Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Press Release
20th February 2009
Bus Contracts Awarded – 2 Routes To Be Retendered
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has provisionally awarded almost 80 contracts for bus routes in the Outer Hebrides. The contracts are worth in the region of £3.7m per annum and will be confirmed to tenderers shortly. These services will come into effect from 27th March 2009.
Two bus routes, the Point and a Benbecula service, are going out for retendering in the light of additional legal advice regarding Transfer of Personnel and Undertakings (TUPE) and potential cross subsidy issues. TUPE is the legal process involving the transfer of employees from one company or organisation to another in the event of a transfer of contract.
For a period of up to three months, the Comhairle will be making interim arrangements to ensure continuity of service on these two routes.
A spokesperson for the Comhairle said; “We are pleased that almost all routes have now been tendered and awarded. The awarding of these contracts will help to maintain the economy throughout the islands and provide the public with an efficient transport service.
We are putting in place interim measures for the two routes being retendered. The reason for retendering is the additional legal information received by the Comhairle which indicates that TUPE may apply. As tenderers were not supplied with this information this risks impairing the transparency and fairness of the procurement process.
In addition, to provide reassurance as to the treatment of cross subsidy it is proposed to clearly state in the tender documents how this will be addressed and to provide further reassurance to all tenderers that the process is fair, open and transparent, tenders returned for these routes will be externally assessed.
This is in line with the Comhairle’s commitment to achieving Best Value in its public procurement processes and that contracts are only placed following fair and transparent procedures.”
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Nigel Scott
Communications Officer
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Tel: 01851 822622 (Work)
Tel: 07884 236103 (Mobile)
email: nscott@cne-siar.gov.uk
Ruairidh Maciver
Communications Assistant
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Tel: 01851 822615 (Work)
Tel: 07881 774601 (Mobile)
email: ruairidh.maciver@cne-siar.gov.uk
