--- title: "Provision of an internal mail courier service" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-059da7" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-059da7" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-059da7.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-059da7.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Award" buyer: "CUMBERLAND COUNCIL" published: "2026-03-05" --- # Provision of an internal mail courier service Buyer: CUMBERLAND COUNCIL Current stage: Award OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-059da7 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-059da7) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-059da7.json) ## Summary The contracting process for the provision of an internal mail courier service overseen by Cumberland Council in partnership with Westmorland and Furness Council has reached the active award stage as of 5th March 2026. This procurement, staged under an open procedure, involves moving various items securely between approximately 40 sites across Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness, including council buildings, police stations, and fire stations. The procurement is notably split over two geographical routes, ensuring efficient and secure handover between routes. Contracts for the Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness routes were signed on 4th February 2026, commencing services that day, with a maximum contract period extending until 3rd February 2030. HART DISTRIBUTION LIMITED is the appointed supplier. The initial contract period lasts two years with possible extensions of two additional 12-month periods and involves a cumulative gross contract value exceeding £700,000. This contract offers a significant opportunity for growth within the courier services market, providing organisations experienced in secure parcel delivery a chance to expand their reach across the region. The service requires rigorous security measures, including staff vetting, which is ideal for businesses with strong compliance and security frameworks, especially those classified as SMEs due to the suitability criteria. The tender process initially included an active market engagement, and participation was encouraged among diverse business communities, underscoring the councils' commitment to diversity. SMEs with proficiency in maintaining high security standards and operational excellence in courier services stand well-equipped to fulfil these contracts, paving the way for future extensions and further collaborations with public authorities. ## Notice The Council is reprocuring a dedicated, secure, Internal mail and parcel collection and delivery service contract. This contract is split over 2 routes, one for the geographical area of Cumberland and one for the geographical area of Westmorland and Furness. This service will move a variety of items securely between approx 40 sites across the two areas. Due to the nature of the items transported by this service there is a requirement for items to be handed over from one route to the other. This tender will be to procure a single supplier with two contracts, one for each area. There are various Council buildings in both routes but they also include some Police & Fire stations/ buildings. Due to the nature of the service security measures will be vital to the contract including the vetting of contractor staff. ### Lot Information Lot 1 Renewal: There is the potential for contract extensions of up to 2 x 12 months, depending on both the success in achieving the required outcomes and availability of further funding. ### Planning Information The Council is reprocuring a dedicated, secure, Internal mail and parcel collection & delivery Service contract. This contract is split over 2 routes, one for the geographical area of Cumberland and one for the geographical area of Westmorland & Furness. This service will move a variety of items securely between approx 40 sites across the two areas. Due to the nature of the items transported by this service there is a requirement for items to be handed over from one route to the other. This tender will be to procure a single supplier with two contracts, one for each area. There are various Council buildings in both routes but they also include some Police & Fire stations/buildings. Due to the nature of the service security measures will be vital to the contract including the vetting of contractor staff. The Council will be carrying out an online session on Friday 26th September at 10am to 11.30am to further outline this opportunity. Please confirm email addresses, name and company name via the 'messaging area' on The Chest (https://www.the-chest.org.uk/) if you would like to secure a space, a maximum of 2 from each organisation. These must be received before Thursday 25th September 12 noon. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/019886-2026 | | Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | SME | | All stages | Planning, Tender, Award | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 5 Mar 2026 | | Submission deadline | 21 Nov 2025 | | Future notice date | 25 Sep 2025 | | Award date | 22 Jan 2026 | | Contract period | 4 Feb 2026 - 3 Feb 2028 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £450,000 | | Lots value | £450,000 | | Awards value | £923,422 | | Contracts value | £590,304 | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Complete | | Lots status | Complete | | Awards status | Active | | Contracts status | Active, Cancelled | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | CUMBERLAND COUNCIL | | Additional buyers | Missing; WESTMORLAND AND FURNESS COUNCIL | | Locality | CARLISLE | | Post town | Carlisle | | Postcode | CA1 1RD | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLD North West (England) | | ITL 2 | TLD1 Cumbria | | ITL 3 | TLD14 Westmorland and Furness | | Local authority | Westmorland and Furness | | Electoral ward | Kendal Strickland and Fell | | Westminster constituency | Westmorland and Lonsdale | | Delivery location | TLD1 Cumbria | ## Supplier | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Number of suppliers | 1 | | Supplier names | HART DISTRIBUTION | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 64 - Postal and telecommunications services ### Codes - 64120000 - Courier services ## Release History - 5 Mar 2026 at 12:32 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/019886-2026 - 28 Jan 2026 at 17:13 - TenderCancellation - UK12 - Procurement Termination Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/007769-2026 - 23 Jan 2026 at 15:47 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/006323-2026 - 22 Jan 2026 at 16:29 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/005940-2026 - 27 Oct 2025 at 14:43 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/068596-2025 - 22 Sep 2025 at 09:58 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/058398-2025 - 18 Sep 2025 at 16:59 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/057907-2025 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/019886-2026 5th March 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/007769-2026 28th January 2026 - Procurement termination notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/006323-2026 23rd January 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/005940-2026 22nd January 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/068596-2025 27th October 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/058398-2025 22nd September 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/057907-2025 18th September 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - http://www.hartdistribution.co.uk - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents - https://www.the-chest.org.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-059da7. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-059da7.json.