Dynamic Demand Response Transport Services (DDRT)

Portsmouth City Council - the 'Council' - is seeking tenders from suitably qualified and experienced operators for the delivery of a Dynamic Demand Response Transport service (DDRT) on an initial pilot basis with the facility to extend subject to performance, demand and access to funding.

The Council is targeting to have awarded the contract by 28th March with mobilisation following on 31st March 2025.

The council is seeking to award a contract on the basis of the longest achievable pilot period on the condition that commencement is no later than 2nd June 2025.

The pilot service will then be required to operate until 31st March 2026.

Depending on any future funding availability, success of the pilot and demand, at the Councils option this could be extended on a year-by-year basis by a further 6 years.

In addition to extending the term of the contract the council may also extend the service into additional areas of the city and number of dedicated vehicles allocated to the service.

The council will be using Bus Service Improvement Plan funding of approx. ?350,000 to cover the initial pilot period.

Whilst the Council can provide no guarantees that it would extend the term, geographical coverage or number of vehicles as this will be subject to review of demand and availability of funding, if all of these options were taken up spend via the contract could equate to approx. ?1M per annum.

This figure is based upon a position where the Council expands the service to cover another area of the city and increases the number of vehicles in operation for both areas from 2 to 3.

Under the contracting model the successful operator will be paid a fixed monthly amount for delivery of the services excluding for fuel / charging costs which will be paid on a cost reimbursable basis.

A cap of ?300,000 for delivery of 1st year operations - from no later than 2nd June 2025 to 31st March 2026 - will apply to costs excluding fuel / charging.

Any tender received which exceeds this cap may be set aside.

The Council will run the procurement process in accordance with the 'Open Procedure' as set out within the Public Contracts Regulations (2015).

The procurement timetable is set out below.

1 Contract notice published on Find a Tender - 4th February 2025 2 Procurement documents available on In-tend - 4th February 2025 3 Bidder Briefing (Teams Meeting) - 10th February 2025, 12:00 - 13:00 4 Deadline for requests for clarification - 25th February 2025 - 23:59 5 Tender return deadline - 6th March 2025 - 14:00 6 Award Decision Notification - 17th March 2025 7 Standstill period starts - 18th March 2025 8 Standstill period ends - 27th March 2025 - 23:59 9 Contract Award - 28th March 2025 10 Mobilisation - 31st March 2025 11 Commencement of Service - No later than 2nd June 2025 12 End of initial pilot period - 31st March 2026 The Council reserves the right at its absolute discretion to vary th...