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Published 10 Apr 2026, 14:11 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Open Framework for the Provision of Transportation of Children, Young People & Adults (Up to 8 Passenger seat Vehicles)

Official notice

Authority: BLACKPOOL COUNCIL (Local council)

Open framework scheme3 lotsServicesOpen procedureAbove thresholdSME suitable
Sectors: Transport & Passenger Services (60) Delivery: North West (UKD42)
Framework ceiling (notional)£3,600,000total for 3 lots · framework ceiling, not attributable revenue
Submissions closed 15 May 2026awarded 15 Jul 2026
Awarded to BLACKPOOL CABS LTD +4 more3 awards
Framework period 3 yrsends 31 Jul 2029 · up to 31 Jul 2034 with extensions · starts 1 Aug 2026

What is being bought3 lots · detail below

Published requirement description

the Provision of Transportation of Children, Young People & Adults (Up to 8 Passenger seat Vehicles). The Contracting Authority is conducting a Procurement Procedure following the Procurement Act 2023 open tender procedure.

The Contracting Authority wishes to establish an Open Framework of Service Providers of vehicles of up to 8 passenger seats to call-off from time to time to provide services relating to the provision of an Integrated Transport Service for the Transportation of Children, Young People & Adults. Service Providers will be required to transport Children, Young People & Adults, many of whom have Special Educational Needs (SEN), along with our assigned Passenger Assistants to and from various establishments throughout Blackpool and beyond.

The Hours of Operation for this service, under normal circumstances, are (for Lot 1) 07.30 - 10.30 and 14.00 - 17.30, Monday-Friday during the school academic year i.e. excluding school holiday periods and training days as appropriate. This equates to approx. 39 weeks per year. For Lots 2 & 3 while Service Providers may be expected to perform the Service at any time, it is anticipated that the service will normally be carried out between regular office hours.

For Lot 1, routes will be allocated to providers by Blackpool Council by mini-competition and will remain in place for the term specified in the Call-Off Order form, subject to demand and review.

For Lots 2 & 3, when authorised Council Officers wish to arrange transport for service users, they will contact Service Providers on the Framework, as detailed in Appendix A - Specification.

A full scope of the Contracting Authority's requirements can be found in Appendix A - Specification.

  • The authority expects to re-tender this requirement around 1 Jun 2026, 23:59 BST.

CPV: Hire of passenger cars with driver · Non-scheduled passenger transport · Public road transport services · Special-purpose road passenger-transport services · Taxi services

How this framework works

From the published notice
Type
Closed framework · open framework scheme (admission reopens)
Call-offs
call-offs may be awarded directly or by further competition
Bids received
5 bids on the busiest of 3 lots · 5 suppliers appointed
Framework period
3 yrs · up to 8 yrs from 1 Aug 2026
Scheme runs until
31 Jul 2034
Published description of the framework

Call-off from the Open Framework

Lot 1

Following the establishment of the Open Framework the Routes will be called-off via a mini-competition.

A Mini-Competition is where all Service Providers on the Framework will be given the opportunity to price for the Route via the Chest and will be awarded based on the lowest price and suitability of provision.

When a Route is awarded in a mini-competition it will be detailed in the Call Off Order form (Appendix C) and appended to the Contract issued under Stage 1.

All Call-offs from the Open Framework will be awarded on a spot purchase basis and will remain in place for the full-term as specified in the Call Off Order Form (Appendix C) or until terminated in accordance with the terms of the Framework.

The Routes awarded under the Framework can commence at any time after the commencement date, however the majority will begin on the first day of the autumn term.

The current number of Routes commissioned via this service is approximately 75 although this can fluctuate.

Lots 2 and 3

Following the establishment of Framework, when authorised Council Officers wish to arrange transport for service users, they will contact Service Providers on the Framework. Council Officers will contact the Service Provider Ranked first on the framework in the first instance. Should the Service Provider ranked first be unable to meet the requirement of the Council Officer, or if the Council Officer is unable to make contact with the Service Provider through the agreed method of contact, the Council Officer will then move to the Service Provider ranked Second place, and then third and so on.

