II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
34120000
34980000
60000000
60100000
60112000
60130000
60140000
60170000
63712000
34121000
34121100
34121300
34121400
50113000
50113100
60172000
63712100
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKJ32
Main site or place of performance:
Southampton, Hampshire, UK.
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The University of Southampton sought 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.
The procurement process was run in 3 stages:
Stage 1 - Pre-Qualification stage: an overall pass mark of 50 % applied to this stage.
Stage 2 - Invitation to Tender stage: a minimum score of 50 % applied to this stage.
Stage 3 - Invitation to Negotiate stage: Bidders shortlisted from Invitation to Tender stage were invited to negotiate with the University their response contained within ITN File 1 - Commercial Response. No other documentation contained within the Invitation to Tender was open to negotiation. Once negotiations concluded, bidders were invited to submit their final ITN File 1 - Commercial Response.
Contract Value:
Based on previous contract performance, the expectation was 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 was the focus of the Invitation to negotiate where the University expected contractor's to present innovative pricing schedules.
It is the expectation of thfe 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 are excluded from the calculation of the contract income.
The contractor is solely responsible 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 University has entered into a 10 year contract with the successful bidder.
The Pre-qualification evaluation criteria was:
Mandatory Requirements (Pass/Fail):
Grounds for mandatory exclusion.
Grounds for discretionary exclusion.
Economic and Financial Standing.
Insurance.
Compliance with equality legislation.
Health and Safety.
Current service provision — 20 %.
Monitoring of service reliability — 15 %.
Customer service — 20 %.
Communication methods — 10 %.
Feedback and complaints procedure — 10 %.
Support staff — 10 %.
Technical and professional ability — 15 %.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion: General responsibilities and Contract period
/ Weighting: Pass/Fail
Quality criterion: Product development
/ Weighting: Pass/Fail
Quality criterion: Control
/ Weighting: Pass/Fail
Quality criterion: Base
/ Weighting: Pass/Fail
Quality criterion: Legal requirements
/ Weighting: Pass/Fail
Quality criterion: Management information
/ Weighting: Pass/Fail
Quality criterion: Advertising, competitive activity & registration
/ Weighting: Pass/Fail
Quality criterion: Control of Contractors Health & Safety (CC3) Form
/ Weighting: Pass/Fail
Quality criterion: Scope of Services - Specification
/ Weighting: 10 %
Quality criterion: Fleet Vehicles - Specification
/ Weighting: 7.5 %
Quality criterion: Presentation - Specification
/ Weighting: 5 %
Quality criterion: Ticketing - Specification
/ Weighting: 7.5 %
Quality criterion: Communication & Promotion - Specification
/ Weighting: 5 %
Quality criterion: Staff - Specification
/ Weighting: 7.5 %
Quality criterion: Revenue - Specification
/ Weighting: 7.5 %
Quality criterion: Security - Specification
/ Weighting: 2.5 %
Quality criterion: Customer care - Specification
/ Weighting: 10 %
Quality criterion: Reporting - Specification
/ Weighting: 5 %
Quality criterion: Public availability - Specification
/ Weighting: 7.5 %
Quality criterion: Environmental standards - Specification
/ Weighting: 5 %
Cost criterion: Proposed fares for Uni-Link tickets
/ Weighting: 5 %
Cost criterion: Proposed hourly rates
/ Weighting: 7.5 %
Cost criterion: Proposed contract price and/or revenue share arrangement
/ Weighting: 7.5 %
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
II.2.14) Additional information
I.1.6 — This contract was NOT suitable for splitting into lots. The risk of dividing the requirement into Lots would have rendered the execution of the contract excessively technically difficult, not cost effective and would undermine proper execution of the contract.
II.2.10 — Information about variants — Any acceptable variant was to be at the invitation to negotiate stage ONLY.