Provision of a Launch Service

Tender description

The Isle of Wight Council invites Tenders from suitably qualified providers for the provision of a Launch Service. The contract is to run from 3 years with the option to extend for a further period of up to 2 years, one year at a time at the sole discretion of the Council. The Isle of Wight Council schedules the annual inspection of the Cowes Chain Ferry in late March or early April and during this time a replacement launch service is required to operate between the Chain Ferry pontoon adjacent to the West Cowes Slipway and the Gridiron pontoon in East Cowes. This usually lasts for approximately one week. A launch service is also required to operate between the same pontoons at other unspecified times as and when the Ferry is out of service. Historically these further unforeseen stoppages have amounted to approximately 7 days however no volume of work is guaranteed for these stoppages. Therefore the provider will be required to provide this service both as a planned operation (for the annual inspection) and at short notice if the Ferry service is suspended for any reason. Any new Ferry will be subject to these same requirements.