SS17001 Provision of a Gravesend to Tilbury Ferry Service

This requirement is for the provision of a Gravesend to Tilbury foot passenger ferry service promoted by Kent County Council and Thurrock Council which will connect Kent with Essex, providing links for education, social and employment purposes. This ferry service has a history dating back to the 13th century. The ferry operator is required to provide a suitable vessel including appropriately licensed skippers and crew and implement a routine of regular inspection of the vessel associated machinery/equipment to facilitate a safe reliable operation, with minimum down-time. On average around 400 daily passenger journeys are made equating to 120000 journeys each year. It is essential that the vessel, including any contingency vessel is suitable for use on this particular route and can maintain the schedule in normal operating conditions and in compliance with all applicable merchant shipping legislation, codes and guidance as applied by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, and any other relevant regulatory bodies including the Port of London Authority. This contract is to be established as a 'revenue guarantee' contract with all passenger revenue taken by the ferry operator being returned to the Council through an established mechanism. It is anticipated that this contract will commence on 6.11.17 and will continue for a period of 5 years (60 months) unless terminated in accordance with the Conditions of Contract on the Kent Business Portal. The estimated value of the contract is £1.55m. However with the potential for additional sailings, an ad-hoc Sunday Service and as significant development opportunities are realised on both sides of the river (thus increasing passenger revenue), the Council has estimated an additional £530,000 could be added to the contract value but no guarantee is given as to the actual value of the contract. The Kent County Council is the Contracting Authority however this contract will be accessed by Thurrock Council (www.thurrock.gov.uk). Tenderers should consult the Forms for Completion and Service Specification and Instructions to Tenderers document for further information. Expression of Interest and Tender Process Expressions of Interest will only be accepted via the Kent Business Portal (www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk). In order to submit your interest in this opportunity please select the 'Login and register interest in this Opportunity'. Note that in order to successfully submit your interest you will first need to register for an account. After registration is complete and you have 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 on the public attachments section on the Kent Business Portal. Please direct all questions and communication through the Kent Business Portal via the messaging facility.