The ED Corporate Support, ED Children & Young People, ED Health & Social Care, and ED Resources & Partnerships have decided to award call-off contracts for Knowsley Travel Support Services to winning bidders for various lots.

URL: https://councillors.knowsley.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=8297

Decision Maker: ED Corporate Support, ED Children & Young People, ED Health & Social Care and ED Resources & Partnerships

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Purpose: The purpose of this report is to seek approval, in accordance with Contract Procedure Rule 5.3.2 (Schedule 1), for the award of call-off contracts to the winning bidder as identified in Appendix B for Knowsley Travel Support Services (Lot 2 Alt Bridge; Lot 3 Central) from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2027, including options to extend for further periods of time up to a maximum of 12 months in aggregate, to 31 August 2028.   The reason for the decision is that a compliant procurement exercise has been undertaken in accordance with Contract Procedure Rule 5.3.2, and the winning bidder has been identified as providing the most advantageous offer to the Council for each respective lot.     The purpose of this report is to seek approval, in accordance with Contract Procedure Rule 5.3.2 (Schedule 1) and the terms and conditions of the relevant framework agreement, for the direct award of call-off contracts for Knowsley Travel Support Services in respect of Lot 4 Meadow Park School Stockbridge Village and Northwood Community Primary School Kirkby; Lot 6 - Out of Borough; Lot 6a – Cavendish View School; Lot 6b - Arts Education; Lot 6c - Hazel Cottage School; Lot 6d – Pontville School; Lot 6e - Rainford High School; Lot 6f – Adults out of borough; Lot 6g – LakesideSchool; Lot 7 - SEND Post 16 from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2027, including options to extend for further periods of time up to a maximum of 12 months in aggregate, to 31 August 2028.   The reason for the decision is that a compliant procurement exercise has been undertaken in accordance with Contract Procedure Rule 5.3.2, and the terms and conditions of the relevant framework, and the incumbent providers have been identified as providing the most appropriate solution to secure continuity of service for each of the respective lots.    

