--- title: "Dynamic Demand Response Transport (DDRT) - Portsmouth" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-04d52b" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-04d52b" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04d52b.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04d52b.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "PORTSMOUTH CITY COUNCIL" published: "2025-01-24" --- # Dynamic Demand Response Transport (DDRT) - Portsmouth Buyer: PORTSMOUTH CITY COUNCIL Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-04d52b [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-04d52b) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04d52b.json) ## Summary Portsmouth City Council is initiating the procurement process for a new Dynamic Demand Response Transport (DDRT) service aimed at areas in Portsmouth without existing commercial or contracted bus services. The procurement stage is currently at the planning and tender update phases, with an expected contract award by mid-March 2025 and service commencement no later than 2nd June 2025. The pilot service will initially run until 31st March 2026 in the Paulsgrove / Port Solent area, with an option for extension based on funding and demand. The DDRT service will require flexible operations, running Monday to Saturday from 09:00 to 19:00, using a minimum of two vehicles (one of which must be wheelchair accessible). The procurement will follow the Open Procedure in accordance with Public Contract Regulations (2015), with key dates including the FTS Contract Notice on 3rd February 2025 and tender return deadline on 6th March 2025. This tender opportunity from Portsmouth City Council offers significant business growth prospects, particularly for transport service providers capable of offering demand-responsive solutions. Businesses specialising in public, non-scheduled, and special-purpose road transport services, taxi services, and those with capabilities for providing wheelchair-accessible vehicles would find this tender highly suited to their expertise. The potential for contract extension up to seven years and expanding service coverage could equate to approximately £1M per annum, offering stability and growth for the successful operator. Companies with strong continuity arrangements, adaptable technology systems, and compliance with operator licensing requirements will have a competitive advantage in this procurement process. ## Notice Portsmouth City Council - the 'Council' - will be undertaking a procurement process at the beginning of February 2025 to pilot a Dynamic Demand Response Transport service (DDRT). The Council is envisaging awarding the contract mid-March 2025 with a contract commencement no later than 2nd June 2025. The pilot service will initially operate until 31st March 2026. This service will be to only cover areas where there is currently no existing commercial services or contracted bus service. The additional service would be to benefit residents and businesses who otherwise would be unserved by public transport. The initial area identified to provide the DDRT service is within the Paulsgrove / Port Solent area in the north of the city. The successful operator will be required to provide a flexible demand responsive service 6 days a week, Monday to Saturday (excluding Sundays and Bank Holidays) between the hours of 09:00 and 19:00. The successful operator will need to provide a minimum of two vehicles and drivers. One of the vehicles will need to be wheelchair accessible, both vehicles will need to have the capacity to carry 4 or more passengers. The operator will also need to have business continuity arrangements in place including for access to an additional vehicle and driver to cover any unavailability of the main vehicles, the additional vehicle must have the same accessibility as the unavailable vehicle. All vehicles must have the relevant operator licence or permit. Full details of vehicle requirements will be included in the specification. The operator will need to provide a fixed cost for all elements other than fuel cost which will be paid for on a evidenced cost reimbursable basis. Depending on any future funding availability, success of the pilot and demand, at the Councils option the service could be extended on a year-by-year basis to a maximum period of 7 years. In addition to extending the term of the contract the council may also extend the service into additional areas of the city and number of dedicated vehicles allocated to the service. The council will be using Bus Service Improvement Plan funding of approx. PS350,000 to cover the initial approx. 10 month pilot period, although this will be confirmed when the procurement formally commences. Whilst the council can provide no guarantees that it would extend the term, geographical coverage and number of vehicles as this will be subject to review of demand and availability of funding if all of these options were taken up spend via the contract could equate to approx. PS1M per annum. This figure is based upon a position where the council expands the service to another area of the city and increase number of vehicles for both areas from 2 to 3. ### Lot Information Lot 1 In order to award the contract, the Council will undertake a procurement process in accordance with the Open Procedure as set out within the Public Contract Regulations (2015). The current draft programme is set out below: Issue FTS Contact Notice - 3rd February 2025 Issue Invitation to Tender - 3rd February 2025 Tender return deadline - 6th March 2025 Completion of standstill - 27th March 2025 Contract Award - 28th March 2025 Service Commencement - No later than 2nd June 2025 After publication of the project and all associated documents the Council will host an online Bidders Briefing which will be held remotely via Microsoft teams on Monday 10th February 2025 between 12:00 - 13:00. Draft Agenda * Procurement programme and envisaged process * Contract Duration * Contract Terms * Service Levels * Mobilisation * Pricing Instruction * Reporting & Information requirements * Account Management At this stage we are not looking for potential operators to book spaces for the meeting, the date and time are being provided to enable interested parties to put a hold in their diary. Full booking instructions will be subsequently included within the tender pack due for issue on 3rd February 2025. The council will be administering the forthcoming procurement process using its e-sourcing system In-tend. The In-tend system can be accessed free of charge via the following web link: https://intendhost.co.uk/portsmouthcc/aspx/home Tenderers who are not already registered on the In-tend system are encouraged to register their details now in order to access the procurement documentation, raise clarification requests and return tender submissions when the procurement formally commences. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/002580-2025 | | 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, Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 24 Jan 2025 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 3 Feb 2025 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £7,500,000 | | 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 | PORTSMOUTH CITY COUNCIL | | Locality | PORTSMOUTH | | Post town | Portsmouth | | Postcode | PO1 2AL | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLJ South East (England) | | ITL 2 | TLJ3 Hampshire and Isle of Wight | | ITL 3 | TLJ31 Portsmouth | | Local authority | Portsmouth | | Electoral ward | Charles Dickens | | Westminster constituency | Portsmouth South | | Delivery location | TLJ31 Portsmouth | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport) ### Codes - 60000000 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport) - 60112000 - Public road transport services - 60120000 - Taxi services - 60130000 - Special-purpose road passenger-transport services - 60140000 - Non-scheduled passenger transport - 60170000 - Hire of passenger transport vehicles with driver ## Release History - 24 Jan 2025 at 15:33 - TenderUpdate - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/002580-2025 - 21 Jan 2025 at 17:07 - Planning - Planning Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/002089-2025 ## Notice URLs - https://intendhost.co.uk/portsmouthcc/aspx/home - https://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/ext/business.aspx ## 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-04d52b. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04d52b.json.