Aube Department Secures €14.51 Million Framework for School Transport and Specialised Services

A multi-lot framework agreement for school transport services worth up to €14.51 million has been awarded by the Aube Departmental Council. The contract, spanning 25 lots with multiple winners including SYNERGIHP HAUTS DE FRANCE, SFT MOBILITE, and COLLARD INVESTISSEMENT, demonstrates how French departments are ensuring inclusive education and social services through specialised transport provision across the Aube region.

Introduction

Every student with disabilities in the Aube department deserves safe, reliable transport to access education. Every child in the care of departmental social services needs secure transport to appointments and placements. Every student participating in UNSS (French school sports federation) activities requires transport to competitions and events. The Aube Departmental Council has taken a significant step to ensure these services continue by awarding a new multi-lot framework agreement for school and specialised transport services.

While not a headline-grabbing infrastructure deal, this contract is fundamental to ensuring that vulnerable students and children across the Aube region have access to education and social services. It reveals a great deal about how French departments manage complex transport services through multi-lot framework agreements.

Why This Contract Matters

The Aube department, located in the Grand Est region of northeastern France, is responsible for organising school transport for all students, including specialised transport for students with disabilities. The department also provides transport for children in the care of social services and for students participating in UNSS sporting activities.

By structuring this procurement as a multi-lot framework agreement with 25 lots, the department ensures that transport operators can bid on specific geographic areas and service types where they have local knowledge and capacity. This approach maximises competition while ensuring service continuity across the entire department.

Contract Timeline

• Contract award notice published: 23 July 2026 (OJ S 140/2026)
• Contracts concluded: 10 July 2026 – 15 July 2026 (various lots)
• Coverage start date: 1 September 2026
• Coverage end date: 31 August 2030 (with 3 x 1-year renewal options)

Contract Overview

The Aube Departmental Council conducted an open procedure for a multi-lot framework agreement for transport services. The contract covers four main categories of transport:

• Transport of students with disabilities: Specialised transport for students with disabilities to and from schools (Lots 1-6)
• UNSS sports transport: Transport for students participating in UNSS (Union Nationale du Sport Scolaire) activities (Lots 7-12)
• Occasional transport: Ad hoc transport for school activities (Lots 13-23)
• Transport of children in care: Transport for children entrusted to departmental social services (Lots 24-25)

The maximum value of the framework agreement is €14,510,000 (excluding VAT) over the full duration including renewals. The initial contract period is 12 months (from 1 September 2026), with the option for three tacit renewals of 12 months each (maximum total duration of 4 years).

Key Contract Details

Detail	Information
Contracting Authority	Département de l'Aube
Contract Subject	Special-purpose road passenger-transport services (CPV 60130000)
Procedure Type	Open procedure
Legal Basis	Directive 2014/24/EU
Maximum Framework Value	€14,510,000.00
Number of Lots	25
Lots Awarded	24 out of 25 (Lot 21 received no bids)
Contract Duration	1 year + 3 x 1-year renewals (max 4 years)
Award Criteria	Price (45%), Quality of Human and Material Resources (25%), Quality of Operating Methods (25%), Sustainable Development Actions (5%)
EU Funding	None disclosed
Covered by GPA	Yes
Review Organisation	Tribunal Administratif de Châlons-en-Champagne

