Estimated Value
Not specified
Deadline
Not specified
Published
10 June 2026
Type
services
Overview
Home to School Transport: 2026-05-08 TN132 Brandon to Ixworth High School
AI Analysis
Powered by AI — always verify against official documents
Suffolk County Council is seeking a contractor to provide home-to-school transport services for pupils travelling between Brandon and Ixworth High School starting May 2026. This is a dedicated school transport route that requires regular, reliable daily bus or minibus service during the school year.
Requirements
- Valid operator's licence (PSV – Public Service Vehicle)
- Enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) clearance for all staff with pupil contact
- Safeguarding training and child protection policies in place
- Appropriate insurance cover for passenger transport
- Vehicles suitable for school transport (meeting safety standards for carrying school-age children)
- Ability to operate during school term times and specified holidays
- Reliable communication and reporting systems for absences and incidents
Key Tasks & Deliverables
- Provide daily morning transport from Brandon area to Ixworth High School (departure time and exact pickup points to be confirmed in full tender documents)
- Provide daily afternoon/evening return transport from Ixworth High School to Brandon
- Maintain consistent, punctual service throughout the school year
- Manage vehicle maintenance and ensure roadworthiness checks
- Employ and supervise trained staff with appropriate safeguarding clearance
- Report on service delivery, passenger numbers, and any incidents to the council
How to Read This Tender
- 1School transport contracts are highly regulated — check the full tender documents for specific times, routes, passenger numbers, and any special needs requirements not mentioned here.
- 2Look carefully at term dates and holiday periods — you'll need to know exactly which days you're operating; some councils run reduced services during school holidays.
- 3The route distance and journey time matter for costing — work out fuel, staff wages, and vehicle depreciation carefully based on the Brandon-to-Ixworth distance (roughly 15 miles each way).
- 4Safeguarding is non-negotiable — budget time and money for DBS checks for all drivers and any passenger assistants, plus annual training updates.
- 5Check if the council specifies vehicle type (minibus vs. full coach) and passenger capacity — this affects your equipment costs and staffing levels.
Tips for Small Businesses
- Consider partnering with another small transport operator to share the route (morning and afternoon runs) or to bid as a consortium — school transport is often split between multiple contractors, reducing risk for smaller firms.
- Social value scoring may apply — emphasize local employment, apprenticeships, or community links in your proposal; councils often weight these heavily alongside price.
- Price competitively but realistically — underpricing to win can damage profitability; work out your exact costs per journey including vehicle running, fuel, insurance, staff wages, and a realistic margin before submitting.
Likely incumbents
Suppliers who won similar work from this buyer in the last 5 years.
- 1
Hawk Express Cabs Ltd
1 contract wonlatest 5 May 2026ends 1 May 2031£21,145
total awarded
Hawk Express Cabs Ltd is the most likely incumbent based on recency and category match. To win, bidders typically need a clearly differentiated proposition or a price advantage.
Actions
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Buyer Profile
SUFFOLK COUNTY COUNCILKey Dates
Published
10 June 2026
Submission deadline
Not specified
Notice type
opportunity
Source
ted eu
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