Official UK procurement notice
DPS Transport for Education, Social care and other transport requirements (East Lothian Council)
Authority: East Lothian Council (Local council)
What is being bought4 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionEast Lothian Council ("ELC") are responsible for the procurement of service transport contracts to meet the education and social care needs as well as other passenger requirements. Most of the transport will be within East Lothian area.
ELC is setting up a Dynamic Purchasing System ("DPS") to procure these contracts. A DPS is completely electronic system and is similar to a framework agreement but a key difference is that, unlike a framework agreement, suppliers can join a DPS at any time.
Contracts operated through this DPS can generally be undertaken by taxis, private hire cars, minibuses and buses, including the requirement for those of these vehicles to be capable of carrying passengers in wheelchairs.
The DPS will be split into the following categories:
-Category 1: MPVs (5-8 seats), including salon cars (4 seats).
-Category 2: MPV- Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV)- (5-8 seats)
-Category 3: Minibus (9-16 seats), including wheelchair accessible vehicles
-Category 4: Vehicles above 17 seats
Contracts under the DPS will be awarded following mini competitions.
- Recurrence: This is a recurring requirement for East Lothian Council. It is anticipated the renewal process will commence 9 months before the expiry of this Dynamic Purchasing System in 2034
CPV: Buses and coaches · Coaches · Minibuses · Public road transport services · Taxi services
How this dynamic market works
From the published notice- Type
- Dynamic market
Lots and requirements (4)Procurement structure
4 lots · no lot values published · same evaluation weights on every lotLot #1MPVs (5-8 seats), including salon cars (4 seats).Renewal
East Lothian Council are responsible for the procurement of service transport contracts to meet the education and social care needs as well as other passenger or transport requirements. Most of the transport will be within East Lothian area.
This Lot is for MPVs (5-8 seats) including salon cars (4 seats). Additional information: Economic Operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the
situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations.
Lot #2MPV- Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV)- (5-8 seats)Renewal
East Lothian Council are responsible for the procurement of service transport contracts to meet the education and social care needs as well as other passenger or transport requirements. Most of the transport will be within East Lothian area.
This Lot is for MPVs- Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV)- (5-8 seats). Additional information: Economic Operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the
situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations.
Lot #3Minibus (9-16 seats), including wheelchair accessible vehicles of this capacityRenewal
East Lothian Council are responsible for the procurement of service transport contracts to meet the education and social care needs as well as other passenger or transport requirements. Most of the transport will be within East Lothian area.
This is is for Minibus (9-16 seats), including wheelchair accessible vehicles of this capacity. Additional information: Economic Operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the
situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations.
Lot #4Vehicles above 17 seatsRenewal
East Lothian Council are responsible for the procurement of service transport contracts to meet the education and social care needs as well as other passenger or transport requirements. Most of the transport will be within East Lothian area.
This Lot is for Vehicles above 17 seats. Additional information: Economic Operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the
situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations.
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).
Published award criteria (2)
- Quality: 10
- Price: 90
- Suitability
Tenderer(s) not in possession of one of the specified licences will not be given any further consideration.
The Tenderer must be any of the following:
i. the holder of a current Public Service Vehicle (PSV) Operator's Licence; or
ii. a Taxi or Private Hire Car (PHC) operator licensed under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982.
- Economic & financial standing
It is a requirement that the Operator holds, or can commit to obtain prior to the commencement of any contract, the minimum levels of insurance stated below.
Minimum: - Employer’s Liability – in the sum of not less than 5GBP million in respect of any one event and unlimited in the period, for the duration of the contract, unless exempt under the Employer's Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969. - Public Liability – not less than 5GBP milli… - Technical & professional ability
Vehicles Details Form to be completed
Minimum: Vehicle plate names to demonstrate compliance with criteria III.1.1 and III.2.1 - Technical & professional ability
The Tenderer must be any of the following:
i. the holder of a current Public Service Vehicle (PSV) Operator's Licence; or
ii. a Taxi or Private Hire Car (PHC) operator licensed under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982.
