---
title: "PME for Domestic Courier Service"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-077706"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-077706"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-077706.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-077706.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "Direct Rail Services Limited"
published: "2026-09-22"
---

# PME for Domestic Courier Service

Buyer: Direct Rail Services Limited  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-077706

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## Summary

Direct Rail Services Limited is researching a domestic courier and road transport service for its rail depots. The requirement covers transport between DRS depots and between those depots and third-party locations across the UK. The appointed logistics supplier may need to provide cost-effective, efficient transport solutions, including a potential shuttle service between depots and ad hoc deliveries to or from suppliers. Ad hoc consignments are expected to include parcels, pallets, oversized cargo and dangerous goods, limited to non-nuclear materials. This is a services requirement covering courier and road transport activity, with delivery locations across the United Kingdom.

This procurement is at the planning stage and is currently market engagement, rather than an invitation to tender. DRS is seeking information about suppliers’ capabilities through a request for information, with responses requested by 2 October 2026. The buyer expects the next notice to be published on 16 November 2026. The anticipated contract period is 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2028. The estimated value is £200,000 excluding VAT, or £240,000 including VAT. The planned procurement is above the relevant threshold and is expected to use a framework agreement. There is one planned lot, intended to be suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises.

This engagement will suit logistics, courier and road transport providers able to operate across the UK and support movements between operational depots and supplier locations. Relevant capability includes routine domestic parcel and pallet delivery, depot shuttle operations, urgent or ad hoc response, and handling oversized cargo. Suppliers should also be able to transport non-nuclear dangerous goods where required. The requirement may suit SMEs, and businesses with flexible fleet capacity and the operational control to combine planned movements with urgent deliveries are likely to be well placed when the procurement reaches the market. The buyer is specifically looking for efficient, cost-effective logistics solutions, so suppliers should prepare evidence of service capability, coverage and delivery performance.

## Notice

Direct Rail Services (DRS) has requirements for domestic courier services. Domestic means the transportation between DRS depots and between DRS depots and 3rd party locations within the UK. We look for a logistic service supplier who can provide cost effective and efficient logistic solutions for our transport requirement, including potential shuttle service between DRS depots, and ad hoc service for any urgent delivery and the delivery to / from our suppliers, where required. The required ad hoc services are as follows: * Parcels * Pallets * Oversized cargo * Dangerous good service (Non-nuclear materials) DRS is currently seeking to understand the capabilities of the market for this requirement.

### Planning Information

Direct Rail Services (DRS) has requirements for domestic courier services. Domestic means the transportation between DRS depots and between DRS depots and 3rd party locations within the UK. We look for a logistic service supplier who can provide cost effective and efficient logistic solutions for our transport requirement, including potential shuttle service between DRS depots, and ad hoc service for any urgent delivery and the delivery to / from our suppliers, where required. The required ad hoc services are as follows:
• Parcels
• Pallets
• Oversized cargo 
• Dangerous good service (Non-nuclear materials)
DRS is currently seeking to understand the capabilities of the market for this requirement.
Please respond to the RFI via the Atamis portal: https://atamis-2464.my.site.com/s/Welcome

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/089420-2026 |
| 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 |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 22 Sep 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 16 Nov 2026 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 1 Jan 2027 - 31 Dec 2028 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £200,000 |
| 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 | Direct Rail Services Limited |
| Locality | CARLISLE |
| Postcode area | Carlisle |
| Postcode | CA6 4SJ |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLD North West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLD1 Cumbria |
| ITL 3 | TLD13 Cumberland |
| Local authority | Cumberland |
| Electoral ward | Dalston and Burgh |
| Westminster constituency | Carlisle |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)
- 64 - Postal and telecommunications services

### Codes

- 60100000 - Road transport services
- 64120000 - Courier services

## Release History

- 22 Sep 2026 at 09:23 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/089420-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/089420-2026
  22nd September 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://atamis-2464.my.site.com/s/Welcome
- https://www.directrailservices.com/
- 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-077706. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-077706.json.