Dynamic Purchasing System for Transport Services

Cumberland Council is looking to establish a Dynamic Purchasing System (“DPS”) for the provision of Passenger Transport Services which includes, but not limited to, Home to School, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), Pupil Referral Units, and Health, Care and Communities Transport.

The council intends to set up the DPS from 9th April 2025 to 28th October 2028 and admittance of new providers will be all year round. There are no further extensions.

It will be a two-stage process: during the first stage interested Tenderers must meet the council’s selection criteria in order to be admitted onto the system. Contracts are awarded during the second stage of the process. In stage two the council will invite Tenderers successfully admitted on the DPS to bid for contracts (routes).

Providers can join the DPS at any point in time.

Contracts will be of varying lengths.

The total value for the duration of the DPS, from start date to end date, will not exceed £75M, excluding VAT. Details of expenditure and extension periods are indicative only.

Admittance onto the DPS is NOT a guarantee of work and opportunities will be published following the call off procedure. A decision may be made at the Council’s sole discretion to carry out transport provision in house.

For further details, and to access the tender documents, including the service specification, please use the council's online procurement portal The Chest - https://www.the-chest.org.uk

Registration on The Chest is free of charge.

All bids must be received electronically via The Chest by the closing date stated in the Invitation to Tender (ITT).

Any clarifications you have about the tender must be sent via messaging on the chest by the closing date stated in the ITT.