- Staff
- Names and qualifications of delivery staff must be submitted
- Price carries 90 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 9 points. This one is won on the number: sharpen the price before polishing the prose.
- “DPS Transport for Education, Social care and other transport…” is a dynamic market: the contest is a place on its panel, not a single contract.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Competition analysis · published record, not a forecast of who will bid
How East Lothian Council buys Public road transport services (CPV 6011), and who usually turns up
East Lothian Council’s own published record, next to the published market for the same work. This notice is a framework or DPS, so only frameworks and DPS are compared. Whole-market view: Public road transport services (CPV 6011) →
How the contest usually goes
Winner shares use published awards; bid and price charts use contested lots.
i
How often small and medium firms win.
Share of awards where the winner’s size is known.
The counts under this question show how many awards have a known supplier size.
Small firms have won here. Neither number says whether you qualify; it describes who has been winning.
i
How often local firms win similar work.
Winners with a registered address in the delivery region, out of awards with a known address.
Here, local means registered in Scotland.
A local branch does not count if the registered address is elsewhere.
Most of this buyer’s recorded winners are registered in Scotland.
i
How long buyers here take to decide after bids close.
Middle value in days from the deadline to the first award notice, on competitions that published both dates.
Only decided tenders count, so slow ones still waiting are not in.
Half of these awards were announced within 37 days of the bid deadline.
i
How often work is awarded with no recorded rival.
Direct awards and tenders where every published lot count shows one bid.
The market share is a minimum: some awards have no bid count.
Thin markets produce this too; it is not proof of a tailored specification.
Missing bid counts may hide more single-bid awards. This share is a minimum.
How many bids did past lots attract?
i
How many bids past lots received.
Each colour is a bid-count range. Only competed lots with a published count are included.
Past bids do not predict this tender.
1 bid0% / 13%
2–379% / 75%
4–621% / 13%
7+0% / 0%
How did awards compare with estimates?
i
Where winning prices landed against estimates.
Each colour shows awards below, close to or above the published estimate, one lot at a time.
On a framework or DPS, prices are agreed when work is called off.
Past prices are a guide, not a bid price.
Not comparable on a framework or DPS. The notice sets up a supplier panel and a ceiling value; what the work actually costs is agreed later, on each call-off or mini-competition, and those publish as contract notices of their own. The award-vs-estimate record of this market therefore sits on the call-offs; this page shows it on the contracts, not on the panel that frames them.
Assess each lot i
What past awards tell you about each lot.
See the forecast, this buyer’s earlier suppliers and firms with relevant wins.
No supplier is confirmed as a bidder.
i
What past awards tell you about each lot.
See the forecast, this buyer’s earlier suppliers and firms with relevant wins.
No supplier is confirmed as a bidder.
Open a lot for its forecast, this buyer’s previous supplier and possible competitors, from published award history, not a bid list
Our matching links this notice to “Provision of Taxi and Private Hire Passenger Transport Service (East Lothian Council)” of this authority, but none of the 9 panel members sit in a category matching this notice.
Lot #1MPVs (5-8 seats), including salon cars (4 seats).CPV 60112000Estimate not published
i
How many bids this lot may attract.
The forecast uses similar past competitions. The bar shows either that forecast or past bid counts; the line below says which.
Each lot shows its own forecast based on its own category; forecasts for different lots of the same notice are not comparative.
A forecast, not a list of bidders.
1 bid1%
2–369%
4–613%
7+17%
i
Where the award price may land.
The forecast uses similar awards and the buyer’s estimate. The band covers the middle half of likely prices.
No comparable awards for this lot yet.
A statistical guide from past awards, not a price to bid.
Who has supplied this buyer on similar work? i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
No earlier contract of this buyer matches this lot on the published record.
Who could compete for this lot? i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
| Supplier | Won in this category | Live contracts | Award vs estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| £5.5m9 awards in 36m · last 8 months ago | None on file | at estimate n=5 | |
| 1 awards in 36m · last 22 months ago | 1 live · £309k iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | no comparable pairs | |
| 1 awards in 36m · last 28 months ago | 1 live · £2.0m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | no comparable pairs | |
| 1 awards in 36m · last 28 months ago | None on file | no comparable pairs | |
Diamond CarsSME | — | None on file | no comparable pairs |
Lot #2MPV- Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV)- (5-8 seats)CPV 60112000Estimate not published
i
How many bids this lot may attract.
