Award of Vulnerable Passenger Transport Services Framework to Multiple Taxi Providers by Leicester City Council

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Leicester City Council awarded a contract to NMI Taxis Ltd, Topps Express Ltd, A Zoom Ltd, Elite Taxis Ltd, Norton Taxi Services Ltd, M & M Cabs Ltd, Aylestone Taxi Ltd, Skyline Taxi's (Mids) Ltd, Fast Link Taxis Ltd, Speedline Prestige Travel Ltd, and Fullcr for the provision of vulnerable passenger transport services under a framework agreement.

The framework is for two years with an option to extend for up to a further two years, and approximately 20 providers are anticipated to be awarded a place.

The services involve procuring taxi journeys for children, young people, adult service users, and Council staff, including planned trips (e.g., school runs) and unplanned one-off journeys (e.g., medical appointments).

These journeys supplement the Council's in-house bus fleet, and service users may be transported exclusively by taxi or bus or a combination.

Taxi service users often require additional support or supervision via a passenger assistant arranged by the taxi provider, and some require vehicles with specific features such as ramps or wheelchair accessibility.

Drivers and passenger assistants may need specialist training, for example, to assist individuals with medical conditions like epilepsy.

The service is demand-led, with volumes fluctuating; in 2018-19, approximately 200,000 journeys were commissioned.

The contract value is £22,416,400.