Issue - meetings

Report ED17022

Statutory Special Educational Needs (SEN) Transport for children and young people was currently provided through providers operating under a framework contract with L B Bromley, the current framework having commenced in September 2015 for a four year period with an option to extend for a further two years.

The SEN Transport service had identified capacity and cost issues with providers on the current framework and it was proposed to procure additional providers via a new framework contract, operating concurrently with the existing framework. As there were no additional cost implications for operating a parallel framework it would operate within the existing service budget. 

Following evaluation of new tenders, a further report would recommend providers to the parallel framework and seek authority to award contracts on the framework. By increasing the number of suppliers and competition for routes the new framework could possibly drive down the cost of routes but this was not guaranteed. It was also intended that the framework would cover both SEN and non-SEN transport services.

RESOLVED that the commencement of procurement for a parallel framework of providers for SEN and non-SEN transport be approved.