Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - School and Special Transport Open Framework

Providers currently operating under the existing Passenger Transport DPS have been informed of the Council's intention to re-procure these services. This UK2 Preliminary Market Engagement Notice constitutes the Council's market engagement activity and is published to raise awareness of the forthcoming opportunity and provide all interested suppliers with an opportunity to submit comments and clarification questions. No further market engagement events are planned. Suppliers may submit comments and clarification questions via email to ian.fraser@bedford.gov.uk by the deadline stated in this notice. Responses may be shared with all interested suppliers to ensure transparency and equal access to information. Participation in this engagement is voluntary and will not be a condition of participation in any subsequent procurement process. The Council may use feedback received to inform the procurement strategy and tender documentation and reserves the right to amend its requirements and procurement approach accordingly. Please see below clarification questions and responses received from providers after publication of this notice: 1. How can we participate in the preliminary market engagement process. The published UK2 Preliminary Market Engagement Notice constitutes the Council's market engagement activity. Interested suppliers may participate by reviewing the information provided in this notice and submitting any comments or clarification questions via email to ian.fraser@bedford.gov.uk by the engagement deadline of 27 August 2026. No further market engagement events are planned. Participation is voluntary and is not a requirement for participation in the subsequent procurement process. 2. Whether there is a supplier questionnaire, expression of interest form or supplier engagement event that we should complete or attend. No. However, your expression of interest has been noted, and you will receive a confirmation email once the tender has been published and is live. 3. When the formal procurement for the School and Special Transport Open Framework is expected to be published. As per the notice beginning of September 2026. 4. Which procurement portal will be used for the formal tender. As per the notice ADAM platform. 5. Whether suppliers who express an interest at this stage will be notified once the framework opens for applications. Yes. All suppliers who register their interest during this stage will be notified by email when the framework opens for applications and the tender notice is published. 6. Whether there are any specific licensing, vehicle, driver, passenger assistant, DBS, safeguarding or training requirements that prospective suppliers should begin preparing for in advance. Licensing requirements will vary depending on the vehicle type; however, all Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) Operator Licences and Hackney Carriage Driver Licences must be issued by Bedford Borough Council, while Public Service Vehicle (PSV) Licences must be issued within the East of England region. Passenger Assistants will be required to hold PATS training delivered by a Community Transport Association-approved provider. Safeguarding training must be completed through BlueLight. In addition, all drivers and Passenger Assistants will be required to obtain a Bedford Borough Council Transport Team badge, which involves providing the necessary documentation and successfully completing an English language assessment. 7. Will suppliers be required to already hold a valid Bedford Borough Council Private Hire Operator Licence at the point of submitting their tender/application to the framework, or would an operator licence application that is already in progress be acceptable pending approval? If you have a current operators licence you can upload and we have assurance from our Licensing team that an application has been submitted then we can accept that to join the framework, with the condition that a BBC licence would be in place before you could win/start any call-offs.