Purpose

To agree to procure a framework contract for awarding local bus
service contracts

Content

RESOLVED
 
KEY DECISION
 
That the Executive:
 

a)     
Agreed to procure a Local Bus Framework Contract for a period
of up to eight years as outlined in section 5 of the
report.

 

b)   Authorised the Executive Director of
Place and Economy, following consultation with the Director of Law
and Governance, to approve the execution and sealing of the Local
Bus Framework Contract.
 
 
Reasons for
Recommendations:
 

•   Efficiency: Streamlines the
purchasing process for both the Council and bus
operators

•   Cost savings: Pre-negotiated terms
and conditions within the framework can lead to better
pricing.

•   Simplified procurement: Reduces
the time and resources required to establish contracts for ongoing
needs.

•   Flexibility: Allows for
adjustments to quantities and specific needs within the scope of
the framework

•   Risk management: potential risks
are identified and early managed better.

•   Stability: Enables the Council to
respond more quickly to changes in the market to ensure network
stability and prevent passenger journey patterns from being
terminated.
 
Alternative Options Considered
- To continue with the current process of procuring bus services
through individual tenders increasing the time taken for both the
Council and suppliers. This also does not allow enough time to
respond to changes in the local bus network, where operators make
changes that the Council would wish to respond to quickly, to
ensure stability for the passenger. A conventional Framework
contract would not allow the flexibility of the proposed Open
Framework to admit new suppliers during the contract
term.