The Courier, Distribution, Storage and Specialist Solutions Framework gives organisations a single, compliant route to access UK and international courier, storage, distribution and specialist logistics services.
The Courier, Distribution, Storage and Specialist Solutions Framework from Government Commercial Agency allows public sector buyers to access a range of courier services along with storage, distribution and kitting solutions. These include UK and international storage and transportation and specialist collection and delivery services.
The framework will run from 5 February 2026 until 4 February 2030 with no extensions and is available for central government, charities, education, health, local authority, blue light and devolved administrations.
It replaces the RM6171 Courier and Specialist Movements and RM6282 Storage, Distribution, Kitting and Associated Services framework.
Services include, but are not limited to, international air charter and freight services for transporting items by aircraft, international rail freight services for moving goods by rail, and international sea freight services for transporting items by sea.
They also cover storage, fulfilment, transport and distribution within the UK and to international destinations, as well as the collection and delivery of packets, parcels and documents.
Additional capabilities include the collection and delivery of specialist items such as medical samples, specimens and pharmaceuticals; the collection and disposal of firearms, weapons and ammunition; and a range of recycling and disposal services. The offer also extends to asset recovery and the auctioning of items that are no longer required.
These services are spread across 19 lots.
Benefits
The framework offers several benefits. The agreement uses the new PA23 Public Sector Contract, a shorter and more straightforward standard template designed for buying common goods and services, which also incorporates industry‑standard terms tailored to specific markets.
Of the appointed suppliers, 23 are small and medium‑sized enterprises, and the framework aligns with the requirements of (PPN006) on Carbon Reduction Plans, and all suppliers must maintain an up‑to‑date carbon reduction plan.
As part of the tender process, social value was assessed in line with (PPN 002), and every supplier holds Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation or an equivalent certification, with additional accreditations in place where relevant to the lot they deliver.
Lots
Lot 1a covers International Storage, offering a comprehensive range of secure overseas storage and fulfilment services. This includes inbound warehousing processes, warehouse storage, and fulfilment activities such as order consolidation and merge‑in‑transit. It also provides packaging and goods or materials‑handling equipment, along with stock control and inventory and asset‑management systems that support full asset traceability. The lot further includes customs services and clearance, covering the preparation of documentation required for importing items into, or exporting items from, the UK. Lot 1a has two suppliers.
Lot 1b covers the movement of goods to and from international destinations using air freight and air charter services. It encompasses charter booking, air freight management, and airport ground‑handling activities such as loading and unloading cargo at overseas airports and within the UK. The lot also includes customs services and clearance, including preparing the documentation required for importing and exporting items. There are six suppliers appointed to this lot.
Lot 1c supports the international movement of goods by rail, offering services such as managing and booking rail freight, customs clearance and documentation, and shipping‑container handling and movement. It also provides onward transportation where required. This lot has one supplier.
Lot 1d focuses on transporting goods by road between the UK and international destinations. It includes road freight management, access to specialist vehicles such as temperature‑controlled units or those designed for oversized loads, and customs‑related services covering import and export documentation. The lot also provides onward movement of items. There are two suppliers delivering services under this lot.
Lot 1e provides services for transporting goods by sea to and from international locations. This includes managing and booking sea freight, container management and transport, and customs services and clearance to support import and export processes. It also covers onward transportation where needed. A total of five suppliers are appointed to this lot.
Lot 1f offers a full suite of services for international storage with onward global transportation. It includes inbound warehousing, warehouse storage, and fulfilment activities such as order consolidation and merge‑in‑transit. The lot also provides packaging and handling equipment, stock control, and inventory and asset‑management systems with traceability. Transportation may be arranged via sea, rail, road or air, and the service includes customs clearance and documentation for import and export. There are two suppliers on this lot.
Lot 2a offers UK‑based storage services, covering everything from inventory and asset‑management systems with tracking, through to inbound warehousing processes and warehouse storage. It also includes fulfilment and order‑consolidation activities, such as picking and packaging items for dispatch, alongside packaging and material‑handling equipment and stock control. There are eight suppliers on this lot.
Lot 2b focuses on UK fulfilment and kitting services. It provides asset tracking, picking and packaging of products, and unpacking bulk deliveries into individual cases. Suppliers also prepare items for dispatch in line with buyer requirements. A total of ten suppliers deliver services under this lot.
Lot 2c covers UK‑wide movement of goods, offering transportation and distribution for a wide range of items including pallets, individual boxes, containers, medical equipment, and large or bulky items. There are eight suppliers appointed to this lot.
Lot 2d provides a managed service that brings together UK storage and distribution. It includes inbound warehousing, warehouse storage, and fulfilment services such as order consolidation and merge‑in‑transit. The lot also covers packaging and handling equipment, stock control, inventory and asset‑management systems with traceability, and onward transportation. There are five suppliers on
this lot.
