SS15 124 Home to School Transport - DPS

Kent County Council is procuring services through a Dynamic Purchasing System to supply home‑to‑school transport for children and students with special educational needs. The contract requires the delivery of safe, efficient transportation to and from selected schools, with transport providers expected to ensure that learners arrive prepared for learning and return safely at the end of the day. Operative communication with the Council, schools and parents or guardians is a key component of the service, fostering a proactive tri‑party dialogue throughout the school day.

The Council seeks suppliers that can provide fully equipped vehicles, skilled drivers and passenger assistants capable of meeting the distinct needs of each child, including those with learning difficulties, mental health and behavioural challenges, speech and language impairments, autism spectrum disorders, visual and hearing impairments, multi‑sensory conditions, physical disabilities and hidden disabilities. Vehicles and personnel must comply with safeguarding requirements and possess the appropriate skills and equipment to support the individual needs of every passenger as stipulated in the contract specification.

All technical specifications, including vehicle suitability, driver qualifications, passenger assistant competencies and safeguarding protocols, are detailed in the tender documentation and must be adhered to by any successful supplier.

Kent County Council (the Council) is the largest local council in England covering an area of 3,500 square kilometres. It has an annual expenditure of over £1.6bn 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.

The Council procures and manages transport for children/ students with special educational needs in line with the requirements placed on it by Government, through the home to school statutory guidance: www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/445407/Home_to_School_Travel_and_Transport_Guidance.pdf

The Council established this Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) to tender for Home to School transport and a wide range of social care transport requirements.

The Supplier will be required to deliver children/students to school in a safe and efficient manner, ensuring they are ready for learning. They will be expected to deliver them home at the end of the day, in a safe and efficient manner. The Supplier will also be expected to embed a pro-active communication process which takes into account the requirements of the Council, school and the parents/guardians of the individual client.

Whether a child attending school or a child requiring transport these children may have conditions covering:
-Learning difficulties;
-Mental health conditions;
-Behavioural, emotional and social difficulties;
-Speech, language and communication difficulties;
-Autistic spectrum disorder;
-Visual impairment;
-Hearing impairment;
-Multi-sensory impairment;
-Physical disability; and,
-Hidden disability.

This requirement looks to source transportation services from the commercial market to provide transport into the selected schools. The suppliers will be required to provide: vehicles, drivers & passenger assistants to transport students to these schools ensuring that the vehicles and level of care meet the individual needs of each passenger as identified within the terms and conditions of contract, tender specification which will include appropriate safeguarding requirements.

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 originally established in 2016, with a start date of 01 November 2016. 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 01 November 2026 to 23 February 2029, to ensure continuity of service. All other terms and conditions of th
Contract is suitable for SMEs?: Yes
Contract is suitable for VCSEs?: Yes
Links

• https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Maidstone:-Transport-services-(excl.-Waste-transport)./6AW23S749Y
• Please follow this link to view the notice.