Transport Open Framework
Framework Description
Worcestershire County Council is setting up a Transport Category Framework under the Procurement Act 2023, published on Find a Tender as notice 034226-2026. It is planned as an open framework, so new suppliers can be added at set points during its life rather than only at launch. The framework is expected to run to 31 August 2034 and covers passenger and specialist transport, fleet, infrastructure and transport consultancy.
Context & Use Case
The council needs safe, reliable and sustainable delivery of statutory transport, which includes home-to-school travel for pupils with special educational needs and trips for adult social care clients. It has said it wants the route to be proportionate and accessible, so local SMEs, micro-providers and sole traders can compete alongside larger operators for council transport work.
Scope of Services
Lot 1: Passenger transport services (taxis, private hire, minibuses, coaches) Lot 2: Specialist passenger transport (SEND and adult social care) Lot 3: Transport fleet and vehicles Lot 4: Transport infrastructure and technology Lot 5: Transport consultancy and professional services
Lots
Lot 1 - Passenger Transport Services; Lot 2 - Specialist Passenger Transport Services; Lot 3 - Transport Fleet & Vehicles; Lot 4 - Transport Infrastructure & Technology; Lot 5 - Transport Consultancy & Professional Services
Who Can Apply
Taxi and private hire firms, minibus and coach operators, SEND transport specialists, vehicle suppliers, transport technology firms and consultancies. Sole traders and micro-providers are a stated target group. The procurement is at the pre-award stage, so suppliers should prepare a bid now; later entry points are planned once the open framework is in place.
Buyer Benefits
A single category framework lets Worcestershire place everything from a school taxi run to a fleet purchase or a consultancy brief without a new tender each time. Reopening at defined points keeps the supplier pool fresh as local operators start up or leave, which matters for covering rural routes and specialist SEND transport at short notice.
Next Steps
Read notice 034226-2026 on Find a Tender and note the published timetable and the portal Worcestershire is using. Decide which of the five lots you will bid for. Get your operator licences, DBS checks for drivers and passenger assistants, vehicle insurance and safeguarding policy ready, along with route or contract examples you can use as evidence.
How Athena Can Help
Council transport frameworks tend to attract many small operators with little tender experience. Athena's tender support for transport operators starts with a bid/no-bid check on each lot, then plans the work to the deadline.
Our bid writing specialists draft the quality responses on safeguarding, driver vetting and service reliability, and test your rates against what the council is likely to score. If you miss this first window, our open framework application service prepares you for the next entry point.
