Decision details

The Cabinet Member:

1.    Authorised the future expected spend of £4,000,000 per annum to providers for Education and Social Care Transport through the Cambridgeshire County Council’s Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) from 1^st October 2021 until 30^th September 2026, with possible extension until 30^th September 2031.

2.    Delegated authority to the Strategic Education Place Planning Manager to authorise award of contract(s) under the DPS.

3.    Authorised the Director of Governance or their representatives to enter into any legal documentation in relation to this matter.

The period of the DPS will be for five years - until 2026, with an option to extend for a further 5 years, until 2031, dependent on the satisfactory performance of the DPS/and call-off contracts formed during the initial five. The annualised estimated cost of the transport will be approximately £4 million per annum for Peterborough expenditure only.

Education transport is provided in line with the Council’s Children’s Services Transport Policy (September 2019) and the Peterborough Post-16 Transport Partnership Policy and provides free or subsidised transport for children in accordance with the requirements of the Education Act 1996 and Education and Inspections Act 2006.

Transport is required for children in mainstream education and those with special educational and social care needs who meet the Council’s eligibility criteria.  Call-off contracts are tendered on a rolling procurement programme to ensure best value.

CCC has procured the Dynamic Purchasing System in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. 

The Council will call-off services through the use of mini-competitions to maximise best value to the Authority, there will be no direct awards under the DPS.

Once the process set out in 6.5 has been completed, the Council will enter into a call-off agreement with the selected supplier.

Do nothing – this option would not be available, as the current Passenger Transport procurement Framework has expired (31.08.2021), doing nothing would leave the Council contractually exposed and unable to meet its statutory responsibilities.

A Framework/ Collaborative Framework– has been considered.  This approach was deemed to be unsuitable given the current decreasing market on existing Frameworks and the limitations on being able to add new suppliers.

None.

None.