Lots Overview

Lot	Service Type	Geographic Coverage	Vehicle Type	Winners
LOT-0001	Students with disabilities	Nogent/Seine, Romilly/Seine, Arcis/Aube, Méry/Seine, Marigny-le-Châtel, Mesnil-Saint-Loup	VL <9 seats or PMR equipped	COLLARD INVESTISSEMENT, SYNERGIHP
LOT-0002	Students with disabilities	Piney, Lusigny/Barse, Brienne-le-Château, Vendeuvre/Barse, Bar-sur-Aube	VL <9 seats or PMR equipped	SYNERGIHP, DMA FINANCEMENT
LOT-0003	Students with disabilities	Troyes, La Chapelle-Saint-Luc, Sainte-Savine, Pont-Sainte-Marie, Saint-Julien, Saint-André	VL <9 seats or PMR equipped	SYNERGIHP, J.L. INTERNATIONAL
LOT-0004	Students with disabilities	Bouilly, Bar-sur-Seine, Chaource, Aix-Villemaur-Palis, Ervy-le-Châtel	VL <9 seats or PMR equipped	SYNERGIHP, SFT MOBILITE
LOT-0005	Students with disabilities	All sectors, all destinations (including outside department)	VL <9 seats or PMR equipped	SYNERGIHP, MOBI-FRANCE
LOT-0006	Students with disabilities	All sectors, all destinations (including outside department)	VSL (private hire vehicle)	SFT MOBILITE
LOT-0007	UNSS sports transport	Aix-Villemaur-Palis, Bouilly, Ervy-le-Châtel, Chaource	Standard coach/bus	PRET A PARTIR TOURING CAR
LOT-0008	UNSS sports transport	Romilly/Seine, Nogent/Seine, Marigny-le-Châtel	Standard coach/bus	COLLARD INVESTISSEMENT, LES CARS MOREAU
LOT-0009	UNSS sports transport	Arcis/Aube, Méry/Seine	Standard coach/bus	COLLARD INVESTISSEMENT
LOT-0010	UNSS sports transport	Brienne-le-Château, Piney	Standard coach/bus	CTP - PRET A PARTIR, DMA FINANCEMENT
LOT-0011	UNSS sports transport	Bar-sur-Aube, Lusigny/Barse, Vendeuvre/Barse	Standard coach/bus	CTP - PRET A PARTIR, DMA FINANCEMENT
LOT-0012	UNSS sports transport	Bar-sur-Seine	Standard coach/bus	CTP - PRET A PARTIR, DMA FINANCEMENT
LOT-0013	Occasional transport	Aix-Villemaur-Palis, Bouilly, Ervy-le-Châtel, Chaource	Standard coach/bus	PRET A PARTIR TOURING CAR
LOT-0014	Occasional transport	Romilly/Seine, Nogent/Seine, Marigny-le-Châtel, Mesnil Saint-Loup	Standard coach/bus	COLLARD INVESTISSEMENT
LOT-0015	Occasional transport	Arcis/Aube, Méry/Seine	Standard coach/bus	COLLARD INVESTISSEMENT
LOT-0016	Occasional transport	Brienne-le-Château, Piney	Standard coach/bus	CTP - PRET A PARTIR, DMA FINANCEMENT
LOT-0017	Occasional transport	Bar-sur-Aube, Vendeuvre/Barse, Lusigny/Barse	Standard coach/bus	CTP - PRET A PARTIR, DMA FINANCEMENT
LOT-0018	Occasional transport	Bar-sur-Seine	Standard coach/bus	CTP - PRET A PARTIR, DMA FINANCEMENT
LOT-0019	Occasional transport	Troyes and agglomeration	Standard coach/bus	CTP - PRET A PARTIR
LOT-0020	Occasional transport	All sectors, all destinations	VL <9 seats	DMA FINANCEMENT
LOT-0021	Occasional transport	All sectors outside agglomeration	Coach/bus	No winner
LOT-0022	Occasional transport	From agglomeration, all destinations	Coach/bus	CTP - PRET A PARTIR
LOT-0023	Occasional transport	Within agglomeration	Coach/bus	CTP - PRET A PARTIR
LOT-0024	Children in care	All sectors, all destinations	VL <9 seats	SFT MOBILITE, DMA FINANCEMENT
LOT-0025	Children in care	All sectors, all destinations	VSL	SFT MOBILITE

About the Contracting Authority

Département de l'Aube is the departmental council responsible for social services, education, infrastructure, and economic development in the Aube department in the Grand Est region of northeastern France. The department is headquartered in Troyes, the historic capital of the Champagne region. The department is responsible for organising school transport for all students, including those with disabilities, and for providing transport for children in the care of social services.

About the Winning Companies

SYNERGIHP HAUTS DE FRANCE is a French transport company based in Lille, specialising in healthcare and specialised transport services. The company won five lots (1-5) for students with disabilities, with a significant presence in the Aube department.