Where a wheelchair accessible vehicle is required, the Council Officer will contact the highest ranked Service Provider that has indicated that it can provide a wheelchair accessible vehicle, and if they are unable to meet the Council Officers requirement (or if they cannot be contacted) then the second highest ranked Service Provider that has indicated it can provide a wheelchair accessible vehicle, and so on. The requirements for wheelchair accessible vehicles are articulated in this document.

Journeys performed under this contract can only be booked by authorised Council Officers who will specify passengers, pick up and drop off points. Blackpool Council will not be liable to pay for any additional passengers or chargeable items (such as cycles, luggage, prams & dogs), detours (when requested by the Service User), additional stops or onward journeys. Where these are requested by the Service User authorisation should be obtained from an authorised Council Officer prior to the journey commencement. Any discrepancy between the Service Provider and the Service user should be referred back to an authorised Blackpool Council Officer for a final decision.

Lots and requirements (3)Procurement structure

3 lots · all with a published value · same conditions of participation on every lot · evaluation weights differ by lot

Every one of these 3 lots carries the same published figure, £3,600,000: it is the framework's maximum for the whole notice, not each lot's own budget, and no share per lot is published. The cards below say ceiling above rather than repeat it.

Lot #1Home to School TransportAwardedRenewal 3 yrsSMEceiling above

The source published no individual description for this lot.

Contract period: 1 Aug 2026 – 31 Jul 2029 (3 yrs) · up to 31 Jul 2034 with extensions
Delivery: North WestEligibility: SME eligible
Extensions: The Contracting Authority intends to establish an Open Framework, in accordance with the provisions set out under PA23. The Open Framework is expected to remain active for a period of up to 8 years, during which it will be reopened periodically to allow new suppliers to join. The indicative schedule for reopening is as follows: • Initial Opening Date: April 2026 • Indicative Reopening Frequency: As a minimum - Once in the first 3 years and each period of five years beginning with the day of the award of the second framework. • The Contracting Authority reserves the right to adjust the indicative reopening schedule in response to operational requirements. Any changes will be communicated transparently and with sufficient notice via the channels outlined the Invitation to Tender document. Blackpool Council intends that the Open Framework will run until August 2034.
60112000 Public road transport services60120000 Taxi services60130000 Special-purpose road passenger-transport services60140000 Non-scheduled passenger transport60171000 Hire of passenger cars with driver
Pre-qualification & selection criteria (PQQ)2
  • Economic & financial standing

    Included in tender documentation (Appendix B - Tender Return Document)

  • Technical & professional ability

    Included in tender documentation (Appendix B - Tender Return Document)

Lot #2Ad Hoc Social Care related TransportAwardedRenewal 3 yrsSMEceiling above

The source published no individual description for this lot.

Contract period: 1 Aug 2026 – 31 Jul 2029 (3 yrs) · up to 31 Jul 2034 with extensions
Delivery: North WestEligibility: SME eligible
Extensions: The Contracting Authority intends to establish an Open Framework, in accordance with the provisions set out under PA23. The Open Framework is expected to remain active for a period of up to 8 years, during which it will be reopened periodically to allow new suppliers to join. The indicative schedule for reopening is as follows: • Initial Opening Date: April 2026 • Indicative Reopening Frequency: As a minimum - Once in the first 3 years and each period of five years beginning with the day of the award of the second framework. • The Contracting Authority reserves the right to adjust the indicative reopening schedule in response to operational requirements. Any changes will be communicated transparently and with sufficient notice via the channels outlined the Invitation to Tender document. Blackpool Council intends that the Open Framework will run until August 2034.
60112000 Public road transport services60120000 Taxi services60130000 Special-purpose road passenger-transport services60140000 Non-scheduled passenger transport60171000 Hire of passenger cars with driver
Pre-qualification & selection criteria (PQQ)2
  • Economic & financial standing

    Included in tender documentation (Appendix B - Tender Return Document)

  • Technical & professional ability

    Included in tender documentation (Appendix B - Tender Return Document)

Lot #3Ad hoc Transport (non-social care related)AwardedRenewal 3 yrsSMEceiling above

The source published no individual description for this lot.

