Scope
Description
The Authority's Passenger Transport Unit is exploring options for the future fleet purchase for two of its services:
1) Ugobus Service
• 32 Minivans for the transport of Adult Social Care Passengers, constituted by a mix of:
o Specialist Mercedes and Renault minivans
o Standard Ford Transit 17s
• The Authority may purchase more similar vehicles during the Contract term
2) DigiGo Service
• Essex's demand responsive public transport service, constituted of 25 vehicles in total of the following models:
o Mercedes 16-seat minibuses
o Mercedes low-floor minibuses (15 seats and a wheelchair space or similar).
To support the newly purchased fleet, the Authority is exploring the market for potential capable and interested Fleet Management providers, to deliver the outcome of fully administrating and managing our fleet on our behalf.
This would include but not be limited to managing this fleet on our behalf, managing the maintenance and repair of the vehicles, managing all organisation of and communication with garages, and invoicing and administration as appropriate, for us to fully outsource these fleet management responsibilities.
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 April 2026 to 1 April 2033
- 7 years, 1 day
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 50111000 - Fleet management, repair and maintenance services
- 50112000 - Repair and maintenance services of cars
Contract locations
- UKH3 - Essex
Engagement
Engagement deadline
27 February 2026
Engagement process description
Essex County Council would be grateful if providers capable of, and interested in, the delivery of these Fleet Management Services, could answer the questions in the linked documentation pack: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:EU:13bd2166-e533-4fc6-867f-ea5a5cb13423. The full information is contained in the documentation pack via the weblink, however, if this does not work, please reach out to us through email, or refer to the below question list:
1) Would your organisation be capable of delivering these Fleet Management Services in full? Please include a presentation and/or summary of the services that you offer in relation to this market engagement activity.
2) If so, at what estimate cost could your organisation provide these Fleet Management Services at? Please include an estimate price per vehicle, and a total cost for the number of vehicles detailed above. Are there particular extra requirements by the Authority, that would act to increase or decrease this cost greatly?
3) How long would your organisation need to mobilise this requirement, before you could deliver the services in full?
4) Are there any other considerations that we should be aware of, or anything else we should note?
The Authority would appreciate answers to the above questions as soon as possible, but at least by the 27th February 2026.
ECC reserves the right to reach out to you following this activity at our own discretion, to invite your organisation for further discussion on the services your organisation can offer.
Please do not view a response to these questions as a submission for a tender or a quotation, or as a definitive commitment to procuring these services.
Contracting authority
Essex County Council
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PWVM-4844-NRQH
County Hall, Market Road
Chelmsford
CM1 1QH
United Kingdom
Region: UKH36 - Heart of Essex
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government