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Record Ref : FOI 12022
Date Received : 04/03/2026
Date Completed : 31/03/2026
Organisation : Private Individual
Application Type : Private Individual
Category : Travel and Bus Passes
Question
To help clarify how the Council maintains a fair and open marketplace despite this lack of data, could you please provide the following information:
Bidding process: How does the Council currently invite bids for these transport contracts? Is there a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) or a specific procurement portal (e.g., Sell2Wales) that operators should monitor?
Price benchmarking: Given that historical prices are not disclosed, what guidance or “indicative pricing” does the Council provide to new bidders during a tender exercise to ensure their quotes are realistic?
Mileage verification: If the Council does not hold mileage data, how are contract prices validated or adjusted if a route length changes significantly during the term of the contract?
Operator onboarding: What is the specific process for a new private hire operator to be approved to bid on future Home to School transport runs?
Answer
Could you please provide the following information regarding Home to School Transport:
1. Bidding process: How does the Council currently invite bids for these transport contracts? Is there a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) or a specific procurement portal (e.g., Sell2Wales) that operators should monitor?
The Council has a DPS in place on EtenderWales
2. Price benchmarking: Given that historical prices are not disclosed, what guidance or “indicative pricing” does the Council provide to new bidders during a tender exercise to ensure their quotes are realistic?
None
3. Mileage verification: If the Council does not hold mileage data, how are contract prices validated or adjusted if a route length changes significantly during the term of the contract?
Additional mileage rate is requested from contractor at bidding stage
4. Operator onboarding: What is the specific process for a new private hire operator to be approved to bid on future Home to School transport runs?
New entrants are required to submit a Supplier Qualification Questionnaire (SQQ) which is the first stage of the DPS process. The questionnaire tests capacity and capability. It is open to all suppliers and is advertised on Sell2Wales. It remains open until the end of the DPS. Should a supplier pass all pass/fail questions on the questionnaire, they are promoted onto the relevant DPS Lot or Lots and are then eligible for invitation to future further competitions for routes.