SEN Transport taxi framework

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SEN Transport (taxi framework)

Nigel Peake Staffordshire County Council
Transportation Service Group
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Content

• Detail of contract Service
• Current provision
• Key objectives
• Process
• Challenges encountered
• Outcome and lessons learnt

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Detail of service

• Taxi arrangement for home to school transport of
  SEN children
• Term contracts and one offs
• Includes vehicles with up to 8 seats and adapted
  vehicles
• includes escorts provision
• Annual spend 2007/08 6,572,000

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Current Provision

• Working from approved list of operators
• Three quotes sort from the list when work
  required
• Individual period contracts placed up to the
  value of 10,000
• High transactional cost
• No mechanism for price reviews
• High cost of service

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Key Objectives

• Contract arrangement that was EU Compliant
• Create a multi supplier framework
• Clear cost structure
• A reasonable and fair price review
• Reduce transactional cost
• Suitable engagement with market

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Process

• Carried out a manual open EU tender
• Stripped the tender document to bare minimum
• Costing based on mileage bands for various types
  of vehicles offered
• Invited the companies identified on the approved
  list
• Advertised in EU, Contrax Weekly and SCC web
  site
• Engagement of providers through tender workshops
• On occasions where required face to face
  assistance
• More flexible approach adopted on our tender
  regulations
• All who were compliant would be included on
  framework
• Spreadsheet devised that could be used as a tool
  for awarding business

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Challenges

• Market sector development
• Communication
• Resource on carrying the tender out

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Lessons learnt /outcome

• Escort rates included in mileage
• Escort hourly rate
• Advertising contract
• Contract awarded Mid April
• Improved rates
• Estimated save of 15 20 (cashable)
• Does the contract work?