Secure Transport and Escort of Children

Scottish Government

Published: May 8, 2026

Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Source: Public Contracts Scotland

This tender is closed

The submission deadline for this tender has passed. It is no longer accepting bids.

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About This Opportunity

Services tender: Secure Transport and Escort of Children. From Scottish Government in United Kingdom, security & defence. Published 2026.

This is a services contract in the security and defense, transport and logistics and social protection sectors. Located in United Kingdom, Europe, this opportunity is open to firms and consortiums, with an estimated budget of GBP 720,000.

Published through Public Contracts Scotland, 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 security and defense sector. Service contracts are typically evaluated on both technical quality and price, and may require bidders to demonstrate relevant experience and qualified personnel. This is an advance notice — the formal tender is expected to be published shortly. Interested parties can use this time to prepare documentation and identify potential partners.

Description

Secure Transport and Escort of Children between courts, secure centres, hospitals, and other premises across Scotland.

Scottish Ministers are responsible for the placement and management of children under the age of 18 who are sentenced to detention by the courts, including responsibility for their secure transportation. Legislative changes introduced through the Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Act 2024 reinforce Scotland’s commitment to a rights-based, trauma-informed, child-centred justice system.
The service will provide secure transport and escort services for children between courts, secure centres, hospitals, and other premises across Scotland. This will include, but is not limited to planned, unplanned and standby escorts, and custody and supervision at court, and transfer arrangements when a child reaches the age of 18, where required. The Service will only cover children whose secure transport and escort are the responsibility of Scottish Ministers.
The contract is anticipated to commence in January 2027 for a period of 36 months with the option to extend by up to a further 24 months.
The contract value is projected at 160,000 GBP per annum. The initial contract period value is not anticipated to exceed 480,000 GBP. If extended by a further 24 months, then the total contract value is not anticipated to exceed 720,000 GBP. All information published in this Prior Information Notice is subject to change. The Scottish Government is currently engaging with
internal policy areas and key stakeholders to finalise the Specifications for this requirement. The Scottish Government reserve the right not to proceed at any point with the procurement.

Data provenance

This notice is sourced from Public Contracts Scotland and was originally published on May 8, 2026. Last refreshed 1 day ago. BidsFactory mirrors official procurement notices and links back to the source for full legal text.

About Scottish Government

Scottish Government has issued 556 procurement notices on BidsFactory, including 103 currently open and 265 awarded contracts. Activity concentrates in Information & Communication Technology, General Supplies & Services, and Architecture & Engineering Services. All notices are published for United Kingdom. Notices are distributed via Public Contracts Scotland and UK FTS - Find a Tender Service. Most recent publication: June 18, 2026.

Frequently asked questions about this tender

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 Public Contracts Scotland to access the full notice, required documents, and submission instructions provided by the contracting authority.

Is this tender still accepting bids?

No — the submission deadline has passed. The notice is archived for reference. To find open opportunities, use the filters above to browse current tenders.

Who is the contracting authority?

This notice was issued by Scottish Government 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 Security, Defense & Justice sector. The classification helps bidders match the opportunity to their qualifications and registered scope of supply.

What is the estimated budget?

The estimated contract value is Up to £720,000. Bidders should ensure their proposals are consistent with this range and account for any local taxes and contract execution costs.