Public procurement notice: Contract Notice
Published: 2016-10-05
Buyer: University of Southampton
Country: UK
Region: Southampton
Contract type: Services
Procedure: Competitive procedure with negotiation
CPV classification: 34120000: Motor vehicles for transport of persons | 34121000: Buses | 34121100: Public-service buses | 34121300 | 34121400
Estimated value: 40000000 GBP
Submission deadline: 2016-11-02
Award criteria: The most economic tender

Technical requirements: The University of Southampton are seeking a Contractor to provide and operate our Uni-Link bus network, and to build upon the successful operation that has been delivered to date.
The University have operated the Uni-Link bus network since 2001, as a means to transport students between University teaching campuses and halls of residence. The network has grown since its inception, and routes have expanded to connect other key destinations in Southampton such as the city centre, railways stations, and ferry terminal. There are 4 existing bus routes. Although it remains focussed on student travel, Uni-Link services cater for staff commuting trips and forms an important part of the University Travel Plan. The nature of the University activities is such that demand for bus travel will fluctuate during the day (morning & afternoon) and throughout the year. The contractor will be expected to provide a flexible operation to accommodate changes in demand.
A list of the existing bus routes that are currently provided is available in the invitation to tender documentation which is made available at pre-qualification stage.
The University of Southampton are seeking a Contractor to provide and operate our Uni-Link bus network. Uni-Link is operated as a bus service for use by both students and the general public, and has become a recognised public transport provider in Southampton, with a significant proportion of trips made by people external to the University.
The nature of University activities is such that demand for bus travel will fluctuate during the day (with morning and afternoon peaks for travel), and the year (with greater demand at the start of the academic year, and during events organised by the University or Students Union for example). The Contractor will be expected to provide a flexible operation which is able to react to changes in demand. It is recognised that this may require the provision of duplicate or additional vehicles operating outside of the agreed Uni-Link timetable.
Stage 1 — Pre-Qualification stage: an overall pass mark of 50 % shall apply to this stage. The intention is to arrive at a shortlist of a maximum of 6 qualified bidders for formal invitation to tender, this will be based on the top 6 scores, if there is a tie, all of those bidders will be invited to formal Invitation to Tender stage.
Stage 2 — Invitation to Tender stage: a minimum score of 50 % shall apply to ITT stage. The intention is to arrive at a shortlist of a maximum of 3 qualified bidders for formal Invitation to Negotiate, this will be based on the top 3 scores, if there is a tie, all of those bidders will be invited to Invitation to Negotiate stage.
The University reserves the right to award the contract on the basis of the outcome at Invitation to Tender stage without inviting any bidders to Invitation to Negotiate stage.
Stage 3 — Invitation to Negotiate stage: Bidders shortlisted from Invitation to Tender stage will be invited to negotiate with the University the response contained within ITN File 1 — Commercial Response. No other documentation contained within the Invitation to Tender will be open to negotiation. Once agreement has been reached on the Commercial Response, the negotiations will be concluded and bidders will be invited to submit their final ITN File 1 — Commercial Response.
Based on previous contract performance, the expectation is that the contract will generate in the region of 3 000 000 GBP and 4 000 000 GBP in passenger income per annum.
The commercial response will be the focus of the Invitation to Negotiate. The University is expecting contractor's to present innovative pricing schedules.
It is the expectation of the University that Uni-Link will continue to operate as a commercial service that generates incomes from fares. Revenue generated from University Halls of Residence passes and University departmental voucher schemes shall be retained by the University and excluded from the calculation of the contract income.
The Contractor is solely responsible for the collection of any grants or subsidies available for the Services and for any necessary legal and financial arrangements related to such grants and subsidies. The University is not liable for the provision, alteration, or termination of grants or subsidies by any third party. The Contractor shall maintain updated and accurate records of all revenue, income, grants, subsidies and expenditure under the Contract.
The Pre-qualification evaluation criteria will be as follows. Full details are provided in the Pre-qualification documentation:
I.1.6 — This contract is NOT suitable for splitting into lots. The risk of dividing the requirement into Lots would render the execution of the contract excessively technically difficult, not cost effective and would undermine proper execution of the contract.


Award value: 40000000