Contract period: 1 Aug 2026 – 31 Jul 2029 (3 yrs) · up to 31 Jul 2034 with extensions
Delivery: North WestEligibility: SME eligible
Extensions: The Contracting Authority intends to establish an Open Framework, in accordance with the provisions set out under PA23. The Open Framework is expected to remain active for a period of up to 8 years, during which it will be reopened periodically to allow new suppliers to join. The indicative schedule for reopening is as follows: • Initial Opening Date: April 2026 • Indicative Reopening Frequency: As a minimum - Once in the first 3 years and each period of five years beginning with the day of the award of the second framework. • The Contracting Authority reserves the right to adjust the indicative reopening schedule in response to operational requirements. Any changes will be communicated transparently and with sufficient notice via the channels outlined the Invitation to Tender document. Blackpool Council intends that the Open Framework will run until August 2034.
60112000 Public road transport services60120000 Taxi services60130000 Special-purpose road passenger-transport services60140000 Non-scheduled passenger transport60171000 Hire of passenger cars with driver
Pre-qualification & selection criteria (PQQ)2
  • Economic & financial standing

    Included in tender documentation (Appendix B - Tender Return Document)

  • Technical & professional ability

    Included in tender documentation (Appendix B - Tender Return Document)

What it takes to win
i

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 more
How bids were scored

Lots publish different evaluation splits; there is no single procedure weighting.

LotQualitySplit
1 · Home to School Transport100%
2 · Ad Hoc Social Care related Transport100%
3 · Ad hoc Transport (non-social care related)100%
Lot distribution rule: All Service Providers who meets the conditions of participation and whose quality scores amount to 60% or more of the total available overall quality score will be admitted to the framework. Service Providers who meet the licensing requirements for Lots 1 and 2 will be admitted to Lots 1, 2 and 3. Service Providers who do not meet the licensing requirements for Lots 1 and 2 will be admitted to Lot 3 only.
Conditions of participation · identical on every lot2
  • Economic & financial standing

    Included in tender documentation (Appendix B - Tender Return Document)

  • Technical & professional ability

    Included in tender documentation (Appendix B - Tender Return Document)

What this means for your bid
  • “Open Framework for the Provision of Transportation of Children, Young…” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, not a single contract: call-offs may be direct or by further competition.

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record
Procedure method
Open procedure
Legal basis
UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
Procurement category
Services
Notice status
Awarded
Procurement threshold
Above threshold (FTS publication)
Regulatory regime
Standard
Commercial structure
Open framework scheme
Who may use this agreement
Not stated in the notice; call-off rights may be limited to the establishing authority
Competition type
Competitive procedure
GPA / WTO covered
Unspecified in notice
Recurring procurement
Yes · next expected 1 Jun 2026
First published
10 Apr 2026, 14:11 BST
Last source update
15 Jul 2026, 17:01 BST
Award evaluation window
Submission end – 1 Jun 2026
Authority reference
DN809608
FTS notice number
2026/S 000-032865
Latest notice
Contract award notice (UK6)
Classification (CPV)
Hire of passenger cars with driverNon-scheduled passenger transportPublic road transport servicesSpecial-purpose road passenger-transport servicesTaxi services
Delivery area
North West (UKD42)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-068017 Find a Tender

How it was run

Official notice
Run through: ProContract (Due North) · Who buys & how to bid on ProContract
Supplier login requiredElectronic submission allowedLanguage: EN
Access & registration note: Free · short registration with manual review; public opportunity list
Appointment period ends
15 May 2026, 12:00 BST
Submission channel
Official e-sourcing portal
Electronic submission
Allowed
Accepted languages
en
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

www.the-chest.org.uk ↗

Project Reference No: DN809608

Timeline

10 Apr 2026 → 1 Aug 2026 · 7 dates
  1. Tender notice published197 days ago
    10 Apr 2026, 14:11 BST
  2. Admission / appointment period ends162 days ago · period end, not a bid countdown
    15 May 2026, 12:00 BST
  3. Award decision expected by145 days ago
    1 Jun 2026, 23:59 BST
  4. Assessment summaries sent102 days ago
    15 Jul 2026, 00:00 BST
  5. Latest notice published101 days ago
    15 Jul 2026, 17:01 BST
  6. Standstill ends92 days ago
    24 Jul 2026, 23:59 BST
  7. Contract starts85 days ago
    1 Aug 2026, 00:00 BST