SFT MOBILITE is a French transport company based in Montrouge (Hauts-de-Seine), part of the WEMOBILITY group. The company won four lots (4, 6, 24, 25) covering specialised transport and children in care services.

COLLARD INVESTISSEMENT is a French transport company based in Plancy-l'Abbaye (Aube), specialising in school transport and tourism. The company won five lots (1, 8, 9, 14, 15) across multiple service categories.

DMA FINANCEMENT AUTOCARS DUPASQUIER is a French transport company based in Maidieres (Meurthe-et-Moselle), specialising in coach transport. The company won nine lots across UNSS, occasional, and children in care services.

CTP - PRET A PARTIR is a French transport company based in Chaumont (Haute-Marne), specialising in coach and bus transport. The company won nine lots across UNSS, occasional, and agglomeration services.

J.L. INTERNATIONAL is a French transport company based in Cesson (Seine-et-Marne), winning one lot (3) for students with disabilities in the Troyes agglomeration.

Procurement Analysis

Procedure: An open procedure was used, with 25 lots covering different service categories and geographic areas. The number of bids per lot ranged from 0 to 9, reflecting varied competition levels.

Competition: Competition levels varied significantly:

• Lots 1-5 (students with disabilities): 6-9 bids each
• Lots 6, 7, 9, 13-15, 19, 21-23, 25: 0-1 bids each
• Lots 8, 10-12, 16-18, 20, 24: 2-6 bids each
• Lot 21 received no bids

Award Criteria:

• Price (45%): Unit prices for transport services
• Quality of Human and Material Resources (25%): Driver qualifications, training, and fleet condition
• Quality of Operating Methods (25%): Operational efficiency and service delivery quality
• Sustainable Development Actions (5%): Environmental and sustainability initiatives

Framework Structure: The agreement is structured as a multi-supplier framework agreement with purchase orders (accord-cadre multi-attributaire à bons de commande), with no minimum purchase obligation and a maximum value of €14.51 million. The framework is without reopening of competition for call-offs.

Vehicle Types: The contract covers several vehicle categories:

• VL (<9 seats): Passenger vehicles for small groups
• PMR: Vehicles specially equipped for persons with reduced mobility
• VSL: Private hire vehicles (vehicles de service avec chauffeur)
• Coach/Bus: Standard public transport vehicles

GPA Status: The procurement is covered by the World Trade Organization's Government Procurement Agreement (GPA), meaning it was, in principle, open to qualifying international bidders. However, all winning bidders were French companies.

Additional Procurement Facts

• Lot 21 received no bids and was closed without a winner.
• All contracts were concluded in July 2026 and will commence on 1 September 2026.
• The initial contract period is 1 year with 3 x 1-year renewal options.
• No variants were authorised.
• No EU funding was used for this procurement.
• Disputes or review requests fall to the Tribunal Administratif de Châlons-en-Champagne.

Market & Industry Perspective

The specialised school transport market in France is significant, with departments across the country running similar tenders on staggered cycles. This Aube contract is one node in a recurring, nationwide procurement pattern rather than an isolated deal.

The award criteria weighting (45% price, 25% human/material resources, 25% operating methods, 5% sustainable development) reflects a balanced approach that values service quality alongside cost efficiency. The emphasis on driver qualifications, fleet condition, and operational quality reflects the importance of safety and reliability in transporting vulnerable passengers.

The multi-lot structure allows transport operators to bid on specific geographic areas where they have local knowledge and capacity, enabling both national operators and local SMEs to participate effectively.

Economic Significance

At up to €14.51 million over four years, this framework agreement represents a significant investment in transport services for vulnerable students and children across the Aube department. The contract ensures that students with disabilities can access education, children in care can access social services, and students can participate in sporting activities.

For the winning transport operators, the framework provides a stable, multi-year revenue stream and the opportunity to serve the Aube department across multiple service categories.

Future Procurement Opportunities

Lot 21 (occasional transport from all sectors outside agglomeration in coach/bus) received no bids and may be re-tendered in the future. Transport operators with coach/bus capacity in the Aube department should monitor for potential future opportunities.

