Taxi services

Tender description

As part of the Transport for London (TfL) Social Needs Transport Review, it was recognised that there is a need for greater integration, and better financial and governance arrangements between all door-to-door services available to older and disabled Londoners. In light of this review, TfL and London Councils are conducting Early Market Engagement (EME) to determine the appetite and capability of the suitable supply market in combining and delivering both TfL's Dial a Ride (DaR) Taxi/PHV requirement and the London Taxicard scheme together. Administered by London Councils (LC), the London Taxicard Scheme (Taxicard) is a transport service for older and disabled people, who experience barriers to travelling on accessible public transport services. DaR is a transport service for older and disabled people who also experience public transport barriers. The majority of DaR journeys are provided through an in-house fleet of accessible minibuses and specially trained drivers. However, to enable DaR to maximise the productivity of its in-house resources, a third party Taxi and PHV consolidator service has been utilised to provide ad-hoc/emergency cover in support of DaR day to day operations. In the most recent full year, DaR and Taxicard services together provided approximately c.1.35 million taxi and private hire journeys per year of which 15 % are required to be covered by wheelchair accessible vehicles. TfL and LC will be hosting a Supplier Day on 20/03/2017 from 14:00 — 16:30 at its premises in Central London for those suppliers that express an interest in tendering for this requirement. Suppliers are invited to register their interest via email to JudBroscombeWalker@tfl.gov.uk, responding no later than midday on 27.2.2017. To register your interest, please provide your full company name and key contact details. Expressions of interest to this PIN will not guarantee attendance to the Supplier Day due to venue capacity constraints. TfL and LC will manage the invitation and event registration process — formal invitations will be issued no later than 15.3.2017. Please note that should you be invited to attend a maximum of 3 people per supplier will be invited to attend the Supplier Day. Alongside the Supplier Day, interested suppliers will by invited to complete an Early Market Engagement (EME) Questionnaire, which is to be completed by 10.3.2017. This EME activity aims to gain insight into the Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle market in order to understand the appetite, capacity, technology and maturity of the market in relation to this requirement. For those suppliers that expressed an interest in this requirement but are unable to attend the Supplier Day, information from the Supplier Day will be provided (by email) following the event to ensure a fair process is followed. TfL and LC will manage this process in an open and transparent manner to maximise the possible benefits. Attendance or nonattendance to this Supplier Day will not preclude or disadvantage/advantage any suppliers' ability to participate in any future procurement activity. Direct or indirect canvassing of any TfL or LC employee or agent by any supplier concerning this requirement, or any attempt to procure information from any TfL or LC employee or agent concerning this PIN, outside of the formal process described in this document may result in the disqualification of the supplier from consideration of any future procurement activity. No information contained in this document or in any communication made between TfL and LC and any supplier in connection with this shall be relied upon as constituting a contract, agreement or representation that any contract shall be offered in accordance with this PIN. Please note that any decision made regarding this procurement will be subject to the outcome of wider stakeholder consultation with both customers and suppliers. This PIN will be valid until 10.3.2017 any bidders expressing an interest after this date may be unable to attend.