AwardedAwarded 8 July 2026

Dorset Learning Centre Transport

Dorset Council · Local authority

In brief

Dorset Council awarded transport work to P&D Contracts (Weymouth) Ltd, M&J Taxi and 24x7 Ltd on 8 July 2026.

It is split into 4 lots, so a supplier can bid for part of the work.

Built from the notice's own fields. Always check the official notice before you bid.

What the notice says

Dorset Council has gone out to tender to procure a transport service for the following Learning Centres • Dorchester Learning Centre, based in Dorchester • The Forum Centre, based in Blandford • The Orchard (Forum Centre satellite provision), based in Lytchett Minster • Harbour Vale Learning Centre, based in Sherborne The core requirement is for the provision of home to school transport at standard bell times. In addition, there will be a requirement to provide transport outside of normal school hours to off-site provisions such sports events and work experience, as well as offering flexible responses to changes including cancellations and additional journeys. Pupils attending Learning Centres may be located all over the county, as the centre they attend is largely determined by availability of places at the time. We are seeking experienced operators to organise, plan and operate transport as per the requirements of the individual Learning Centre. The procurement was divided into four Lots, with each Lot corresponding to one Learning Centre: • Lot 1: Dorchester Learning Centre • Lot 2: The Forum Centre • Lot 3: The Orchard (Forum Centre satellite provision) • Lot 4: Harbour Vale Learning Centre Tenderers could tender for one, multiple or all Lots. Each Lot was evaluated separately. This further competition procurement process was run through the Passenger Transport DPS.

Lots

LotTradeValue
Lot 1: Dorchester Learning Centre
What this lot covers

The provision of home to school transport for Dorchester Learning Centre. The core requirement is for the provision of home to school transport at standard bell times. In addition, there will be a requirement to provide transport outside of normal school hours to off-site provisions such sports events and work experience, as well as offering flexible responses to changes including cancellations and additional journeys. Pupils attending Learning Centres may be located all over the county, as the centre they attend is largely determined by availability of places at the time. We are seeking experienced operators to organise, plan and operate transport as per the requirements of the individual Learning Centre.

Transport—
Lot 2: The Forum Centre
What this lot covers

The provision of home to school transport for The Forum Centre. The core requirement is for the provision of home to school transport at standard bell times. In addition, there will be a requirement to provide transport outside of normal school hours to off-site provisions such sports events and work experience, as well as offering flexible responses to changes including cancellations and additional journeys. Pupils attending Learning Centres may be located all over the county, as the centre they attend is largely determined by availability of places at the time. We are seeking experienced operators to organise, plan and operate transport as per the requirements of the individual Learning Centre.

Transport—
Lot 3: The Orchard (Forum Centre satellite provision)
What this lot covers

The provision of home to school transport for The Orchard (Forum Centre satellite provision) The core requirement is for the provision of home to school transport at standard bell times. In addition, there will be a requirement to provide transport outside of normal school hours to off-site provisions such sports events and work experience, as well as offering flexible responses to changes including cancellations and additional journeys. Pupils attending Learning Centres may be located all over the county, as the centre they attend is largely determined by availability of places at the time. We are seeking experienced operators to organise, plan and operate transport as per the requirements of the individual Learning Centre.

Transport—
Lot 4: Harbour Vale Learning Centre
What this lot covers

The provision of home to school transport for Harbour Vale Learning Centre. The core requirement is for the provision of home to school transport at standard bell times. In addition, there will be a requirement to provide transport outside of normal school hours to off-site provisions such sports events and work experience, as well as offering flexible responses to changes including cancellations and additional journeys. Pupils attending Learning Centres may be located all over the county, as the centre they attend is largely determined by availability of places at the time. We are seeking experienced operators to organise, plan and operate transport as per the requirements of the individual Learning Centre.

Transport—

Who won

WinnerLotValueDates
P&D Contracts (Weymouth) Ltd (SME)
2 bids received
Lot 1: Dorchester Learning Centre£2,650,000
M&J Taxi (SME)
4 bids received
Lot 2: The Forum Centre£1,272,500
M&J Taxi (SME)
3 bids received
Lot 3: The Orchard (Forum Centre satellite provision)£1,272,500
24x7 Ltd (SME)
5 bids received
Lot 4: Harbour Vale Learning Centre£1,825,000

Values as the award notice gives them, excluding VAT where stated.

Timeline

  1. Contract notice (update) · notice 015439-2026
  2. Contract award notice · notice 065342-2026

About the buyer

Dorset CouncilLast 12 months

Procurements

31

Awards

13

Suppliers it has used most for transport

  • 24x7 Ltd1 contract
  • M&J Taxi1 contract
  • P&D Contracts (Weymouth) Ltd1 contract

Similar open tenders

All open transport tenders
  1. Passenger Transport Open Framework

    The North Yorkshire CouncilNorth East, North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, South East, South WestTransport

    Closing soon4 days left3 lotsSuitable for SMEsFramework

    £838mframework ceiling
  2. GWR - Transport and Distribution Services (Including Courier and Heavy Haulage)

    First Greater Western LimitedSouth WestTransport, Postal and courier

    Open7 days left3 lotsSuitable for SMEsFramework

    £2mframework ceiling
  3. Integrated Micromobility Services 2027

    The West of England Combined AuthoritySouth WestTransport

    Open11 days left

    £90mestimated

From notice 015439-2026 on Find a Tender, first published 19 February 2026, last updated 10 July 2026. We last checked for changes on 28 September 2026.