Content: The purpose of this report is to seek approval, in accordance with Contract Procedure Rule 5.3.2 (Schedule 1), for the award of call-off contracts to the winning bidder as identified in Appendix B for Knowsley Travel Support Services (Lot 2 Alt Bridge; Lot 3 Central) from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2027, including options to extend for further periods of time up to a maximum of 12 months in aggregate, to 31 August 2028.   The reason for the decision is that a compliant procurement exercise has been undertaken in accordance with Contract Procedure Rule 5.3.2, and the winning bidder has been identified as providing the most advantageous offer to the Council for each respective lot.     The purpose of this report is to seek approval, in accordance with Contract Procedure Rule 5.3.2 (Schedule 1) and the terms and conditions of the relevant framework agreement, for the direct award of call-off contracts for Knowsley Travel Support Services in respect of Lot 4 Meadow Park School Stockbridge Village and Northwood Community Primary School Kirkby; Lot 6 - Out of Borough; Lot 6a – Cavendish View School; Lot 6b - Arts Education; Lot 6c - Hazel Cottage School; Lot 6d – Pontville School; Lot 6e - Rainford High School; Lot 6f – Adults out of borough; Lot 6g – LakesideSchool; Lot 7 - SEND Post 16 from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2027, including options to extend for further periods of time up to a maximum of 12 months in aggregate, to 31 August 2028.   The reason for the decision is that a compliant procurement exercise has been undertaken in accordance with Contract Procedure Rule 5.3.2, and the terms and conditions of the relevant framework, and the incumbent providers have been identified as providing the most appropriate solution to secure continuity of service for each of the respective lots.     (i)             That, in accordance with Contract Procedure Rule 5.3.2 (Schedule 1), call off contracts be awarded to the winning bidder as identified in Appendix B for Travel Support Services for the period 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2027, including options to extend for further periods of time up to a maximum of 12 months in aggregate, to 31 August 2028 for the following lots:   ·       Lot 2 - Alt Bridge School ·       Lot 3 – Central School; and   (ii)            That the Procurement Team be authorised to make the necessary arrangements for the issue of the relevant contract documentation after conclusion of the standstill period / call-in period.   (i)             That, in accordance with Contract Procedure Rule 5.3.2 (Schedule 1) and the terms and conditions of the Framework Agreement for the Provision of Transport Services - Knowsley, Rochdale, St. Helens, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford Council (Lot 1: Knowsley Council), call-off contracts be awarded directly to the following organisations for Travel Support Services for their respective lots from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2027, including options to extend for further periods of time up to a maximum of 12 months in aggregate, to 31 August 2028: Lot 4 Meadow Park School Stockbridge Village, Northwood Community Primary School Kirkby Knowsley Travel Radcliffe Taxis Reign Management Service Ltd Lot 6 Out of Borough schools All Black Cabs Knowsley Travel Radcliffe Taxis Reign Management Service Ltd Lot 6a Cavendish View School All Black Cabs Radcliffe Taxis Reign Management Service Ltd Lot 6b Arts Education Knowsley Travel Reign Management Service Ltd Lot 6c Hazel Cottage School Knowsley Travel Radcliffe Taxis Reign Management Service Ltd Lot 6d Pontville School All Black Cabs Knowsley Travel   Lot 6e Rainford High School Reign Management Service Ltd Lot 6f Adults out of Borough All Black Cabs Radcliffe Taxis Lot 6g Lakeside School Knowsley Travel Reign Management Service Ltd Lot 7 SEND Post 16 All Black Cabs Radcliffe Taxis Reign Management Service Ltd   (ii)       That the Procurement Team be authorised to make the necessary arrangements for the issue of the relevant contract documentation after conclusion of the standstill period / call-in period.   Do Nothing: This option was considered and rejected due to the statutory duty for the Local Authority to provide travel support services, to eligible children of compulsory school age. In doing nothing, it would also have negative impact on the children/young people and families accessing the service should this cease or be disrupted such as their educational attainment. Additionally, there would potentially be a financial and reputational risk to the Council in not providing this service.    Deliver in house: This option was considered and rejected because the Council does not have the resources, capacity or vehicles to undertake the delivery of the service. Whilst this is currently under consideration as part of a wider Council review of its transport provision, any decision to deliver the services in house would not be available ahead of the planned contract commencement date.   No other options have been considered.      This option was considered and rejected due to the statutory duty for the Local Authority to provide travel support services, to eligible children of compulsory school age and adults assessed as requiring transport under the Care Act. In doing nothing, it would also have negative impact on the children/young people, Adults with support needs and families accessing the service should this cease or be disrupted such as their educational attainment or community access. Additionally, there would potentially be a financial and reputational risk to the Council in not providing this service.    Seek Competition (Quotation / Tender): A call-off tender exercise was conducted throughout June 2026 to seek further quotations from providers on the framework, based on indicative route sheets populated for each lot. However, during the tender process, it became clear that there were a significant number of clarification questions between the providers and the Council. This added further delay, and with the need to mobilise the service with potentially new providers, communicate with parent carers, schools and other services of the changes ahead of 1 September 2026, it was felt necessary to abandon the tender process and ensure continuity of service delivery for vulnerable children and families. Within the Framework Agreement for the Provision of Transport Services - Knowsley, Rochdale, St. Helens, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford Council (Lot 1: Knowsley Council), there is provision to Direct Award for Continuity of Service. As a result, the Council approached the provider to continue to deliver services to vulnerable children attending schools under Lot 4 Meadow Park School Stockbridge Village and Northwood Community Primary School Kirkby; Lot 6 - Out of Borough; Lot 6a – Cavendish View School; Lot 6b - Arts Education; Lot 6c - Hazel Cottage School; Lot 6d – Pontville School; Lot 6e - Rainford High School; Lot 6f – Adults out of borough; Lot 6g – Lakeside School; Lot 7 - SEND Post 16 whereby current existing contracts are in place. Upon clarification that in doing this, it did not result in a significant cost increase on the current provision, it was determined that the benefit of providing consistency of provision for vulnerable service users outweighed any perceived benefit in seeking competition.   Deliver in house: This option was considered and rejected because the Council does not have the resources, capacity or vehicles to undertake the delivery of the service. Whilst this is currently under consideration as part of a wider Council review of its transport provision, any decision to deliver the services in house would not be available ahead of the planned contract commencement date.   No other options have been considered.     

Date of Decision: July 28, 2026