---
title: "DPS Transport for Education, Social care and other transport requirements (East Lothian Council)"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06647e"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06647e"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06647e.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06647e.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Tender"
buyer: "EAST LOTHIAN COUNCIL"
published: "2026-04-17"
---

# DPS Transport for Education, Social care and other transport requirements (East Lothian Council)

Buyer: EAST LOTHIAN COUNCIL  
Current stage: Tender  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06647e

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## Summary

East Lothian Council is currently engaging in the tender process for a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) focused on transport services, primarily for education and social care needs within the East Lothian region. The procurement is categorised under public road transport services, with the Council applying a selective procurement method, namely a restricted procedure. This active tender commenced on 17th April 2026, following a planning stage indicated on 6th March 2026. A webinar event on bidding for this contract is scheduled online for 23rd April 2026. The procurement activity includes multiple lots—ranging from MPVs and minibuses to larger vehicles—all intended to accommodate requirements for individuals, including those with disabilities. The DPS system allows suppliers to join at any time and will offer mini competitions to award contracts. The current tender period ends on 20th April 2034, and community benefits apply once spending reaches £50,000 annually.

This procurement process represents significant business growth opportunities for operators with licensed vehicles, particularly those capable of providing taxi services, private hire options, minibuses, and buses with features accommodating wheelchair accessibility. Key awards criteria focus heavily on price, weighted at 90%, which promotes competitive bidding amongst price-sensitive suppliers. Employers must ensure compliance with the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007 and Police Scotland checks, alongside GDPR regulations. Businesses equipped with the appropriate Public Service Vehicle (PSV) Operator's Licence or Taxi/Private Hire Car Operator Licence are positioned advantageously. The substantial £43,717,860 financial allocation signals prominent business opportunities for well-equipped and compliant suppliers in the transport industry. Suppliers can leverage electronic ordering and invoicing capabilities, which streamline operational workflows and facilitate engagement in this recurring requirement, enhancing long-term growth and sustainability in the public transport sector.

## Notice

East Lothian Council ("ELC") are responsible for the procurement of service transport contracts to meet the education and social care needs as well as other passenger requirements. Most of the transport will be within East Lothian area. ELC is setting up a Dynamic Purchasing System ("DPS") to procure these contracts. A DPS is completely electronic system and is similar to a framework agreement but a key difference is that, unlike a framework agreement, suppliers can join a DPS at any time. Contracts operated through this DPS can generally be undertaken by taxis, private hire cars, minibuses and buses, including the requirement for those of these vehicles to be capable of carrying passengers in wheelchairs. The DPS will be split into the following categories: -Category 1: MPVs (5-8 seats), including salon cars (4 seats). -Category 2: MPV- Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV)- (5-8 seats) -Category 3: Minibus (9-16 seats), including wheelchair accessible vehicles -Category 4: Vehicles above 17 seats Contracts under the DPS will be awarded following mini competitions.

### Lot Information

Vehicles above 17 seats

East Lothian Council are responsible for the procurement of service transport contracts to meet the education and social care needs as well as other passenger or transport requirements. Most of the transport will be within East Lothian area. This Lot is for Vehicles above 17 seats. Additional information: Economic Operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations.

Renewal: Whilst it is not anticipated the period of the DPS will be extended, contracts awarded under it may be extended and may run beyond the original period of the DPS.

MPVs (5-8 seats), including salon cars (4 seats).

East Lothian Council are responsible for the procurement of service transport contracts to meet the education and social care needs as well as other passenger or transport requirements. Most of the transport will be within East Lothian area. This Lot is for MPVs (5-8 seats) including salon cars (4 seats). Additional information: Economic Operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations.

Renewal: Whilst it is not anticipated the period of the DPS will be extended, contracts awarded under it may be extended and may run beyond the original period of the DPS.

MPV- Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV)- (5-8 seats)

East Lothian Council are responsible for the procurement of service transport contracts to meet the education and social care needs as well as other passenger or transport requirements. Most of the transport will be within East Lothian area. This Lot is for MPVs- Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV)- (5-8 seats). Additional information: Economic Operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations.

Renewal: Whilst it is not anticipated the period of the DPS will be extended, contracts awarded under it may be extended and may run beyond the original period of the DPS.

Minibus (9-16 seats), including wheelchair accessible vehicles of this capacity

East Lothian Council are responsible for the procurement of service transport contracts to meet the education and social care needs as well as other passenger or transport requirements. Most of the transport will be within East Lothian area. This is is for Minibus (9-16 seats), including wheelchair accessible vehicles of this capacity. Additional information: Economic Operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations.

Renewal: Whilst it is not anticipated the period of the DPS will be extended, contracts awarded under it may be extended and may run beyond the original period of the DPS.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/034979-2026 |
| Notice type | Planning 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 | Planning, Tender |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 17 Apr 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 20 Apr 2034 |
| Future notice date | 23 Apr 2026 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | This is a recurring requirement for East Lothian Council. It is anticipated the renewal process will commence 9 months before the expiry of this Dynamic Purchasing System in 2034 |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £43,717,860 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| 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 | EAST LOTHIAN COUNCIL |
| Locality | HADDINGTON, EAST LOTHIAN |
| Post town | Edinburgh |
| Postcode | EH41 3HA |
| Country | Scotland |
| ITL 1 | TLM Scotland |
| ITL 2 | TLM1 East Central Scotland |
| ITL 3 | TLM11 East Lothian and Midlothian |
| Local authority | East Lothian |
| Electoral ward | Haddington and Lammermuir |
| Westminster constituency | Lothian East |
| Delivery location | TLM73 East Lothian and Midlothian |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation
- 60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

### Codes

- 34114400 - Minibuses
- 34121000 - Buses and coaches
- 34121500 - Coaches
- 60112000 - Public road transport services
- 60120000 - Taxi services

## Release History

- 17 Apr 2026 at 08:33 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/034979-2026
- 6 Mar 2026 at 15:31 - Planning - Planning Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/020540-2026

## Notice URLs

- http://www.eastlothian.gov.uk
- http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2343
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000825807
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000828906
- https://www.gov.scot/policies/public-sector-procurement/community-benefits-in-procurement/
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00181
- https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/esop/pts-host/public/pts/web/login.html
- https://www.sdpscotland.co.uk/events/aligned-tender-training-east-lothian-councils-transport-journeys-dps-2074/

## 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-06647e. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06647e.json.