---
title: "Cupar Zero Emission Bus Service"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-032696"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-032696"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-032696.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-032696.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "FIFE COUNCIL"
published: "2022-03-25"
---

# Cupar Zero Emission Bus Service

Buyer: FIFE COUNCIL  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-032696

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-032696)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-032696.json)

## Summary

Fife Council is initiating a procurement process for the Cupar Zero Emission Bus Service, targeting public road transport services in Cupar, Fife. The procurement is currently in the planning stage, with a formal Contract Notice expected to be issued on or after 2nd May 2022. The aim is to establish Scotland's first zero-emission bus route to align with the Climate Fife Strategy and the Council's Climate Emergency declaration. Businesses interested in this tender should prepare for engagement throughout 2022, as the council aims to award the contract by Christmas 2022, with the service anticipated to commence on 14th August 2023.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses focused on sustainable transport solutions, particularly those that can provide zero-emission vehicles and associated infrastructure. Companies involved in the supply of electric buses, charging station technology, and sustainable transport services will find this procurement particularly relevant. Additionally, this initiative fosters potential collaborations with small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and third sector organisations, encouraging innovative proposals that improve social, environmental, and economic wellbeing in the region.

## Notice

Fife Council is keen to explore options for establishing its first zero emission bus route. The Cupar Town Bus Service (Service 68/68A/68B) is currently a Council contracted service using diesel vehicles. The route passes through one of Fife's two Air Quality Management Areas, so having zero emissions vehicles on this route would help to reduce emissions in the town centre area and strongly align with the aims of the Climate Fife Strategy and Council Plan 2017-2027. We wish to investigate models of delivery available within the marketplace and how they might be applied to the Cupar Town Service in a way that provides best value to Fife Council.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

Bus and coach emissions make up 5% of Scottish road transport emissions. The Government has a net zero target of 2045 and it is likely the sale of new diesel buses will be phased out sometime between 2030 and 2035. Fife Council declared a Climate Emergency in 2019 and recently published the Climate Fife 2020-2030 Strategy (https://www.fife.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/193121/ClimateActionPlan2020_summary.pdf) stating, "Fife Council wants to lead by example in our response to the climate emergency and use our procurement, assets and staff to help deliver a zero carbon and resilient Fife." Under the Sustainable Transport theme in the Strategy, two key projects are ST07 (Improve the fuel and carbon efficiency of local private sector and public transport fleets) and ST08 (Tackle problematic air quality). Having an Air Quality Management Area in Cupar, we wish to explore options with the marketplace to make the Cupar Town Service (Service 68/68A/68B) a zero emission bus route, to contribute towards the themes of the Strategy. Discussions are likely to focus on vehicles (and ownership); fuelling/charging infrastructure (and ownership); optimum contract length; contract pricing; grant funding; vehicle use outwith hours; energy supply arrangements. The procurement process is likely to involve a Competitive Dialogue procedure, due to the various current unknown elements listed above, hence engagement with interested suppliers will help shape bids throughout the process. We intend to issue a formal Contract Notice to start the procedure, hold discussions throughout 2022 and hopefully award the contract by Christmas 2022. This should still give sufficient time for any set-up requirements for the contract start date of Monday 14 August 2023. We would welcome contact from suppliers who may have solutions to how we can change the current diesel operation of the Cupar Town Bus Service to a zero-emission route. Responses bind neither the Council nor the interested supplier to any contractual commitment. A response does not ensure a supplier's inclusion in any future tendering process nor does it place any supplier in an advantageous position with regard to any future procurement. Failure to respond to this Prior Information Notice (PIN) does not prohibit a future bid to the Contract Notice. As a Competitive Dialogue procedure is envisaged, interested suppliers do not have to be existing members of our Bus & Coach Dynamic Purchasing System. The current (diesel) service specification is: Low floor; wheelchair accessible; minimum 17 seats; Monday-Saturday, hourly from approximately 0900 to 1730 and operates loops of the town via the Town Centre. View the service here: http://www.cartogold.co.uk/fife/map.html > click Routes and Times > scroll and select Services 68, 68A and 68B. Total daily mileage is 100 miles. This is given for information only and could be subject to change as part of discussions, for we are keen to maximise vehicle use and would be open to looking at how it might be incorporated into also delivering Sunday / evening services. As well as supporting the Government and Council's net zero targets, this potential procurement also supports the Council's aim (which reflects the Sustainable Procurement Duty), to improve the relevant social, environmental and economic wellbeing of our area, reducing inequality, facilitating the involvement of SME's, third sector bodies and supported businesses.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/008188-2022 |
| Notice type | Planning Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Not specified |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 25 Mar 2022 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 1 May 2022 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Planned |
| Lots status | Planned |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | FIFE COUNCIL |
| Locality | GLENROTHES |
| Post town | Kirkcaldy |
| Postcode | KY7 5LT |
| Country | Scotland |
| ITL 1 | TLM Scotland |
| ITL 2 | TLM0 Eastern Scotland |
| ITL 3 | TLM01 Clackmannanshire and Fife |
| Local authority | Fife |
| Electoral ward | Glenrothes Central and Thornton |
| Westminster constituency | Glenrothes and Mid Fife |
| Delivery location | TLM72 Clackmannanshire and Fife |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

### Codes

- 60112000 - Public road transport services

## Release History

- 25 Mar 2022 at 15:46 - Planning - Planning Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/008188-2022

## Notice URLs

- http://www.cartogold.co.uk/fife/map.html
- http://www.fife.gov.uk
- https://www.fife.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/193121/ClimateActionPlan2020_summary.pdf
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=686519
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00187

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-032696. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-032696.json.