The forecast uses similar past competitions. The bar shows either that forecast or past bid counts; the line below says which.
Each lot shows its own forecast based on its own category; forecasts for different lots of the same notice are not comparative.
A forecast, not a list of bidders.
1 bid1%
2–373%
4–614%
7+13%
i
Where the award price may land.
The forecast uses similar awards and the buyer’s estimate. The band covers the middle half of likely prices.
No comparable awards for this lot yet.
A statistical guide from past awards, not a price to bid.
Who has supplied this buyer on similar work? i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
No earlier contract of this buyer matches this lot on the published record.
Who could compete for this lot? i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
| Supplier | Won in this category | Live contracts | Award vs estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
Brent Couriers LtdLarge | £99k1 awards in 36m · last 10 months ago | None on file | no comparable pairs |
| 1 awards in 36m · last 8 months ago | 1 live · £1.0m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | no comparable pairs | |
| 1 awards in 36m · last 11 months ago | None on file | no comparable pairs | |
| 1 awards in 36m · last 28 months ago | 1 live · £2.0m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | no comparable pairs | |
| 1 awards in 36m · last 28 months ago | None on file | no comparable pairs |
Lot #3Minibus (9-16 seats), including wheelchair accessible vehicles of this capacityCPV 60112000Estimate not published
i
How many bids this lot may attract.
The forecast uses similar past competitions. The bar shows either that forecast or past bid counts; the line below says which.
Each lot shows its own forecast based on its own category; forecasts for different lots of the same notice are not comparative.
A forecast, not a list of bidders.
1 bid1%
2–364%
4–615%
7+20%
i
Where the award price may land.
The forecast uses similar awards and the buyer’s estimate. The band covers the middle half of likely prices.
No comparable awards for this lot yet.
A statistical guide from past awards, not a price to bid.
Who has supplied this buyer on similar work? i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
No earlier contract of this buyer matches this lot on the published record.
Who could compete for this lot? i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
| Supplier | Won in this category | Live contracts | Award vs estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
24x7 LtdLarge | £186k153 awards in 36m · last 2 months ago | 11 live · £633k iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | 34% below n=15 |
| 1 awards in 36m · last 22 months ago | 1 live · £309k iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | no comparable pairs | |
| 1 awards in 36m · last 28 months ago | 1 live · £2.0m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | no comparable pairs | |
| 1 awards in 36m · last 28 months ago | None on file | no comparable pairs | |
| — | None on file | no comparable pairs |
Lot #4Vehicles above 17 seatsCPV 60112000Estimate not published
i
How many bids this lot may attract.
The forecast uses similar past competitions. The bar shows either that forecast or past bid counts; the line below says which.
Each lot shows its own forecast based on its own category; forecasts for different lots of the same notice are not comparative.
A forecast, not a list of bidders.
1 bid1%
2–369%
4–613%
7+17%
i
Where the award price may land.
The forecast uses similar awards and the buyer’s estimate. The band covers the middle half of likely prices.
No comparable awards for this lot yet.
A statistical guide from past awards, not a price to bid.
Who has supplied this buyer on similar work? i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
No earlier contract of this buyer matches this lot on the published record.
Who could compete for this lot? i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
| Supplier | Won in this category | Live contracts | Award vs estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
Ezy CarsSME | £323k30 awards in 36m · last 1 months ago | 8 live · £312k iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | no comparable pairs |
24x7 LtdLarge | £186k153 awards in 36m · last 2 months ago | 11 live · £633k iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | 34% below n=15 |
Elite GroupLarge | £27k3 awards in 36m · last 7 months ago | 1 live · £12k iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | no comparable pairs |
| 1 awards in 36m · last 28 months ago | 1 live · £2.0m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | no comparable pairs | |
| 1 awards in 36m · last 28 months ago | None on file | no comparable pairs |
About this data
- Source. Official UK public procurement notices (Find a Tender), reused under the Open Government Licence v3.0. New notices arrive through the day; the figures are rebuilt nightly.
