Provision for a Dynamic Purchasing System for Passenger Transport Services

Northumberland County Council, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust (from this point onwards the latter will be referred to as “Authority” or “Contracting Authority”) organises and funds transport for a wide range of passengers travelling from and within Northumberland. Actual delivery of the service is undertaken by a broad range of suppliers, from sole-trader taxi operators through to minibus, coach and bus operators who bid for the work as and when tender opportunities become available throughout the year.

A tender is being carried out to put in place a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for the provision of passenger transport services on behalf of the Contracting Authority. This DPS is an agreement that sets out the terms under which individual contracts (call-offs) are made throughout the period the DPS is in place for.

Initially the DPS will be in place for 5 years with the option to extend this timeframe. A DPS is used where the Contracting Authority know they are likely to have a need for particular passenger transport services, but are unsure of the extent or schedule.

The passenger transport services that will be required incorporates transport for school children and social care clients as well as passengers travelling by bus services financially supported by NCC and NHS patients attending hospital appointments. This DPS will establish multiple suppliers who through this procurement exercise will have demonstrated that they can deliver the service and agreed to pre-determined terms and conditions. Call offs or individual contracts will be awarded on the basis of a further mini-competition (also known as invitation to tender) which will be held between all the suppliers on the DPS