Step by Step: How Taxi Drivers Can Apply to Become School Transport Providers
SPSV Licence holders can apply to the Primary, Post-Primary and Special Needs School Transport Scheme, developed by the Department of Education and operated by Bus Éireann. Selected candidates will be doing school runs for children that qualify to benefit from the scheme. Both individual taxi drivers and taxi companies can apply to join the programme.
Currently, vehicle(s) operating school transport services must be no older than 20 years and must be fitted with appropriate seatbelts. Vehicle(s) must be registered in the applicant`s name.
e-Tenders Account
The application process requires that drivers create an account on e-Tenders. Once they have set up an account and are signed into it, they must express interest in applying for the Provision of School Transport Services. Here is the step-by-step process on how to do it.
1 – Once logged into your account, click on the magnifying glass on the top-right corner.
2 – In the dropdown menu, select “Calls for Tenders” and in the search box type in Provision of School Transport Services.
3 – Click on the option “Provision of School Transport Services – Qualification Panels 2022 to 2027.
4 – In the red dropdown menu on the top-right corner, select “Expression of Interest”.
5 – You will then receive an email confirming that you have expressed interest in the job position.
Pre-Qualification Questionnaire
Once the process of creating an e-Tenders account and expressing interest has been completed comes the next stage of the application, as outlined below.
1 – Open the Bus Éireann e-Tenders webpage
2 – This is the webpage that will open. Click on “Online Registration”.
3 – Fill out the supplier registration form and click on “Save” at the end of the form.
4 – You will be directed to the following webpage. Click on “Accept”.
5 – The following webpage will come up. Click on “Go to RFT”.
6 – Scroll down until you find the “Access documents” link. Click on it.
7 – Download both .docx documents (FAQ-Bus Eireann Transport PQQ and Pre-Qualification Questionnaire for School Transport Services)
8 – Fill out the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire for School Transport Services. Print off the pages that require signatures and then sign and scan them.
9 – Click on “Attach documents”, attach the questionnaire that you have filled out as well as the pages you have printed, signed, and scanned. Once you have done that, click on “Submit response”.
Qualification Panel
After this process has been completed, Bus Éireann will revise the questionnaire and candidates that pass the pre-qualification stage will receive an email to confirm that they have been added to the qualification panel and are invited to submit tenders.
A qualification panel is a panel of pre-qualified contractors that will be invited to submit tenders for school transport services. Panels are by vehicle category and county. The regions where successful candidates can operate are divided as follows:
- Westmeath, Longford, Offaly, Roscommon, Laois
- Mayo
- Dublin, Kildare, Meath, Wicklow
- Louth, Monaghan, Cavan
- Cork
- Clare, Limerick, Tipperary (North)
- Galway
- Sligo, Leitrim
- Donegal
- Waterford, Carlow, Tipperary (South), Kilkenny, Wexford
- Kerry
Candidates with the most competitive offers will be selected to become special needs school transport providers. Contracts to provide school transport services are for up to 5 years. The exact length of the contract will be determined by Bus Éireann.
Once a driver qualifies through this portal they will be placed on the school transport panel for five years. They will be invited to tender for school transport routes as they occur. Drivers will get an email each time there is a route out for tender in the area they have signed up for. The email will contain information such as school name, mileage, and number of children to be transported. Then is up to the driver to show interest and send a proposal
Successful candidates must go through the Garda vetting process. The SPSV Driver Licence Garda vetting they have been submitted to does not suffice to become a contractor with Bus Éireann.
The current panel is valid until June 30th 2027. In order to be included in any new call for competition from July 1st 2027, drivers you must complete a new Pre-Qualification Questionnaire and submit it again. They will be reminded by email prior to the end of the current panel.
Posted by Taxischool on 12/02/2024