Community Transport Services (Dial-a-ride)

Reading's Community Transport services are currently provided through a variety of arrangements, including existing agreements for Dial-a-ride services, as well as services operated internally by the Council.

Reading Borough Council Adult Social Care currently provide transport through a variety of options to people with learning disabilities, people with mental health problems, people with physical disabilities and older persons across Reading.

A Service Provider provides the Councils current Dial-a-ride services for people of all ages who can't make use of the mainstream bus services offered in the area.

As part of the Councils continued objective to deliver best value, high quality services to its residents, we are proposing to source a single operator for the provision of all its Community Transport based services.

Reading Borough Council is seeking proposals from Operators that are able meet the Councils requirements for Community Transport Services for an initial Contract Period commencing 1st October 2017 and expiring 31st March 2020. An extension period expiring 31st March 2023 will be available, subject to suitable performance during the initial term.

The successful Contractor will be expected to work alongside the Council and its existing Contractor during the mobilisation period for up to one calendar month, to ensure smooth transition between service providers.

The vehicles currently used in the provision of the internal Adult Social Care Transport service will be available for transfer to the successful Contractor at no cost.

Additional information: The procurement exercise will be conducted in accordance with the information contained in the procurement documents. The contracting authority does not bind itself to enter into any contract as a result of the publication of this notice and will not, under any circumstances, have any liability for any costs any person responding to this notice incurs in any part of the tender process.

The services are to be procured under an open procedure and organisations interested in expressing an interest should download the procurement documents which are available on the Council's e-tendering system at: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/readingbc (Project Reference No. RBC 00000307 refers), and complete as instructed.

The Portal is free of charge - to register please follow the supplier registration guidance which is available on the Portal. Contractors wishing to be considered for this tendering opportunity must complete the tender documents and return them electronically via the Council's e-tendering portal. The deadline for return of the tender is Friday 4th August 2017 at 12.00 hours.

Please note: you must register your interest via the Council's e-tendering portal if you intend to submit a tender. Interested parties must log onto the Council's e-tendering portal at: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/readingbc, to express an interest and download the procurement documents. All communications regarding this procurement exercise will be conducted through the Council's e-tendering portal including requests for clarifications or general enquiries. The procurement documents will be available for download up until the closing time and date for tender submissions, it is the organisation's responsibility to ensure that they download the documents in ample time to ensure that they can be completed and returned electronically, along with supporting documents, prior to the closing time and date stipulated. Before completing the tender, potential providers/suppliers should ensure that the e-mail address that has been used to register their organisation will be checked regularly as the Council's e-tendering system will generate automatic notifications to this e-mail address when there are updates, changes or messages sent relating to the project. Potential bidders should also check that their organisation's details are correct and kept up to date.

Technical questions and assistance regarding the use and operation of the Portal should be addressed to the In-Tend Help Desk - e-mail: support@in-tend.co.uk, telephone number +44 8442728810.

Is a Recurrent Procurement Type? : No