-to-school, college transport, and care transport for vulnerable groups, are encouraged to compete. The procurement process supports participation from SMEs and VCSEs, ensuring a diverse range of business sizes and types can seize this opportunity. By participating in the engagement event and the procurement process itself, businesses could establish long-term service provisions with Newcastle City Council, thereby facilitating substantial business growth through reliable contracts and impactful community service delivery. ## Notice This procurement is expected to cover all of the Council's requirements for SEND and Social Care taxi, minibus and coach services. It will likely encompass Home to School, Home to care, College Transport, Transport for Older People, Looked After Children, People with Additional Needs, other Vulnerable People within Social Care and any other transport request as identified by the Council. ### Planning Information Tuesday 7 April 2026 - 1pm to 3pm Newcastle City Council Banqueting Hall. Newcastle City Council's current contractual arrangements for SEND and Social Care Transportation are due to end on 31 August 2026, and we will be undertaking a commissioning exercise to explore options for new arrangements from summer 2026. The Council are inviting all interested providers and stakeholders to meet with us to discuss the services that we intend to commission. This event is an important opportunity to ensure providers are fully informed about future commissioning plans and do not miss key updates relating to the next phase of service provision. The session will include: Proposed future service model and specification Opportunity for feedback and open discussion Commissioning and procurement timeline and next steps The Market Engagement Event will be held on Tuesday 7 April 2026 at Newcastle Civic Centre, Banqueting Hall, 1:00pm to 3:00pm Please confirm your attendance by using the link provided https://forms.office.com/e/4cJGBbLbUN ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026283-2026 | | Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Framework | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 23 Mar 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 13 Apr 2026 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 21 Jun 2026 - 22 Jun 2028 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £52,000,000 | | 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 | NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL | | Locality | NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE | | Post town | Newcastle upon Tyne | | Postcode | NE1 8QH | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLC North East (England) | | ITL 2 | TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear | | ITL 3 | TLC43 Tyneside | | Local authority | Newcastle upon Tyne | | Electoral ward | Monument | | Westminster constituency | Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West | | Delivery location | TLC North East (England) | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport) ### Codes - 60000000 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport) ## Release History - 23 Mar 2026 at 13:43 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026283-2026 - 23 Mar 2026 at 13:38 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026277-2026 - 15 Jul 2025 at 10:22 - Planning - UK1 - Pipeline Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/039871-2025 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026283-2026 23rd March 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026277-2026 23rd March 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/039871-2025 15th July 2025 - Pipeline notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - https://forms.office.com/e/4cJGBbLbUN - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents - https://www.newcastle.gov.uk/ ## 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-055f2d. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-055f2d.json.