Decision details

Service 16 operates between York City Centre and Acomb via the Hollybank Loop and Hamilton Drive. The service is part of the Council’s tendered network. The existing contract is expiring so a competitive tendering exercise was undertaken to identify potential best value suppliers. York Pullman was successful in the competitive tender process.

The proposed contract will be a standard City of York Council public bus services contract for a period of 5 years, with an option to extend for 3 further years.

The new contract will commence on 7th April 2025.

• The budget for tendered bus services is a part of the Council’s overall revenue budget, agreed at full Council on 27th February 2025.
• The new cost for service 16 (£58,105 per annum) is cheaper than the current contract price and therefore represents a saving for the Council. The total cost for the full contract, including the three-year option, is lower than the £500k key decision threshold.
• The competitive tendering process has been conducted in accordance with internal Contract Procedure Rules and where applicable, Procurement Regulations.
• The Council currently has powers to contract socially necessary bus services on delegation from the MCA. These delegated powers are to be extended until such a time when the MCA has fully established its public transport functions.

1. Award the contract for bus service 16 to York Pullman as winner of the competitive tender process.
2. Award to a different operator. Rejected.
3. Do not award. Rejected.

Award to a different operator. Rejected because York Pullman have shown that they have provided the best value bid for service 16 by winning the tendering competition. Other operators did bid for the two route but scored lower overall than York Pullman on a 70% cost / 30% quality assessment. As York Pullman won the competitive tender process it is not possible to award to another bidder.

Do not award. Rejected because this option would result in gaps in service provision along the route of bus service 16.