SEND Transport DPS
Framework Description
Medway Council's SEND Transport DPS buys home-to-school transport for children with special educational needs and disabilities. It runs until 13 May 2030 and is open to new transport providers throughout. The council's aim is flexible, high-quality and affordable transport, initially for school trips, with potential to extend to other residents in future. The Find a Tender notice is 011823-2024.
Context & Use Case
Medway's school transport team uses the DPS to award routes and individual trips for children with SEND, competing them among admitted operators. Requirements vary with each child's mobility needs and equipment, so the council needs operators with suitable vehicles and trained drivers and passenger assistants, and it wants to work closely with providers.
Scope of Services
Home-to-school transport for children with SEND Transport adapted to different mobility needs and equipment Possible future transport for other community members
Lots
See framework link
Who Can Apply
Taxi, private hire, minibus and specialist passenger transport operators with suitable vehicles and trained staff for children with SEND. As a DPS, it is open to applications at any time before 13 May 2030.
Buyer Benefits
An open DPS lets Medway keep adding operators, which matters when routes change every school year and individual children's needs vary. Competing routes among admitted providers tests price on each requirement, while admission checks give the council confidence in vehicle standards, driver vetting and safeguarding before a child travels.
Next Steps
Read notice 011823-2024 and Medway's DPS documents for the application route. Prepare operator and vehicle licensing, enhanced DBS checks for drivers and passenger assistants, safeguarding and training records, vehicle accessibility details and insurance, then apply. Once admitted, price routes carefully and respond quickly to competitions.
How Athena Can Help
SEND transport is won on safeguarding, reliability and price. Athena's DPS application help prepares your Medway submission, presenting licensing, DBS and training evidence clearly, and checks it for compliance.
For route competitions, our route pricing and bid/no-bid advice helps you choose routes that fit your fleet and price them profitably, and our quality response writing strengthens answers where quality is scored. We can also find other councils' SEND transport DPSs open now.