Lot 2e specialises in UK storage and distribution for vaccines, pharmaceuticals and related medical products. Services include inbound warehousing, warehouse storage, and both temperature‑controlled and refrigerated storage. It also provides fulfilment and order‑consolidation services, packaging and material‑handling equipment, stock control, and inventory and asset‑management systems with traceability. Onward movement is supported through temperature‑controlled or dual‑zone vehicles. This lot has two suppliers.
Lot 3a covers UK‑wide collection and delivery services offered on an overnight, economy or same‑day basis. Items handled through this lot include documents, parcels, pallets and bulk movements. A total of 13 suppliers are appointed.
Lot 3b provides secure same‑day and overnight delivery within the UK, with suppliers offering enhanced protections such as additional insurance and double‑manned vehicles for high‑value or sensitive consignments. Items transported include documents, IT equipment, artwork, museum artefacts, mobile phones, parcels, pallets and bulk movements. There are 12 suppliers on this lot.
Lot 3c specialises in the secure movement of examination materials, providing same‑day and overnight services for distributing exam papers and related items to test centres, awarding bodies and examiners across the UK. This lot has seven suppliers.
Lot 3d delivers a managed service for the collection and delivery of specialist items, including samples, specimens, and biological substances, using same‑day and overnight options. Items may include pathogens, infectious and non‑infectious substances, controlled drugs, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment and documents and compressed gases. There are 12 suppliers appointed.
Lot 3e provides secure international courier services, covering the collection and delivery of parcels and packages to overseas destinations, including support with customs clearance. This lot has seven suppliers.
Lot 4a provides a fully managed service for the secure collection, delivery and disposal of controlled items. This includes firearms covered under sections 1, 2 and 5, explosives classified as UN Class 1, CS spray, PAVA spray and other weapons. There are four suppliers appointed to this lot.
Lot 4b offers a managed service for the recycling and disposal of a wide range of items. Depending on the nature of the goods, this may involve incineration, resale, donation or auctioning. Items handled can include medical equipment, packaging, PPE and IT equipment. This lot has six suppliers.
Lot 4c provides a comprehensive managed service for the transportation, resale or disposal of a wide variety of items and assets. This includes high‑value goods, electrical equipment, office machinery and vehicles. The service also covers items confiscated or seized under a Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) forfeiture order. There are five suppliers delivering this lot.
How to buy
Buying through this agreement can be done either through an award without competition or by running a competitive procedure. Before using the agreement, relevant documents should be reviewed, including the customer guidance, frequently asked questions and Framework Schedule 7: call‑off award procedure. Organisations should also check their internal processes and controls before engaging with suppliers to ensure compliance with standard operating procedures and to confirm the most appropriate route to market.
Before running either an award without competition or a competitive procedure, the necessary documentation must be completed, including Framework Schedule 6: call‑off order form and call‑off schedules, the relevant call‑off schedules and any required joint schedules. Pricing information can be accessed by emailing the CCS team, quoting RM6354 in the subject line and specifying the lot or lots required. Pricing for Lots 3a–3e requires completion of an access agreement, after which the GCA team should be contacted.
Competitive procedure
Most requirements will be best served through a competitive procedure to ensure value for money. A further competition must be undertaken where suppliers need the opportunity to develop proposals or solutions for a specific requirement, or where the terms of the call‑off contract need to be refined (in line with procurement regulations). To award a call‑off agreement through a competitive procedure, a clear specification should be defined, the agreement specification reviewed to identify the correct lot, and all suppliers on that lot invited to quote – either by email or through an eSourcing portal. Suppliers should be given the opportunity to ask clarification questions, and an appropriate tender timescale should be set based on the complexity of the requirement. Responses must be evaluated against pre‑defined award criteria, kept confidential during evaluation, and followed by written notification of the outcome. The call‑off agreement is then awarded by signing the Framework Schedule 6 order form and call‑off schedules, and the award must be published on Find a Tender.
Award without competition
An award without competition should only be used where it is certain that a single supplier can meet the requirement and where quality and price can be clearly established. Under this route, the maximum commercial agreement rates apply, and no additional terms to the contract. To award a call‑off agreement without competition, requirements must be clearly defined, the framework specification reviewed to confirm the correct lot, and suppliers contacted to confirm capability. Award criteria should be set using Framework Schedule 7, and the contract awarded by signing Framework Schedule 6 and the relevant call‑off schedules. The award must then be published on Find a Tender.
To maintain value for money throughout the life of the contract, organisations may also use Joint Schedule 11: continuous improvement and Call‑off Schedule 16: benchmarking.
Summary
Overall, the framework brings together a wide spectrum of courier, storage, distribution and specialist logistics services under a single, structured commercial agreement. Spanning 19 lots, it supports routine movements, secure and specialist handling, UK and international transport, and end‑to‑end managed services. The agreement is built on the PA23 Public Sector Contract, incorporates key policy requirements such as carbon reduction planning and social value, and is delivered by a diverse supplier base that includes many SMEs. With clear routes to purchase and defined standards across all service areas, the framework provides a consistent, compliant and flexible way for public sector organisations to meet a broad range of logistics and specialist movement needs.
