Bridgwater is seeking a cost effective and efficient Student Transport Services provider, which complies with current and future legislation and supports its objectives to provide a safe and reliable facility to all our students.

This document specifies the requirements for the management and provision of a Student and Staff Transport Service to / from the College and various other locations, locally and regionally.

The contract shall be awarded for a 2 year period from September 2013 to September 2015 plus an option year to September 2016, subject to satisfactory performance and the outcome of periodic reviews.

The requirement is split into lots. Tenderers may bid for one lot, a few lots, or all lots.

Tenderers must specify in their expression of interest which lots they wish to bid for.

Tenderers are asked to in the first instance to express an interest and to complete a PQQ. Successful applicants will then be invited to tender.

a) Lot 1 : To transport students from Rolls Royce, Filton, Bristol in the morning to Bridgwater College, with a return journey later in the day. The details of this service are described below:

From Rolls Royce, Filton, Bristol to Bridgwater College and back.

— Monday Between 30-37 passengers

— Tuesday Between 20-27 passengers

— Wednesday Between 20-27 passengers

— Thursday Between 30-37 passengers

— Friday Between 20-27 passengers

— Daily-Pick up at 7.00 am

— Daily-Return at 4.30 pm

This requirement may be subject to change over the lifetime of the contract.

b) Lot 2: Bridgwater College/ Weston Super Mare/Clevedon/Worle

Clevedon, Worle and Weston Super Mare to Bridgwater College 250-300 passengers in total. Daily pick up at 7.44 am

Return at 4.40pm

This requirement may be subject to change over the lifetime of the contract.

c) Lot 3: Bridgwater College/ Shepton Mallet

Whitstone School, Shepton Mallet to Bridgwater College 30-50 passengers Daily pick up at 7.30am

Return at 4.40pm

This requirement may be subject to change over the lifetime of the contract.

d) Lot 4: Transport of pupils from 2 schools to Bridgwater College

— Chilton School, Bridgwater to Bridgwater College Thursday - 8.45 Coach with 52 seats Weekly - Term time only.

— Blake School, Bridgwater Bridgwater College Thursday - 8.45 Coach with 52 seats Weekly - Term time only.

— Bridgwater College Chilton School Thursday 11.45 Coach with 52 seats Weekly - Term time only.

— Bridgwater College Blake School Thursday 11.45 Coach with 52 seats Weekly - Term time only.

— Chilton School Bridgwater College Friday 8.45 Coach with 52 seats Weekly - Term time only.

— Blake School Bridgwater College Friday 8.45 Coach with 52 seats Weekly - Term time only.

— Bridgwater College Chilton School Friday 11.45 Coach with 52 seats Weekly - Term time only.

— Bridgwater College Blake School Friday 11.45 Coach with 52 seats Weekly - Term time only.

This requirement may be subject to change over the lifetime of the contract.

e) Lot 5: Ad-Hoc Transport. There is a requirement on an ad hoc basis to transport students and staff locally, regionally and nationally to sporting events and educational field trips, University visits, Air Port runs, and Residentials as part of the students curriculum. Examples of these trips are provided below:

— Hampton Court Flower Show;

— Coasteering, Torbay or North Devon;

— Saltex Exhibition, Windsor;

— Bath and West Showground;

— Westonbirt Arboretum;

— Brewhouse Theatre, Taunton;

— Infrastructure Show, NEC Birmingham;

— Dartmoor Zoological Park, Plymouth;

— Marine Cammondo Challenge, Exeter;

— Bristol Zoo Gardens;

— University of Gloucester;

— American Museum, Bath;

— Cadbury Garden Centre;

— Denmark Visit;

— Rome visit;

— MOD, Corsham;

— Exmoor Hills, Somerset;

— Dead Womans Ditch, Quantock Hills;

— WestPoint, Exeter;

— Oxford Brookes Uni;

— Cutliffe Farm, Sherford;

— Autosport International Racing Car.

1.1 Current Provision and Requirements

Please be aware that a small number of students with mobility difficulties may use this service. Where this is the case, the college will liaise with the contractor to agree appropriate arrangements e.g. vehicles should be DDA compliant.

