Hackney Council has approved a significant investment of up to £24 million to fund vital transport services for vulnerable residents. This includes children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), looked-after children, and vulnerable adults.
The decision was made by the Hackney Procurement Board at a meeting held on Wednesday, 22 July 2026. The funding will be allocated through a new Passenger Transport Framework, designed to ensure the provision of safe and reliable transport for those with the greatest needs.
The new framework is expected to commence on April 1st, 2027, replacing the current Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) which expires on March 31st, 2027. The tender notice is planned for publication on July 27th, 2026, with contract award anticipated on January 27th, 2027.
This investment will cover essential services such as home-to-school transport for SEND children and young people, and ad-hoc journeys for looked-after children and vulnerable adults to meet their assessed needs. The council assesses these needs through its statutory duties under the Education Act 1996 and the Care Act 2014.
The framework, which will operate for a maximum of four years, aims to replace the current DPS. Appointment to the framework will be based on the quality of bids, with evaluation criteria including Service Delivery (25%), Safeguarding (20%), Health & Safety (20%), Contract Management (15%), and Sustainability and Social Value (20%).
Price will be evaluated at the call-off stage, inviting competition between framework providers. Individual passenger transport routes will be awarded via a competitive call-off or mini-competition process, where all eligible bids will be evaluated based on price, and the lowest cost supplier will be awarded the contract. This approach is intended to foster competition among providers and secure the best value while maintaining high standards of service.
The safety and reliability of transport services will be closely monitored through Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). These include ensuring passengers arrive on time (85% within 3 minutes, 95% within 10 minutes), maintaining consistency of drivers and passenger assistants (90% of journeys), ensuring vehicles are suitable and compliant with safety requirements (100%), and that all staff have satisfactory Enhanced DBS Checks and appropriate training (100%). Incidents will be reported immediately (100%), and service user feedback will be gathered, aiming for 80% positive feedback.
The new framework will cap the number of providers, a change from the current DPS. A challenge with the existing system has been managing the volume of applications from new providers, leading to insufficient business for all. The new framework aims to drive healthier competition among a committed cohort of operators by restricting the provider pool.
The procurement is deemed essential to meet the council's statutory duties. The framework will be open, allowing new providers to join at specific points during its lifecycle, ensuring a dynamic and responsive service. Further details can be found in the Public reports pack for the Hackney Procurement Board meeting.