Public procurement notice: Prior Information Notice Without Call For Competition
Published: 2019-10-07
Buyer: West Lothian Council
Country: UK
Contract type: Services
CPV classification: 34121100: Public-service buses | 60000000 | 60130000
Estimated value: 17000000 GBP

Technical requirements: 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 are working on the specification at present. It is our intention to combine lots where it is deemed to offer the Council best value based on MEAT. At present we cannot confirm which lots will be combined.
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.
All — pre-tender information is for guidance only and may be subject to change as the Council develops our contract/tender requirements.
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.
All- PIN Pre-tender information is for guidance only and may be subject to change as the Council develops our contract/tender requirements.
The Council are in the process of arranging a meet the buyer events with supplier development Programme (SDP); further information will be provided as it becomes available.
Please note that this PIN has been published solely to provide advance notice of the Councils intention to go out to tender for the local bus network transport requirements. All information provided in this PIN must be treated as guidance information only.
Further and accurate information, including any mandatory requirements, will be made available in the tender documents, which will be published on PCS tender. The tender will be divided into lots and it is probable that each route will represent a separate lot.
Note: to register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Public Contracts Scotland Web Site at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=599478.


Award value: 17000000