Bedford Borough Council has a statutory duty to provide free home to school travel for compulsory school-aged children who meet nationally prescribed eligibility criteria and for post-16 students who meet locally determined criteria. To fulfil this duty, the Council commissions transport services from external providers using a range of vehicle types to meet the diverse needs of routes and individual passengers. In addition, the School and Specialist Transport Team arranges transport for a range of Adult and Children's Social Care requirements, including contact sessions, day services, and respite provision. To support the efficient and compliant procurement of these services, the Council is establishing a new Open Framework to replace the existing Passenger Transport Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS).
The procurement process will be conducted electronically through the ADAM eProcurement System, with approved providers being eligible to participate in future call-off opportunities under the Open Framework.
The Open Framework will be divided into 6 Lots:
Lot 1 Passenger transport services using vehicles with capacity for 1-3 passengers
Lot 2 Passenger transport services using vehicles with capacity for 4-8 passengers
Lot 3 Passenger transport services using vehicles with capacity for 9-16 passengers
Lot 4 Passenger transport services using vehicles with capacity for 17-33 passengers
Lot 5 Passenger transport services using vehicles with capacity for 49 or more passengers
Lot 6 Medical Transport Services
View 3-notice timelineLatest notice released 5 Oct 2026
Local GovernmentTender
Highway Grass Verge and Hedge Cutting, Rights of Way - Seasonal Vegetation cuts, Suds and Watercourse Maintenance
As a Unitary Council we have responsibility for Grass cutting & land management and have a statutory duty regarding levels of grass cutting due to duty to maintain the highway specified in Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980. The requirement involves the outsourcing of this provision to a provider who will develop a programme, manage and carry out Highway Grass Verge and Hedge Cutting, Grip maintenance, Rights of Way - Seasonal Vegetation cuts, Suds and Watercourse Maintenance Services in accordance with our Specification and ensure legal compliance, public safety, and aesthetic standards are met.
Lot 1 – grass cutting, hedge, suds and watercourse
Lot 2 – rights of way SVC (seasonal vegetation cut)
Lot 3 – grip cutting (cut within highway verge to ensure drainage occurs)
Lot 4 – mowing and bailing of countryside sites