This notice announces an administrative change to an existing contract or market (a dynamic market modification notice). No new tender or admission is opened here; see the linked notices below for the original opportunity.
Official UK procurement notice
DFTO Ground Transportation · UK public procurement notice
Authority: DFT Operator Limited 'DFTO' (Central government)·Consortium: 2 public authorities
What is being bought2 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionDFT Operator "DFTO" intends to establish and operate a Dynamic Market to enable Train Operating Companies (TOCs) within the DFTO group and the public sector to run further call off competitions for Managed Bus/Coach (Rail Replacement Services) and Managed Taxi Services.
DFTO will act as the contracting authority for the establishment, governance and ongoing management of the Dynamic Market. Individual TOCs will act as Customers and will conduct Call-Off Competitions and award Call-Off Contracts under the Dynamic Market in their own capacity as contracting authorities.
The Dynamic Market will remain open for its duration, allowing Suppliers to apply for admission at any time, subject to meeting the Conditions for Membership. Admitted Suppliers will be invited by Customers to participate in Call-Off Competitions for specific requirements.
DFTO will not be a party to any Call-Off Contract awarded under the Dynamic Market unless expressly stated otherwise.
The structure of this Dynamic Market is intended to support future organisational change within the rail sector and may be utilised by successor bodies to DFTO in accordance with applicable legislation.
The term of the Dynamic Market is anticipated to be 8 years from the date of publication of the intentions notice (Estimated to be 31/03/2026). Please note for the purposes of publishing this notice nominal dates have been inputted and are not reflective of the actual . Contract start and end dates will determined by the users of the Dynamic Market.
For more information about this opportunity, please visit the eSourcing portal at:
dfto.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-London… ↗
To respond to this opportunity, please click here:
CPV: Buses and coaches · Hire of buses and coaches with driver · Public road transport services · Public-service buses · Taxi services
How this dynamic market works
From the published notice- Type
- Dynamic market · active
- Market period
- 1 Jun 2026 – 31 May 2034
- Buyer regions
- UKC, UKD, UKF, UKG, UKH, UKI, UKJ, UKL, UKL1, UKL14, UKL2, UKM, UKM5, UKM7, UKM8, UKM9
- Supplier levy on call-offs (max %)
- 0
Who may buy through it
Where used throughout this notice, the meaning of Train Operating Companies includes all and any of those train operating companies who, currently or in the future, provide services for the carriage of passengers by railway:
under a franchise agreement with the Secretary of State within the meaning of section 23(3) of the Railways Act 1993 or
under, or secured under, the Secretary of State’s duty in section 30(1) of the Railways Act 1993; or
in accordance with legislation which supersedes or amends the powers referred to in a) and b), including where such powers are transferred from the Secretary of State to another body.
‘The Dynamic market may be novated or assigned by DFTO to Train Operating Companies, or any successor parent company to DFTO or to a Train Operating Company, following a corporate restructuring or similar circumstance.
Lots and requirements (2)Procurement structure
2 lots · no lot values publishedLot #1Buses and Coaches North East, North West +6
Managed Bus and Coach Services (Rail Replacement)
Suppliers will be expected to provide bus and coach transport services to replace or supplement rail services for the entire geographical area that they apply for.
This may include and is not limited to:
(a)Planned rail replacement services during engineering works
(b)Emergency rail replacement during disruption or service failure
(c)Event or demand management services
(d)Local shuttle services between stations
(e)Longer distance coach services where appropriate
Suppliers must provide:
(f)Suitable PSVAIR/PSVAR‐licensed vehicles and qualified drivers
(g)Capacity appropriate to passenger demand
(h)Coordination with rail operations and station staff
(i)Compliance with all applicable safety, transport and accessibility regulations
Lot #2Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles North East, North West +7
Managed Taxi Services
Suppliers shall provide managed taxi and private hire vehicle services in the geographical area that they apply for to deliver the transportation of:
(a)Train crew (including drivers and conductors)
(b)Operational railway staff
(c)Passengers where alternative transport is required
This may include but is not limited to:
(d)Crew transport between depots, stations, and operational locations
(e)Passenger taxis during disruption, last train situations, accessibility requirements or where rail services cannot operate
(f)Ad‐hoc or pre‐booked journeys arranged through the Authority’s booking channels
(g)Accessible vehicles where required
(h)24/7 availability to support operational railway requirements
Suppliers may be required to provide booking management, dispatch, journey tracking and reporting capability.