Notice history

4 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 10 Apr 2026
  1. Tender notice published
    10 Apr 2026, 14:11 BST
    UK4
  2. Contract award notice published
    15 Jul 2026, 17:01 BST
    UK6
  3. Status changed to complete
    15 Jul 2026, 17:01 BST
  4. Contract signature expected
    27 Jul 2026, 23:59 BST
    scheduled

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Suppliers appointed 53 awards · see the list ↓
Bids received 55 from SMEs · busiest of 3 lots

£3,600,000 is the framework's published maximum, restated by the publisher on 3 award rows. It is one ceiling, not 3 separate sums, and no share per lot is published; those rows read “ceiling above”.

Awarded toValueDateStatus
Lot 1 · Home to School Transport1 award
BLACKPOOL CABS LTD, Blacktax Radio Taxis LtdSME, Brown CabsSME, Premier Cabs Blackpool LtdSME, Red Cab Taxis Ltd T/A C CabsSME31 Jul 2026 – 31 Jul 2034ceiling above15 Jul 2026Awarded
Lot 2 · Ad Hoc Social Care related Transport1 award
BLACKPOOL CABS LTD, Blacktax Radio Taxis LtdSME, Brown CabsSME, Premier Cabs Blackpool LtdSME, Red Cab Taxis Ltd T/A C CabsSME1 Aug 2026 – 31 Jul 2034ceiling above15 Jul 2026standstill to 24 Jul 2026Standstill
Lot 3 · Ad hoc Transport (non-social care related)1 award
BLACKPOOL CABS LTD, Blacktax Radio Taxis LtdSME, Brown CabsSME, Premier Cabs Blackpool LtdSME, Red Cab Taxis Ltd T/A C CabsSME1 Aug 2026 – 31 Jul 2034ceiling above15 Jul 2026standstill to 24 Jul 2026Standstill

Bid statistics published by the authority

LotBidsSMEVCSEValid bid range
1 · Home to School Transport5final-stage tenders50—
2 · Ad Hoc Social Care related Transport5final-stage tenders50—
3 · Ad hoc Transport (non-social care related)5final-stage tenders50—

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Blackpool Borough Council

Contracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central government GB-PPON: PHHB-5249-RZVD PO Box 11, Town Hall, Blackpool, North West, FY1 1NBContact name, email

Framework contractors & participating bidders

6 commercial parties on the notice
  • BLACKPOOL CABS LTDFramework contractorGB-COH: 15209945GB-PPON: PQPZ-8989-TVVL 35 Cherry Tree Road, Blackpool, North West, FY3 7HQContact email
  • BLACKTAX RADIO TAXIS LIMITEDFramework contractorGB-COH: 02371182GB-PPON: PQNN-4245-LQLQ 71 Red Bank Road, Blackpool, North West, FY2 9HXContact email
  • Brown CabsFramework contractorGB-PPON: PBMB-1551-GQTT 6 Ribblesdale Close, Blackpool, North West, FY4 4NRContact email
  • PREMIER CABS (BLACKPOOL) LIMITEDFramework contractorGB-COH: 02941228GB-PPON: PPWG-3766-TDDG 344 Lytham Road, Blackpool, North West, FY4 1DYContact email
  • RED CAB TAXIS LIMITEDFramework contractorGB-COH: 01065269GB-PPON: PLGZ-5348-XGJZ 6 Caunce Street, Blackpool, North West, FY1 3DNContact email
  • RED CAB TAXIS LTDFramework contractorGB-PPON: PPGC-2388-QXDJ 6 CAUNCE STREET, BLACKPOOL, North West, FY1 3DNContact email

Official documents & specifications (6)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Tender pack and attachments

Notices published for this procedure

  • Contract award notice awardContract award noticeUK6Contract award notice on Find a Tender
  • Contract award notice awardContract award noticeUK6Contract award notice on Find a Tender
  • Contract award notice awardContract award noticeUK6Contract award notice on Find a Tender
  • Tender notice tenderTender noticeUK4Tender notice on Find a Tender