If you are awarded a contract with the College, the Contractor / drivers / conductors, where applicable, need to:

— Hold an Educational permit;

— Hold Enhanced CRB clearance;

— Adhere to the Contractor Safeguarding Policy and Procedures;

— Adhere to the College Safeguarding Policy and Procedures.

2. Objectives of the College Transport Service

The aim of the College Service will be to provide a high quality transport Service for the students and staff of the College. The following are identified as the key objectives which the Contractor (Service Operator) will be expected to address:

— Health and safety of all passengers

— Reliable and flexible Service

— Student and staff satisfaction

— Promoting positive relations with the wider community

— An environmentally sound service

3. The Contract

3.1 Contract Duration

A Service for the provision of student transport is required between September 2013 to September 2015, with an option year to September 2016.

3.2 Contract Review

a) The continuance of this contract beyond the first year is subject to satisfactory performance by the Contractor and the outcome of an annual College Service review.

b) The College reserves the right to retender any part of, or this entire contract.

4. Variation to Services

Flexibility will be required on occasions when the College needs to cancel or amend the Services outlined in Schedule B (Specification of Services). Certain lots or routes may be cancelled or amended during the lifetime of the contract. Please refer to Schedule B and C (Terms and Conditions for Transport Services) for contractual details.

4.1 Statutory Requirements

a) The Contractor shall have obtained planning permission for the use of premises from which to operate a Coach or Bus / Minibus hire company.

b) The Contractor shall hold, and provide the College with sight of, a valid Passenger Carrying Vehicle Operator"s Licence of the relevant classification as required by Section 12 of the Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981, or a permit issued under Section 19 of the Transport Act 1985, which allows the operation of the Contract in the manner proposed, and periodically thereafter on request.

a) Where applicable, the Contractor shall hold, and provide the College with sight of, a valid Radio Communication Agency Licence at all times throughout the provision of this Service.

b) If a passenger is disabled and is dependent upon a guide, hearing or other assistance dog, the driver MUST allow the dog to be carried, at no charge, unless exempted under section 37 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and the vehicle is clearly displaying the statutory exemption certificate. Refusal to carry an assistance dog without good reason or exemption is an offence, and the College shall inform the relevant authorities of any instances where the Contractor or his staff fail to comply with this legal requirement.

4.2 Service Requirements and Expectations

a) The Contractor shall ensure the operational base is sufficiently equipped to fulfil the contractual obligations at all times.

b) The Contract shall be invalid and liable to termination with immediate effect should an Operator"s Licence / Permit previously granted, be suspended, withdrawn or have conditions attached to it for any reason by the relevant authorities which prohibit the operation of this Contract.

c) The Contractor shall establish a two-way communication system between drivers and the operating base whilst their vehicles are in transit, to enable information to be passed to the College in case of emergencies, or other untoward incidents, safeguarding the overall interests of all passengers.

d) The Contractor shall provide all employees allocated to this Service with an Identification Card bearing their photograph (or a suitable company badge), to be carried / worn at all times, and which should be presented when requested by a representative of the College, any Passenger or the guardian / parent of any passenger. A sample copy of the ID card or badge shall be provided with the tender documents.

e) The Contractor is responsible for providing a reliable and punctual service to meet the specification, which includes the provision of the vehicle and any appropriate equipment aids and adaptations, the driver, and a conductor / escort when required.

f) The Contractor shall ensure (at his/her own cost) that adequate staff, vehicles and resources are available to deliver all journeys requested by the College within 10 minutes (pick-up and arrival) of the specified time, and shall have sufficient capacity and resources to quickly arrange the provision of Services for urgent or unforeseen work. The College will ensure for Ad hoc bookings that adequate notification is given. The acceptable timeframes shall be provided by the tenderer at tender stage.

g) The Contractor shall co-operate in ensuring that an effective working relationship between the Contractor staff and College staff is maintained.

h) The Contractor shall organise, in so far as practical, that the same vehicle / driver be used on Scheduled Regular Journeys to establish trust and co-operation between all parties involved, in particular between the drivers and the passengers and their parents / guardians.

i) In the event that the Contractor is unable to fulfil a scheduled Regular Journey or confirmed Booking, the Contractor or the driver of the vehicle concerned shall notify the College as soon as possible.