Public procurement notice: Contract Notice
Published: 2016-09-21
Buyer: Orkney Islands Council
Country: UK
Region: Orkney Islands
Contract type: Services
Procedure: Open procedure
CPV classification: 50211000: Repair and maintenance services of aircraft | 60400000: Air transport services | 60410000: Scheduled air transport services | 60420000: Non-scheduled air transport services | 63730000
Estimated value: 7000000 GBP
Submission deadline: 2016-11-18
Award criteria: The most economic tender

Technical requirements: Orkney Islands Council (the Authority) has a requirement for the provision of an Inter Island Air Service operating to the six Outer North Isles under a Public Service Obligation (PSO), which establishes the minimum frequencies and sets the maximum fare levels provided to each of the isles.
Orkney Islands Council (the Authority) has a requirement for the provision of an Inter Island Air Service operating to the 6 Outer North Isles under a Public Service Obligation (PSO), which establishes the minimum frequencies and sets the maximum fare levels provided to each of the isles.
Since 2009, the summer and winter Inter Island Air Service timetables have been optimised to best meet the needs of itinerant teachers, pupils, NHS Orkney, as well as the residents from and visitors to the Outer North Isles.
However, the Inter Island Air Service has limited capacity, particularly on scheduled services which are shared by islands. Available resident and visitor capacity is reduced further due to pre-booking, particularly during term time for educational purposes. The service is operating to its maximum frequency, based on a two aircraft operation and existing pilot crewing hours. Therefore, there is no ability to enhance services to one island without taking services away from another within the existing Contract.
A new Contract period allows the opportunity to consider the current specified provision and the recommended level of frequency as outlined in the Orkney Inter-Island Transport Study, which follows Transport Scotland's Strategic Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG). Any service improvements recommended by STAG (Option 3 — Enhanced Service following initial finding of the Orkney Inter-Island Transport Study) or to resolve the current shortfalls (Option 2 — Enhanced to address capacity constraints during term time and lack of current service to Eday) should be presented as costed options over and above the existing service provision by bidders.
The maximum Contract period for a PSO is four years; therefore, it is proposed that the next Contract will operate from 1.4.2017 until 31.3.2021 inclusive.
Tenderers are required to provide costs for Option 1, Option 2 and Option 3 as described in the ITT documentation.
Budget indicated includes the enhanced service Options 2 and Option 3, which are subject to availability of additional funding.
Score = 0 Unacceptable — Nil or inadequate response. Fails to demonstrate an ability to meet the requirement.
Score = 1 Poor — Response is partially relevant and poor. The response addresses some elements of the requirement but contains insufficient detail or explanation to demonstrate how the requirement will be fulfilled.
Score = 2 Acceptable — Response is relevant and acceptable. The response addresses a broad understanding of the requirement but may lack details on how the requirement will be fulfilled in certain areas.
Score = 3 Good — Response is relevant and good. The response is sufficiently detailed to demonstrate a good understanding and provides details on how the requirements will be fulfilled.
Score = 4 Excellent — Response is completely relevant and excellent overall. The response is comprehensive, unambiguous and demonstrates a thorough understanding of the requirement and provides details of how the requirement will be met in full.
Tenders to be opened in the presence of 1 x Councillor, 1 x Procurement Officer and one other officer of the Council.
Teh Council reserves the right to cancel the procurement at any stage and not award a Contract. The expenditure, work or effort undertaken by bidders prior to the award of any Contract is accordingly a matter solely for teh commercial judgement of bidders.

Eligibility requirements: As detailed in Appendix A to the Contract Notice.

Award value: 7000000