The present assignment concerns the appointment of one or more service providers who will carry out the employee transport according to and for the 'Port Shuttle' project. This project consists of the components Shuttle bus and Bicycle bus. The assignment is also divided into 2 separate plots for these 2 parts.

The performance of this contract must be carried out in accordance with the predetermined requirements laid down in these specifications and in accordance with the instructions given by the contracting authority and the project coordinator during the performance of the contract.

The Shuttle bus system has been developed on behalf of Maatschappij Linkerscheldeoever and Antwerp-Bruges Port Authority since 2016. The 'Fietsbus' plot was started in March 2018.

It concerns collective and subsidised transport aimed at commuting to certain companies in the Waasland port/Port of Antwerp. Within this project, trips are carried out by a carrier (to be appointed via this public contract).

The participating companies allow their employees to make use of this. By means of a reservation (before midnight the day before) the participants indicate that they reserve a place on the bus. Based on the reservations in this module, the buses must be used (both timing and size of the buses are determined based on the reservations).

MLSO and Antwerp-Bruges Port Authority jointly award the contract. The award and execution of the contract will be done in joint name by MLSO which will act as contracting entity.

Place of service: Waaslandhaven/Port of Antwerp

The assignment is divided into 2 lots. The tenderer has the possibility to submit a tender for each lot separately.

These 2 plots are clarified below:

Lot 1: "Routes Linkerscheldeoever 1-9 and routes Rechtsscheldeoever 10-11 – Shuttle bus"

On the left bank of the Scheldt there are 7 bus lines quite steadfast. Almost every weekday the same bus volumes are provided, so that the drivers have fairly fixed working days with the same trips and with the same working hours. On weekends, the number of bus rides is more limited and we are more likely to talk about ad hoc rides.

Lot 2: "Bicycle bus"

The Fietsbus is an initiative of MLSO, Flanders & Port of Antwerp-Bruges. This initiative offers a solution for crossing the Scheldt and the Kanaaldok for cyclists. At present, this is done by means of articulated buses without seats that cross the tunnels and thus offer cyclists the crossing so that they do not have to drive around. The objective of the project is to offer the crossing as comfortable and smooth as possible in order to promote bicycle use in the port area. We want to set up a demand-dependent system in which the frequency and capacity of the vehicle depends on demand.

Different variants are possible within this framework agreement. These are displayed in 2 entries. It is not yet clear which post will be implemented. Not all the terms of this framework agreement are yet known.

1. Variant 1 – Liefkenshoek and Tijsmans tunnel

This post concerns the transport of cyclists through the Liefkenshoek and Tijsmans tunnels. There are 4 stops on both banks of the Kanaaldok and the Scheldt: Waaslandhaven-Noord (Oudedijk), Tolplein, Scheldelaan, Noorderlaan.

For a smooth passage towards the Liefkenshoek tunnel, a separate bus lane has been built so that the Bicycle Bus can drive smoothly past the toll booths.

2. Variant 2 - Tijsmanstunnel

This item concerns the transport of cyclists through the Tijsmanstunnel. With a good connection to the services of the Waterbus. There are 2 stops, Scheldelaan, Noorderlaan.

On the left bank of the Scheldt there are 7 bus lines quite steadfast. Almost every weekday the same bus volumes are provided, so that the drivers have fairly fixed working days with the same trips and with the same working hours. On weekends, the number of bus rides is more limited and we are more likely to talk about ad hoc rides.

In annexes F and G we give an overview of the bus volumes used (number of single trips per bus route) in the month of January 2023 to give an indication of which volumes are involved. On www.Pendelbushaven.be you can find more information about the existing bus routes (including photos of the boarding points).

For route 8 and route 11, we expect the toll costs to be included in the fare. If you propose to use the Liefkenshoek tunnel on the other routes, you can indicate this under "Options".

As far as the Right Bank of the Scheldt is concerned, we are currently unable to provide much clarity. In time, we will possibly also enter the Left Bank system there (growth model). No concrete commitments have been made with companies at this time.

New routes are always drawn up in consultation with the carrier and the expected bus volumes are then examined, so that the carrier actually already knows at the start of the route what the travel time will be, how often the trip will be carried out and with what bus volume.

The specified departure times and routes are therefore indicative and will be further coordinated in consultation with the project coordinator if it is considered useful by the project coordinator to start certain routes.

If you use different prices for weekends and public holidays, this must be clearly indicated in 'Appendix D: Inventory weekend and public holidays'. If you do not use different prices, do not fill in Annex D.

We will work with a framework agreement which can be tacitly extended three times for 12 months each time and with a notice period of 3 months.

The Fietsbus is an initiative of MLSO, Flanders & Port of Antwerp-Bruges. This initiative offers a solution for crossing the Scheldt and the Kanaaldok for cyclists. At present, this is done by means of articulated buses without seats that cross the tunnels and thus offer cyclists the crossing so that they do not have to drive around. The objective of the project is to offer the crossing as comfortable and smooth as possible in order to promote bicycle use in the port area. We want to set up a demand-dependent system in which the frequency and capacity of the vehicle depends on demand.

The provider will always receive the number of passengers in advance from the project coordinator so that he can adjust the transport accordingly.

We will work with a framework agreement which can be tacitly extended three times for 12 months each time and with a notice period of 3 months.

Different variants are possible within this framework agreement. These are displayed in 2 entries. It is not yet clear which post will be implemented. Not all the terms of this framework agreement are yet known.

1. Variant 1 – Liefkenshoek and Tijsmans tunnel

This post concerns the transport of cyclists through the Liefkenshoek and Tijsmans tunnels. There are 4 stops on both banks of the Kanaaldok and the Scheldt: Waaslandhaven-Noord (Oudedijk), Tolplein, Scheldelaan, Noorderlaan.

For a smooth passage towards the Liefkenshoek tunnel, a separate bus lane has been built so that the Bicycle Bus can drive smoothly past the toll booths.

2. Variant 2 - Tijsmanstunnel

This item concerns the transport of cyclists through the Tijsmanstunnel. With a good connection to the services of the Waterbus. There are 2 stops, Scheldelaan, Noorderlaan.

The users of the Bicycle Bus can consult where the buses are located on the route and can make an estimate of arrival at the stops by means of a tracking system.

We always expect a minimum capacity to be offered in relation to the average number of passengers and their bicycles (see tables title '3.4. Lot 2: "Bicycle bus").