Phone and Ride Demand Responsive Transport

Tender description

EQUANS (formerly known as ENGIE Services Ltd) on behalf of North East Lincolnshire Council is seeking to appoint a new delivery partner for the continuation of the demand response bus service known as "Phone N Ride". The minimum contract period is one year with options also being proposed for three years plus a possible extension for 12 months and four years with two possible further extensions of 12 months. The final option chosen will be determined on available funding. The service is contract is managed by EQUANs as part of the transformation partnership contract and is currently delivered on behalf of the Authority by a private sector provider. Lot 1: The Phone and Ride service provides a demand responsive bus service to enable communities and individuals with no or limited access to mainstream public transport provision to access employment, health, education, shopping and leisure opportunities. Whilst the conventional bus network provides extensive coverage throughout the Borough, there are some journeys which cannot be made, either due to the location of the origin/destination points or at the time at which an individual wishes to travel. Furthermore, the service is often recommended as a solution to support individuals with personal circumstances such as mobility impairments, who may require a tailored service using modified vehicles, who face barriers to accessing the existing conventional bus network. There is a desire for the Authority to improve the targeting of the service for those passengers who are in greatest need of the phone and ride service.