DFTO Ground Transportation

DFT Operator Limited 'DFTO'

Published: May 22, 2026

Updated: May 24, 2026

Source: uk_fts

About This Opportunity

This is a services contract in the governance and public administration sector, with a focus on Rail Transport and Fleet Management. Located in United Kingdom, Europe, this opportunity is open to firms and consortiums. Proposals must be submitted before May 31, 2034.

Published through UK FTS - Find a Tender Service, a national government procurement portal. Public procurement tenders follow the country's national bidding regulations and may have specific eligibility and documentation requirements for services in the governance and public administration sector. Service contracts are typically evaluated on both technical quality and price, and may require bidders to demonstrate relevant experience and qualified personnel. Interested parties should review the full documentation on the original source before submitting their proposal.

Description

DFT Operator "DFTO" intends to establish and operate a Dynamic Market to enable Train Operating Companies (TOCs) within the DFTO group and the public sector to run further call off competitions for Managed Bus/Coach (Rail Replacement Services) and Managed Taxi Services.
DFTO will act as the contracting authority for the establishment, governance and ongoing management of the Dynamic Market. Individual TOCs will act as Customers and will conduct Call-Off Competitions and award Call-Off Contracts under the Dynamic Market in their own capacity as contracting authorities.
The Dynamic Market will remain open for its duration, allowing Suppliers to apply for admission at any time, subject to meeting the Conditions for Membership. Admitted Suppliers will be invited by Customers to participate in Call-Off Competitions for specific requirements.
DFTO will not be a party to any Call-Off Contract awarded under the Dynamic Market unless expressly stated otherwise.
The structure of this Dynamic Market is intended to support future organisational change within the rail sector and may be utilised by successor bodies to DFTO in accordance with applicable legislation.
The term of the Dynamic Market is anticipated to be 8 years from the date of publication of the intentions notice (Estimated to be 31/03/2026).

Please note for the purposes of publishing this notice nominal dates have been inputted and are not reflective of the actual . Contract start and end dates will determined by the users of the Dynamic Market.

For more information about this opportunity, please visit the eSourcing portal at:
https: //dfto.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-London:-Taxi-services./3C8SQCEM6M
To respond to this opportunity, please click here:
https: //dfto.delta-esourcing.com/respond/3C8SQCEM6M

Managed Bus and Coach Services (Rail Replacement)
Suppliers will be expected to provide bus and coach transport services to replace or supplement rail services for the entire geographical area that they apply for.
This may include and is not limited to:
(a)Planned rail replacement services during engineering works
(b)Emergency rail replacement during disruption or service failure
(c)Event or demand management services
(d)Local shuttle services between stations
(e)Longer distance coach services where appropriate
Suppliers must provide:
(f)Suitable PSVAIR/PSVAR‐licensed vehicles and qualified drivers
(g)Capacity appropriate to passenger demand
(h)Coordination with rail operations and station staff
(i)Compliance with all applicable safety, transport and accessibility regulations

Managed Taxi Services
Suppliers shall provide managed taxi and private hire vehicle services in the geographical area that they apply for to deliver the transportation of:
(a)Train crew (including drivers and conductors)
(b)Operational railway staff
(c)Passengers where alternative transport is required
This may include but is not limited to:
(d)Crew transport between depots, stations, and operational locations
(e)Passenger taxis during disruption, last train situations, accessibility requirements or where rail services cannot operate
(f)Ad‐hoc or pre‐booked journeys arranged through the Authority’s booking channels
(g)Accessible vehicles where required
(h)24/7 availability to support operational railway requirements
Suppliers may be required to provide booking management, dispatch, journey tracking and reporting capability.
Operational Requirements
Suppliers must:
(a)Provide reliable and timely services aligned with rail operational needs
(b)Maintain all appropriate licensing, insurance, and regulatory compliance
(c)Meet all applicable legal safety, safeguarding, and accessibility requirements
(d)Support 24/7 operations where required
(e)Provide data and reporting on journeys and performance

Data provenance

This notice is sourced from UK FTS - Find a Tender Service and was originally published on May 22, 2026. Last refreshed today. Reference: 047934-2026. BidsFactory mirrors official procurement notices and links back to the source for full legal text.

Frequently asked questions about this tender

When does this tender close?

The submission deadline is May 31, 2034. You have 2930 days left to prepare and submit your proposal to the contracting authority.

Who is the contracting authority?

This notice was issued by DFT Operator Limited 'DFTO' in United Kingdom. The authority is responsible for evaluating bids, awarding the contract, and managing performance.

What type of contract is this?

This is a Services contract in the Governance & Public Administration sector. The classification helps bidders match the opportunity to their qualifications and registered scope of supply.

Where will the contract be performed?

The contract is for delivery in United Kingdom. Foreign bidders should review local registration, taxation, and any in-country presence requirements before submitting.

How can I submit a bid?

Visit UK FTS - Find a Tender Service to access the full notice, required documents, and submission instructions. Quote reference 047934-2026 when communicating with the contracting authority.