- Two views, kept apart. The authority’s own track record and the wider market for the same kind of work sit side by side and are never mixed. Where the local picture is too thin, a figure widens to a broader market and says which one it used.
- Forecasts are labelled. The price forecast and its range, possible competitors and the earlier-work matches are our estimates from past awards: not published facts, not win chances and not price advice. Official notices do not say who is bidding.
- Every figure shows what it rests on. Not every notice publishes a bid count, a value or a delivery region, so each figure carries the number of records behind it, and one built on few records is marked as such. The on a figure explains it; the counting rules are in the methodology. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record · publisher note attached- Procedure method
- Restricted procedure
- Legal basis
- CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Open admission
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Dynamic market
- Who may use this agreement
- Any qualifying supplier may apply while the market is open
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
Yes · This is a recurring requirement for East Lothian Council. It is anticipated the renewal process will commence 9 months before the expiry
of this Dynamic Purchasing System in 2034
- First published
- 6 Mar 2026, 15:31 GMT
- Last source update
- 17 Apr 2026, 09:33 BST
- Authority reference
ELC-26-0730- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-034979- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06647eFind a Tender
- Electronic trading
- e-invoicing allowed · electronic ordering · electronic payment
- Performance terms
East Lothian Council Terms and Conditions apply.
Publisher note: -It is a requirement of the contract that all individuals who will be engaged in the delivery of the contracts must be appropriately vetted in accordance with the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007. -Bidders will also be subject to Police Scotland checks and comply with GDPR Data Regulations. -Suppliers interested in this opportunity are invited to attend a free webinar event with the Supplier Development Programme. Please note this is a live demonstration of how to bid for this contract using PCS-T. The event is taking place online on 23rd April 2026, 10:30am-12:00pm. To register, visit the following link: https://www.sdpscotland.co.uk/events/aligned-tender-training-east-lothian-councils-transport-journeys-dps-2074/ The buyer is using PCS-Tender to conduct this PQQ exercise. The Project code is 31372. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2343 The Contracting Authority does not intend to include a sub-contract clause as part of community benefits (as per Section 25 of the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014) in this contract for the following reason: Sub contracting is only allowed in limited circumstances to other operators on the DPS. See the applicable Terms and Conditions of Contract for full details. Community benefits are included in this requirement. For more information see: https://www.gov.scot/policies/public-sector-procurement/community-benefits-in-procurement/ A summary of the expected community benefits has been provided as follows: There is a contractual obligation for the delivery of Community Benefits once the aggregate spend with ELC reaches 50K in any financial year. (SC Ref:828906)
How to participate & submission route
Official notice Apply via Public Contracts Scotland- Requests to participate (first stage)
- —
- Admission period ends
- 20 Apr 2034, 12:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- —
- Submission channel
- {"electronicSubmission"}
- Accepted languages
- en
Timeline
17 Apr 2026 → 20 Apr 2034 · 4 dates- Notice published186 days ago17 Apr 2026, 09:33 BST
- Next notice expected179 days ago24 Apr 2026, 00:00 BST
- Today20 Oct 2026
- Invitations to tender expected20 Apr 2034, 00:00 BST
- Admission / appointment period endsperiod end, not a bid countdown20 Apr 2034, 12:00 BST
Notice history
4 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 17 Apr 2026- Published value published: £43,717,86017 Apr 2026, 09:33 BST
- Status changed to active17 Apr 2026, 09:33 BST
- Procurement method changed17 Apr 2026, 09:33 BST
- Deadline published: 20 Apr 2034, 12:00 BST17 Apr 2026, 09:33 BST
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Nothing awarded yet- Awards (0)
- No award published
- Contracts (0)
- No contract published
- Bid statistics
- No aggregate bid statistics published
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Dispute resolution & review bodies
- Edinburgh CourtReview body
Official documents & specifications
Official links; attachments are not copiedNo document links were published on the notice; the tender pack is on the portal.