Provision of Client Assisted Passenger Transport Services

Surrey County Council is seeking transport operators to join its open framework for the provision of home-to-school transport services across Surrey.

The services will support eligible pupils travelling to and from school, including children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), complex behavioural needs and additional health requirements. The framework covers a range of transport options, from standard passenger journeys to specialist transport requiring enhanced support and care.

The framework has an estimated value of £595.2 million excluding VAT and is a continuation of the Council’s existing passenger transport framework.

Lots Available

• Lot 1 – Standard Transport Services: Transport using vehicles ranging from saloon cars to coaches with up to 90 seats. Estimated value: £216 million.
• Lot 2 – Enhanced Needs Transport Services: Transport for children with particularly complex special educational or behavioural needs, including routes to specialist SEND schools, whole-school transport requirements and services requiring enhanced customer support. Estimated value: £331.2 million.
• Lot 3 – Complex (Health) Transport Services: Transport for passengers requiring health-related assistance, including support with epilepsy, diabetes, medication and care plans. Some services may require additional staff training and insurance, while complex health needs requiring regulated activity must be delivered by an appropriately CQC-registered provider. Estimated value: £48 million.

Lot values may be shared with other framework lots.

Contract Information

• Buyer: Surrey County Council
• Estimated total framework value: £595.2 million excluding VAT (£686,979,840 including VAT)
• Initial contract period: 2 February 2027 to 28 February 2030
• Extension option: Up to a further four years
• Framework end date: 28 February 2034
• Maximum number of suppliers: Unlimited
• Framework fee charged to suppliers: 0%
• Contract locations: West Surrey and East Surrey
• Enquiry deadline: 20 November 2026, 12 noon
• Tender submission deadline: 30 November 2026, 5pm
• Estimated award decision date: 15 January 2027
• Tender portal: Access the Surrey County Council transport opportunity
• Notice reference: 2026/S 000-103528

Evaluation Criteria

Tenders will be assessed against:

• Quality: 95%
• Price: 5%

Supplier Requirements

• The opportunity is open to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs).
• Providers must be able to supply vehicles appropriate to the requirements of the lot or lots they apply for.
• Lot 3 providers may need additional staff training and insurance to support passengers with health needs.
• Providers delivering regulated activities for passengers with complex health needs must hold the appropriate Care Quality Commission (CQC) registration.
• Further operational, application and service requirements are set out in the tender documents.

How to Apply

Interested transport operators can submit tenders electronically through the Surrey County Council transport procurement portal. The framework allows an unlimited number of suppliers, with individual transport requirements awarded either with or without further competition.

This is a substantial opportunity for transport operators, including specialist providers supporting children with SEND and complex health needs, to secure access to school transport work across Surrey.

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If you want to advertise your opportunity, please contact Jamie Peacock, Tender Specialist at advertising@dailyround.news.