Operational Requirements
Suppliers must:
(a)Provide reliable and timely services aligned with rail operational needs
(b)Maintain all appropriate licensing, insurance, and regulatory compliance
(c)Meet all applicable legal safety, safeguarding, and accessibility requirements
(d)Support 24/7 operations where required
(e)Provide data and reporting on journeys and performance
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
- “DFTO Ground Transportation” is a dynamic market: the contest is a place on its panel, not a single contract.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Dynamic market
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Administrative change
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Utilities
- Commercial structure
- Dynamic market
- Who may use this agreement
Where used throughout this notice, the meaning of Train Operating Companies includes all and any of those train operating companies who, currently or in the future, provide services for the carriage of passengers by railway:
under a franchise agreement with the Secretary of State within the meaning of section 23(3) of the Railways Act 1993 or
under, or secured under, the Secretary of State’s duty in section 30(1) of the Railways Act 1993; or
in accordance with legislation which supersedes or amends the powers referred to in a) and b), including where such powers are transferred from the Secretary of State to another body.
‘The Dynamic market may be novated or assigned by DFTO to Train Operating Companies, or any successor parent company to DFTO or to a Train Operating Company, following a corporate restructuring or similar circumstance.
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 22 May 2026, 14:05 BST
- Last source update
- 8 Sept 2026, 12:02 BST
- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-047934- Latest notice
- Dynamic market modification notice (UK15)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06a15dFind a Tender
How to participate & submission route
Official notice Apply via Delta eSourcing- Requests to participate (first stage)
- —
- Admission period ends
- 31 May 2034, 23:59 BST
- Clarification deadline
- —
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Supplier levy on call-offs (max %)
- call-off levy · 0
Lot 1 Buses and Coaches - dfto.delta-esourcing.com/respond/3C8SQCEM6M ↗
Lot 2 Private Hire Vehicles and Taxis - dfto.delta-esourcing.com/respond/YSC6H7YB2R ↗
Suppliers please note the portal will not be open to accept applications until 01/06/2026 in line with this notice.
Timeline
22 May 2026 → 31 May 2034 · 3 dates- Tender notice published151 days ago22 May 2026, 14:05 BST
- Latest notice published42 days ago8 Sept 2026, 12:02 BST
- Today20 Oct 2026
- Admission / appointment period endsperiod end, not a bid countdown31 May 2034, 23:59 BST
Notice history
4 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 22 May 2026- Dynamic market intention notice published22 May 2026, 14:05 BSTUK13
- Dynamic market establishment notice published3 Jul 2026, 12:57 BSTUK14
- Buyer details updated3 Jul 2026, 12:57 BST
- Dynamic market modification notice published8 Sept 2026, 12:02 BSTUK15
Published amendments (1)
1 amendment published without a description.
Commercial outcome & contract awardsAwards so far
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast2 suppliers are admitted to this dynamic market without individual award values or dates, see the supplier list below.
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
2 public bodies on the noticeConsortium members and other public bodies
- DFT Operator Limited 'DFTO'Contracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central government
Suppliers admitted to the dynamic market
9 commercial parties on the notice- ADDISON LEE LIMITEDAdmitted to the market
- ARRIVA UK TRAINS LIMITEDAdmitted to the market
- CMAC GROUP UK LIMITEDAdmitted to the market
- COURTESY CARS REDHILL LIMITEDAdmitted to the market
- First Travel Solutions LimitedAdmitted to the market
- GO SOUTH COAST LIMITEDAdmitted to the market
- STAGECOACH RAIL REPLACEMENT (EAST) LIMITEDAdmitted to the market
- TRANSPORT UK LONDON BUS LIMITEDAdmitted to the market
- Uber B.V.Admitted to the market
Official documents & specifications (3)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Dynamic market modification notice Dynamic market modification notice on Find a Tender
- Dynamic market establishment notice Dynamic market establishment notice on Find a Tender
- Dynamic market intention notice Dynamic market intention notice on Find a Tender