--- title: "Home to School Replacement Bus Framework" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06994a" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06994a" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06994a.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06994a.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "THE EDUCATION AUTHORITY" published: "2026-05-14" --- # Home to School Replacement Bus Framework Buyer: THE EDUCATION AUTHORITY Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06994a [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06994a) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06994a.json) ## Summary The Education Authority of Northern Ireland is in the planning stage of a procurement process titled "Home to School Replacement Bus Framework." This initiative, related to the goods category and involving the replacement of school buses, aims to establish a four-year framework with an estimated maximum value of up to £49 million, contingent upon funding approvals. The procurement is under the UK's devolved government regulations, specifically for Northern Ireland. A Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) exercise is underway to explore market capacity and innovation, with suppliers invited to submit insights by 4th June 2026. The procurement framework is expected to be subdivided into lots for different vehicle types, with a planned start date of 1st August 2026 and a completion date of 31st July 2030. This tender presents significant business growth opportunities, particularly for SMEs specialising in the manufacture or supply of commercial vehicles, including buses and coaches. As the project covers various vehicle types, businesses with expertise in versatile vehicle solutions catering to both mainstream and special educational needs transportation may find competitive advantage. The framework's structure, allowing for secondary competition when specific lots are funded, suggests enterprises capable of strategic bidding could secure contracts as needs arise. Engaging in the PME exercise offers businesses the chance to influence procurement strategies and highlight any innovative vehicle designs suitable for the Education Authority's operational requirements. ## Notice EA is currently preparing to initiate the procurement process to set up a 4 year framework for the replacement of Home to School Buses. Currently no funding for fleet replacement is in place. EA are currently preparing a business case for a school bus replacement programme to a maximum value of up to PS49m over four years, which will be subject to various approvals. Funding values may vary per annum, or no funding award may available. There is no guarantee of the level of business during the period of the framework or to the exact value of any subsequent Purchase Orders. It is anticipated that the framework will be split into lots for each vehicle type. When EA receives funding to replace buses, it is intended that a secondary competition will be run from the framework for each vehicle type required. EA will reserve the right to prioritise which vehicle types are required in line with operational needs. A provisional indication of potential lots are as follows: Mainstream school buses: 22 passenger seat van conversion 33 passenger seat coach built bus 57 passenger seat coach built bus Special Educational Needs school buses 16 passenger seat / 2 wheelchair van conversion minibus 22 passenger seat / 6 wheelchair coach built bus 28 passenger seat / 8 wheelchair coach built bus All bus types and quantities are subject to funding. All EA school buses must be fully seated Class 3 category buses with no standing capacity and built to full EA specifications in every aspect. All buses in this particular framework must be diesel combustion engine vehicles. Zero emission buses are out of scope in this framework. Public/Service bus specifications are not suitable for EA home to school transport. EA are interested in feedback regarding development of vehicle designs to accommodate EA requirements. ### Planning Information The Education Authority Northern Ireland (EANI) would like to invite participation in a Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) exercise to seek the views of the market for the supply of buses. The purpose of this PME exercise is for EANI to gain an understanding of the latest developments and innovative solutions available and will be used to assist EANI in gaining a better understanding of the feasibility of the requirements, the most appropriate procurement and operational approach, the capacity of the market to deliver the requirements and an opportunity for the market to highlight any possible risks or issues. For the avoidance of doubt, this is the scoping phase of the project and is not part of any formal procurement process and there is no commitment at this stage to carry out such a process. Any information gathered will not be considered in any future tender exercise. Please note that participation or non-participation in this PME exercise shall not prevent any supplier from participating in any future procurement process, nor is it intended that any information provided shall place any supplier at an advantage or disadvantage in any future procurement exercise. Further information including the questionnaire can be downloaded from the documents section of the CfT on eTendersNI. Suppliers who wish to participate in the PME exercise must return the completed questionnaire via the messaging function of the CfT on eTendersNI no later than 15:00 on 4 June 2026. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/044628-2026 | | Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Framework | | Procurement category | Goods | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 14 May 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 6 Jul 2026 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 31 Jul 2026 - 31 Jul 2030 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £4,900,000 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planning | | Lots status | Planning | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | THE EDUCATION AUTHORITY | | Locality | BELFAST | | Post town | Northern Ireland | | Postcode | BT1 2NQ | | Country | Northern Ireland | | ITL 1 | TLN Northern Ireland | | ITL 2 | TLN0 Northern Ireland | | ITL 3 | TLN06 Belfast | | Local authority | Belfast | | Electoral ward | Duncairn | | Westminster constituency | Belfast North | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation ### Codes - 34100000 - Motor vehicles - 34120000 - Motor vehicles for the transport of 10 or more persons - 34121000 - Buses and coaches - 34121100 - Public-service buses - 34121200 - Articulated buses - 34121400 - Low-floor buses - 34121500 - Coaches - 34200000 - Vehicle bodies, trailers or semi-trailers - 34210000 - Vehicle bodies - 34211000 - Bus bodies, ambulance bodies and vehicle bodies for goods vehicles - 34211100 - Bus bodies ## Release History - 14 May 2026 at 16:51 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/044628-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/044628-2026 14th May 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents ## 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-06994a. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06994a.json.