SS15100: 'Kings Hill Connect’ bus routes (X1 & X2) – new express Kings Hill to Maidstone bus routes services

Kent County Council (the Council) is the largest local authority in England covering an area of 3,500 square kilometres. It has an annual expenditure of over £1bn on goods and services and a population of 1.3m.

The Council provides a wide range of personal and strategic services on behalf of its residents, operating in partnership with 12 district councils and 289 parish/town councils. This requirement is for the operation of a subsidised bus service numbered X1 / X2 (branded Kings Hill Connect) that will provide improved links between Kings Hill and Maidstone Town Centre.

The 'X1' bus will be an express service from Kings Hill to Maidstone, via West Malling Station. The linked 'X2' route will run between Kings Hill and West Malling station, giving a speedier and more frequent service in this area and acting as a replacement for an existing rail link service, 123.

The service will have a 3 peak vehicle requirement and will provide an overall frequency of 2 buses per hour. The vehicles to be used will be provided by the Council.

They are high capacity single deck Volvo B7 vehicles that have been fully refurbished. The vehicles will be fully branded as described above.

It is anticipated that as part of mobilisation, arrangements will be made for the successful Contractor to inspect these vehicles. In keeping with the intention to provide a high service standard, branding will also be applied to all related publicity and a program of infrastructure improvement is also being progressed.

This Contract is to be established as a 'revenue guarantee' contract with all revenue taken by the Contractor (inclusive of cash revenue and reimbursement in lieu of concessionary travel passes) being returned to the Council through an established mechanism. This Contract is anticipated to commence upon 1st December 2016 and will continue for a period of 4 years (48 months) with an option to extend up to a further period of 1 year (12 months) unless terminated in accordance with the Conditions of Contract on the Kent Business Portal.

Should all possible extensions be taken, the total potential contract term is 5 years (60 months). It is difficult to estimate the value of this Contract as these are new bus routes and also the Council is providing the required vehicles however an estimated value is between £700,000- £900,000 (including all possible extensions) but no guarantee is given as to the actual value of the Contract.

Additional information: Instructions to Suppliers: Expression of Interest and Tender Process Expressions of interest will only be accepted via the Kent Business Portal (kentbusinessportal.org.uk). In order to submit your interest in this opportunity please select on the Kent Business Portal the ‘Login and Express an Interest' button.

Note that in order to successfully submit your interest you will first need to register for an account. After registration is complete and you've received your login details you should return to the advert for the opportunity and express your interest.

You will then be emailed an invitation to submit a tender. Further guidance regarding how to use this portal can be found in the public attachments section on the Kent Business Portal. Questions and Communication Please direct all questions and communication through the Kent Business Portal via the discussions facility.