Transport For Education, Social Care And Other Transport Requirements (east Lothian Council) DPS
Framework Description
East Lothian Council's Transport for Education, Social Care and Other Transport Requirements DPS is an open purchasing system for passenger transport across East Lothian. It covers four vehicle categories, from MPVs and saloon cars to wheelchair accessible vehicles, minibuses and larger vehicles. The DPS runs to 20 April 2034 and suppliers can apply to join at any point during that term.
Context & Use Case
The council uses the DPS to buy home-to-school transport, transport for adult and children's social care clients and other passenger transport. When a route or service is needed, it invites operators admitted to the relevant category to bid, so contracts are competed among qualified local operators as demand changes through the year.
Scope of Services
Category 1: MPVs with 5–8 seats, including 4-seat saloon cars Category 2: Wheelchair accessible MPVs with 5–8 seats Category 3: Minibuses with 9–16 seats, including wheelchair accessible Category 4: Vehicles with more than 17 seats
Lots
Category 1 MPVs 5-8 seats (including salon cars 4 seats); Category 2 MPV Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles 5-8 seats; Category 3 Minibus 9-16 seats (including wheelchair accessible); Category 4 Vehicles above 17 seats
Who Can Apply
Suits taxi and private hire operators, minibus and coach companies and accessible transport providers serving East Lothian. As a live DPS, it is open to new applications: operators that meet the entry criteria, including licensing, vehicle and safeguarding requirements, can be admitted and then bid for routes.
Buyer Benefits
The council can add new operators at any time, which helps it cover new school routes and changing social care needs without a full tender. Competing each requirement among admitted operators helps control transport costs, while entry criteria keep safeguarding and vehicle standards consistent.
Next Steps
Apply now using the route set out in the Find a Tender notice, choosing the vehicle categories you can supply. Have operator and driver licences, PVG membership for drivers and escorts, insurance, vehicle details and safeguarding policies ready. Once admitted, watch for invitations to bid and respond quickly, as routes are competed throughout the term to 2034.
How Athena Can Help
Getting onto this DPS is the first step, and Athena's DPS application service can choose the right vehicle categories, complete the selection questions and check your safeguarding and licensing evidence before you submit.
Once you are admitted, our route bid support helps you price school and social care routes to win while covering vehicle and driver costs, and our public sector transport bidding advice helps you decide which routes are worth pursuing.