Other French departments run comparable tenders for specialised school transport on their own cycles, creating opportunities for operators with proven capabilities.

Opportunities for Suppliers

Transport operators active in the French public sector should note the growing demand for specialised school transport and social services transport. The multi-lot structure allows both large national operators and regional SMEs to compete effectively.

Key success factors include: competitive pricing, qualified and trained drivers, well-maintained vehicle fleets (including PMR-equipped vehicles), robust operational processes, and demonstrated commitment to sustainable development.

What Businesses Should Watch

• Potential re-tendering of Lot 21 (which received no bids).
• Whether the department exercises the renewal options for this framework.
• Similar transport procurements from other French departments.
• Opportunities for subcontracting with the framework winners.

FranceTender Procurement Intelligence

This contract is a useful case study in how French departments manage specialised transport services through multi-lot framework agreements. The Aube Department has secured a €14.51 million framework for school transport, students with disabilities, UNSS activities, occasional transport, and children in care, with multiple winners across 25 lots.

The most interesting feature of this tender is the multi-lot structure covering four distinct service categories (students with disabilities, UNSS, occasional, and children in care) with different vehicle types. This structure enables the department to procure specialised services for different user groups while maintaining flexibility and competition.

The 45% weighting for price and 55% for quality (resources, operating methods, sustainability) reflects the importance of service quality in transporting vulnerable passengers. Driver qualifications, fleet condition, and operational reliability are critical for ensuring the safety and well-being of students with disabilities and children in care.

Lot 21 received no bids, suggesting that the requirements for this lot (occasional transport from all sectors outside agglomeration in coach/bus) may not have been attractive to operators, potentially due to low demand or difficult operating conditions.

For suppliers, the lesson is that competitive pricing is important, but service quality, driver qualifications, and vehicle standards are equally critical. Operators who can demonstrate both cost efficiency and high service quality are best positioned for these frameworks.

Supplier Takeaways

• Price is important (45%) but quality is equally critical (55%).
• Driver qualifications and fleet condition are heavily weighted (25%).
• Multi-lot structures enable participation from both national and regional operators.
• Specialised vehicles (PMR-equipped) are required for certain lots.
• Sustainable development actions are valued (5%).
• Unsuccessful lots represent potential future opportunities.

Key Takeaways

• Aube Department awarded a €14.51 million framework for school transport and specialised services.
• The contract covers 25 lots across four service categories with multiple winners.
• Award criteria: Price (45%), Quality of Resources (25%), Operating Methods (25%), Sustainable Development (5%).
• Major winners: SYNERGIHP, SFT MOBILITE, COLLARD INVESTISSEMENT, DMA FINANCEMENT, CTP - PRET A PARTIR.
• Contract duration: 1 year + 3 x 1-year renewals (max 4 years).
• One lot received no bids and may be re-tendered.

Conclusion

This is not a contract that will make national headlines, but it reflects something structurally important about how French departments ensure inclusive education and social services through specialised transport. By awarding a multi-lot framework agreement for school transport, students with disabilities, UNSS activities, and children in care, the Aube Department ensures that vulnerable residents across the region can access education and social services. The contract demonstrates the importance of multi-lot structures, the balance between price and quality, and the value of sustainable development in modern public procurement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the Aube Department?

It is the departmental council responsible for social services, education, and infrastructure in the Aube department in the Grand Est region of northeastern France.

Q: What does this framework cover?

It covers school transport for students with disabilities, transport for UNSS sports activities, occasional transport for school activities, and transport for children in the care of social services.

Q: What types of vehicles are used?

The contract covers passenger vehicles (<9 seats), vehicles specially equipped for persons with reduced mobility (PMR), private hire vehicles (VSL), and standard coaches/buses.

Q: What is the value of this framework?

The maximum value is €14.51 million over the full duration including renewals.

Q: Is this contract funded by the EU?

No. The notice confirms the project is not financed with EU funds, though it is governed by EU Directive 2014/24/EU.

Source: EU Official Journal, Contract Award Notice 511825-2026, OJ S 140/2026, published 23 July 2026.