Public-service buses

Tender description

The Council will shortly be tendering for the provision of local bus services operating within West Lothian and some extending to neighbouring local authorities. At present the Council have 16 supported local bus service contracts. Routes and timetables for these services generally provide connections to areas where the commercial network does not exist. This accounts for approximately 20 % of the local bus network in West Lothian and are currently let on both a minimum cost and minimum subsidy basis. It is our intention to go out to market to seek the most capable operators via a dynamic purchasing system (DPS) where qualified operators may join the framework at any time throughout the extended term. The framework seeks to secure Operators in possession of relevant PSV licenses and insurances who can provide passenger transport services in vehicles comprising of a minimum of 23 passenger seats. (Some contracts have a maximum seating capacity of 39 seats). The Council will shortly be tendering for the provision of local bus services operating within West Lothian and some extending to neighbouring local authorities. At present the Council have 16 supported local bus service contracts. Routes and timetables for these services generally provide connections to areas where the commercial network does not exist. This accounts for approximately 20 % of the local bus network in West Lothian and are currently let on both a minimum cost and minimum subsidy basis. It is our intention to go out to market to seek the most capable operators via a dynamic purchasing system (DPS) where qualified operators may join the framework at any time throughout the extended term. The framework seeks to secure operators in possession of relevant PSV licenses and insurances who can provide passenger transport services in vehicles comprising of a minimum of 23 passenger seats. (Some contracts have a maximum seating capacity of 39 seats) There is no intention to limit the minimum and maximum number of operators on this framework. The DPS will be open to entrants throughout its life who meet the minimum criteria and will be awarded in accordance with Regulation 35 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015. In the initial setup stage all operators who meet the selection criteria and are not excluded will be admitted to the DPS. There is no intention to limit the minimum and maximum number of operators on this framework. The DPS will be open to entrants throughout its life who meet the minimum criteria and will be awarded in accordance with Regulation 35 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015. In the initial setup stage all operators who meet the selection criteria and are not excluded will be admitted to the DPS. NB -the selection process and the requirements will be made available in the tender documents.