Bus services for Beacons Bus 2011 & 2012

Descriptions

Invitation to Tender for ‘Beacons Bus’ Local Bus Servicesin South WalesThe Authority is inviting tenders for the operation of routes of the ‘Beacons Bus’ network of quality, local bus services on summer Sundays and public holidays (late May until late September) for the two years 2011 – 2012. Please see attached documents for all details of the tender.The services operate from the major conurbations surrounding the Brecon Beacons National Park to the Interchange in Brecon, where the same buses are then used on a local network within the Park, before returning to their origination point in the late afternoon. Each bus will be used all day within the availability permitted by drivers’ hours regulations.The routes (to be operated as gross cost contracts, whereby the Authority retains the revenue) are:•Cardiff – Merthyr Tydfil – Brecon•Porthcawl - Bridgend – Pontypridd – Aberdare – Brecon•Bridgend – Treorci – Brecon•Blackwood – Newport – Abergavenny – Brecon•Cardiff - Caerphilly – Brecon•Swansea – Neath – Ystradgynlais – Brecon•Hay-on-Wye – Llanthony Valley CircularServices must be provided under the terms of the 1985 (and subsequent) Transport Acts and only by companies complying with the legal and operational requirements of the Traffic Commissioner. Services will be tendered individually, although tenderers will have the opportunity to submit combined bids as necessary.The award criteria will be stated in the tender documents; however, the Authority is not bound to accept the lowest or any tender.The closing date for submitting completed tender documents is Friday 11th February 2011.Please see attached specifications for details of the contract(s).