Public road transport services

Tender description

Provision of passenger transport services in the Shetland Islands, Scotland. Shetland Islands Council and ZetTrans between them commission a range of transport services including local bus services for the general public, community transport, home to school transport for school children and students, and transport for adults and children with social or welfare needs. These services are co-ordinated by the Council’s Transport Planning Unit based at 6 North Ness, Lerwick, ZE1 0LZ. Non-emergency transport for people with a need to access healthcare services is commissioned by NHS Shetland and there are similar road passenger transport services commissioned by other public sector organisations in the Shetland Islands. The services required under this Lot will be mainly ad hoc, unplanned journeys required at short notice and urgently. Some access to the services will be required on a 24 hours per day, 7 days per week basis. However, suppliers that do not operate a 24 hour service will also be considered for this Lot. The core work required under this Lot will be the provision of transport for pupils and students between home (or designated pick-up and drop-off points) and school or college. However, the Lot will include planned and ad hoc, regular and one-off journeys with contracts ranging from short-term to long-term. The services required will be in line with the Council’s home to school transport policy. The Lot may also be used to commission transport to enable students to attend swimming classes, sports meetings and other excursions organised by or on behalf of educational establishments. A range of standard and specialist vehicles will be required including wheelchair accessible vehicles. This Lot is suitable for a variety of vehicle sizes ranging from low seating capacity vehicles such as taxis, to high seating capacity coaches and buses. Passenger assistants may be required. This Lot will include planned, ad hoc, regular and one-off journeys with contracts ranging from short-term to long-term. This Lot is mainly suitable for suppliers of smaller vehicles such as taxis, private hire cars and minibuses. Wheelchair accessible vehicles may be required. The main purpose of the services to be provided under this Lot is to transport pupils with additional support needs between home and school or college, other passengers to day care or respite facilities, to healthcare establishments and to community and other centres where social and club activities are planned. Education transport requirements will be in line with the Council's home to school transport policy. Some services will be organised for adults and children on behalf of social care and health services so the ability to meet the welfare and safety needs of the passengers is critical. Passenger assistants will be required for some or all journeys. Note that it is not intended that this framework will be used to procure emergency healthcare transport. ZetTrans, Shetland’s Transport Partnership, anticipates procuring a network of Mainline and Feeder public bus services, including Dial-a-ride, Shopper and Health Centre services, in the following areas: Bressay, Fetlar, Lerwick, North Mainland, South Mainland, Unst, Whalsay, West Mainland, Yell, each of which contains a number of routes. Approved suppliers will be able to bid for various routes throughout the Islands either as a batch or on an individual basis. Contracts will normally be issued on a 5 year basis, although there may be a need to issue shorter term contracts, some of which may be required at short notice.