Tenders will be rejected and returned without consideration
• If the tender arrives after the time and date detailed on the tender form;
• If any part of the tender document which has been supplied is missing;
• If the tender is not signed or otherwise not fully completed;

Operators submitting tenders must in all cases submit a compliant tender stating the cost for the provision of the service as specified in the tender documents.

Having done so the operator may then submit alternative costs for the operation of the service that varies from that set out in the tender document.  Such alternative submissions will not be considered in the absence of a fully compliant bid.

Other details about the circumstances in which tender will be rejected and the way in which tenders should be submitted to the Council will be given on each tender form.

The contractor shall be deemed to have satisfied him/herself before submitting the tender as to the accuracy and sufficiency of the rates stated in the tender which shall (except insofar as it is otherwise provided in the contract) cover all his/her obligations under the contract and shall be deemed to have obtained for him/herself all necessary information as to risks, contingencies and any other circumstances which might reasonably influence or effect his/her tender.

For the avoidance of doubt, the rates shall be taken to include, without limitation, the costs of all premises, labour, equipment, fuel and materials to be supplied by the operator, all costs of purchasing, issuing, operating and maintaining the operator’s vehicles, all costs associated with any required on board automatic vehicle location equipment as specified, licence fees or other similar expenses.

If an operator is submitting more than one tender he may submit with the documents a covering letter which gives the following information:
• The maximum number of vehicles which would be available for contracts
• The order of preference for contracts  in the event that a greater number of contracts might be awarded than those sought
• Any proposals for combining tenders to include any revised cost and how it would be proposed to operate them
• Any other information relevant to the tender
Any such covering letters as are received will be considered as part of the tender decision process.

Operators should note that if a tender is submitted for Home to School only passengers on the basis of a special contract vehicle and accepted by the council, the contract may not subsequently be registered as a local bus service without the express permission of the council.

The council is not bound to accept any tender it may receive.

The council will award contracts on the basis of the most economically advantageous tender for its particular requirements. This will include the use of the Quality Assessment score taken together with the tender price submitted by the operator.

Unsuccessful tenderers will be notified in writing immediately following the tender evaluation.  The successful tenderer will be notified as soon as possible and normally within 4 weeks of any deadline date for the submission of the tender or following the mandatory ten-day period if the tender process was advertised in OJEU.  A copy of the contract will then be supplied to the contractor.

The council reserve the right during the tenure of these conditions to introduce tendering methods that may improve the security and efficiency of the tender process. This may include submission of tenders by electronic means or any other means deemed suitable.