---
title: "SS15 96 DPS - Supported Local Bus (including Kent Karrier) and Home to School Transport Services"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-05f8a5"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05f8a5"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05f8a5.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05f8a5.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Tender"
buyer: "KENT COUNTY COUNCIL"
published: "2025-12-18"
---

# SS15 96 DPS - Supported Local Bus (including Kent Karrier) and Home to School Transport Services

Buyer: KENT COUNTY COUNCIL  
Current stage: Tender  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-05f8a5

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## Summary

The procurement process for the "SS15 96 DPS - Supported Local Bus (including Kent Karrier) and Home to School Transport Services" is being managed by Kent County Council, a regional authority based in Maidstone, United Kingdom. This active tender falls under the services category, specifically within road transport services (CPV code 60100000). The procurement is at the tender stage and employs a restricted procedure under a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS). The DPS was initially established in 2017 and extended to ensure service continuity until 23 February 2029. Businesses are welcome to apply anytime during this period, needing to meet specific criteria per the tender documentation. The related contract period runs from 17 December 2025 to 23 February 2029, with the tender submission deadline set for 22 February 2029. The location for this procurement is in Kent, coded as UKJ4 region.

This tender represents an excellent opportunity for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) experienced in providing transport services, as the contract value amounts to £100 million. With prospects for supplying both supported local bus services and school transport, businesses with capabilities in public service vehicle operations, especially with experience in fulfilling social needs like rural connectivity, would find this opportunity well-suited to their growth ambitions. As a dynamic purchasing system, it facilitates continuous supplier entry, enabling new businesses to engage throughout its duration, providing an equitable platform for those meeting the required standards.

## Notice

Kent County Council (the Council) is the largest county 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. This requirement is from the Growth, Environment and Transport Directorate is for the provision of services operated using PSV or Community (Section 19 or 22) Bus Permits. The requirements relate to the Council's activity in respect of Supported Local Bus (including Kent Karrier) and Home to School Transport Services. Supported Bus services are procured for the delivery of socially necessary bus services (including Kent Karrier), where the authority will fund the provision of a local bus service which is not commercially viable, which would therefore not otherwise run but which the authority has identified as meeting a social need i.e. rural connectivity. Home to School Transport services are procured to provide school transport for those pupils who are determined by our Education and Young People's Directorate as eligible for free home to school transport. Where the volume of pupils is sufficient to justify a larger vehicle (minibus, coach or bus) these will require provision of this transport by a Public Service Vehicle Licensed Operator who can run services either as a public bus service or as a privately hired vehicle. 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 established in 2016, with a start date of 01 January 2017. 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 31 December 2027 to 23 February 2029, to ensure continuity of service. All other terms and conditions of the DPS remain unchanged. This Dynamic Purchasing System has a total value of PS100 million, covering the period from its establishment in 2017 through to the end of its period of validity.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

The Council established this DPS to tender a variety of transport requirements as detailed in section II.I.4. This notice confirms the extension of the "Supported Local Bus (including Kent Karrier) and Home to School Transport Services" Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) period of validity, as referenced in section II.I.4. The DPS will remain open until 23 February 2029, in accordance with Regulation 34 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. Suppliers may apply at any time during this period, provided they meet and continue to meet the Council's minimum standards as defined in the documents. Successful applicants will have equal standing with existing DPS members, and unsuccessful applicants may reapply at any time. Minimum time limits for tenders under the DPS will be specified in each individual Invitation to Tender (ITT). Suppliers can access the 'SS15 96 DPS - Supported Local Bus (including Kent Karrier) and Home to School Transport Services Dynamic Purchasing System' by visiting the link mentioned above or the www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk Additional information: To respond to this opportunity please click here: https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/respond/H36G4TQK44

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/084180-2025 |
| Notice type | Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Dynamic, Framework |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Selective |
| Procurement method details | Restricted procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Tender |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 18 Dec 2025 |
| Submission deadline | 22 Feb 2029 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 17 Dec 2025 - 23 Feb 2029 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £100,000,000 |
| Lots value | £100,000,000 |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Active |
| Lots status | Active |
| 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 | TLJ4 Kent |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

### Codes

- 60000000 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)
- 60100000 - Road transport services

## Release History

- 18 Dec 2025 at 10:05 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/084180-2025

## Notice URLs

- http://www.kent.gov.uk
- https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/H36G4TQK44
- https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Maidstone:-Road-transport-services./H36G4TQK44
- https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/respond/H36G4TQK44
- https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/tenders/UK-Maidstone:-Road-transport-services./H36G4TQK44

## 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-05f8a5. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05f8a5.json.