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PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITY

Licencing and Regulation (L&R) Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Procurement

Transport for London · Tender notice on Find a Tender

Tender information last checkedLast checked 30 Sept 2026, 13:48.

Opportunity overview

The L&R licensing activities for taxi, private hire drivers, taxi proprietors and private hire operators, are currently delivered by directly employed TfL staff. As part of the licensing process, staff need to verify a DBS Check has been completed and applicants are fit and proper persons to hold the licence applied for. Public and passenger safety is a priority for TfL. Once licensed, a driver will be in day-to-day contact with members of the public, including children and vulnerable adults. It is therefore essential to ensure that applicants are of good character and are a 'fit and proper' person before they become a licensed driver. Taxi and PHV driver licences are valid for a period of three (3) years. Private hire operator licences are valid for up to five (5) years, and taxi and private hire vehicle licences are valid for one (1) year. TfL is also looking to introduce Pedicab licensing in London. This is currently undergoing review and consultation, so full requirements are in progress and anticipated to be finalised and included in the Contract prior to Contract Award. The primary aims of the service are to ensure: - All new applicants for a taxi and private hire driver's licence, have had an enhanced DBS check including checks of the Barred Lists. Pedicab drivers may also have to have these checks but this is subject to consultation; - All licensed taxi and private hire drivers have had an enhanced DBS check including checks of the Barred Lists. Pedicab drivers may also have to have these checks, but this is subject to consultation; - All private hire operators have a basic DBS check with every new and renewal application, a further basic DBS check annually on the anniversary of the licence issue. Pedicab operators may also have to have these checks, but this is subject to consultation; - Dial-a-Ride drivers and staff have DBS checks to the required standard dependant on role; - ID document checks to meet the DBS requirements; - Offer basic checks for taxi vehicle owners as required. Pedicab vehicle owners may also have to have these checks, but this is subject to consultation; - Offer an option for private hire operators who live overseas (TfL do not envisage large numbers of these), this is operators where they have lived their whole life overseas and not in UK; -Any other DBS checks that TfL may require (for example: any additional TfL employees, etc); - Provide a user-friendly DBS application with an online service and a paper version if needed; - Meet all required security and privacy standards; - Provide an API Interface into the Licensing System. The Licensing System administers the licensing of drivers, operators and vehicles; - Provide a user-friendly Web Portal that allows and encourages applicants to apply online for the appropriate level of DBS check, make an online payment for their DBS check and track the status of their application; - Provide a solution to check real time results and status of the DBS check; - Provide an administrative service to request paper disclosures where there is content and upload for TfL to access; - A DBS registered umbrella body company are required to provide the services and shall adhere to the DBS code of practice and guidance including all DBS stipulated requirements and standards.

Classification

  • CPV75000000 — Administration, defence and social security services
  • CPV79000000 — Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

Lots

  • Lot 1£21.3m

Documents and notices

Published notice details

Additional information from the published procurement release. Fields appear only when supplied by the source; check the original notice and tender documents before acting.

Scope, procedure and submissions

Id
ocds-h6vhtk-05ee76
Status
active
Above Threshold
Yes
Procurement Method
selective
Main Procurement Category
services
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Expression Of Interest Deadline
6 Jan 2026, 23:59

Procedure

Features
1. Open Invitation to Participate / Procurement Specific Questionnaire stage 2. Invitation to Tender 3. Contract Award

Legal basis

Id
2023/54
Scheme
UKPGA

Expected award period

Ends
17 Jul 2026, 23:59

Submission terms

Electronic Submission Policy
allowed

Languages

en

Lots and requirements

Entry 1
Id
1
Status
active
Has Renewal
Yes

Value

Amount
21,250,000
Currency
GBP
Including VAT
23,000,000

Renewal

Description
An option to extend for a maximum of two years.

Second Stage

Maximum Candidates
6

Award criteria

Criteria

Criterion 1
Name
Technical
Type
quality

Numbers

Entry 1
Number
50
Weight
percentageExact
Criterion 2
Name
Commercial
Type
price

Numbers

Entry 1
Number
35
Weight
percentageExact
Criterion 3
Name
Social Value
Type
quality

Numbers

Entry 1
Number
10
Weight
percentageExact
Criterion 4
Name
Carbon Reduction
Type
quality

Numbers

Entry 1
Number
5
Weight
percentageExact

Contract period

Ends
30 Sept 2029, 23:59
Starts
1 Oct 2026, 00:00
Max Extent Date
30 Sept 2031, 23:59

Selection criteria

Criteria

Criterion 1
Type
technical
Description
They must be a DBS Umbrella Body.
Criterion 2
Description
Suppliers will be invited to submit tenders based on their scoring position within the ITP/PSQ stage. The top 5 Suppliers will automatically be invited to tender if they achieve the minimum thresholds and do not fail any sections of the questionnaire.
For Reduction
Yes

Items and delivery

Item 1
Id
1
Related Lot
1

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UKC
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Entry 2
Region
UKD
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Entry 3
Region
UKE
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Entry 4
Region
UKF
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Entry 5
Region
UKG
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Entry 6
Region
UKH
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Entry 7
Region
UKI
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Entry 8
Region
UKJ
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Entry 9
Region
UKK
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Id
75000000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Administration, defence and social security services
Entry 2
Id
79000000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

Published documents

Entry 1
Id
conflictOfInterest
Description
Not published
Document Type
conflictOfInterest
Entry 2
Id
079593-2025
Format
text/html
Notice Type
UK4
Description
Tender notice on Find a Tender
Document Type
tenderNotice
Published
4 Dec 2025, 09:57

Buyer, suppliers and contacts

Organisation 1
Id
GB-PPON-PHMT-6197-NWNZ
Name
Transport for London

Roles

buyer

Address

Region
UKI41
Country
GB
Locality
London
Postal Code
E20 1JN
Country Name
United Kingdom
Street Address
5 Endeavour Square

Details

Classifications

Entry 1
Id
publicAuthorityCentralGovernment
Scheme
UK_CA_TYPE
Description
Public authority - central government

Identifier

Id
PHMT-6197-NWNZ
Scheme
GB-PPON

Contact

Recorded locations

  • Buyer location · London · UKI41 · E20 1JN · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKC · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKD · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKE · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKF · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKG · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKH · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKI · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKJ · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKK · United Kingdom

Notice and amendment history

1 published notice version reviewed by ProcuraAxis.

1 VERSION
  1. ocds-h6vhtk-05ee76-2025-12-04T09:57:35ZTender notice on Find a Tender ·