Question reference: S4W-29924
- Asked by: Mike MacKenzie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 11 February 2016
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Current status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 16 February 2016
Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will issue the final invitation to tender for the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services.
Answer
The final invitation to tender (ITT) to operate the Clyde and Hebrides lifeline ferry services (CHFS) has issued to CalMac Ferries Ltd. and Serco Caledonian Ferries Ltd.
The Independent Procurement Reference Panel’s final report on the procurement process for CHFS has been published on 16 February 2016, alongside the ITT. The panel confirmed, as was the case for the initial and interim stages, the final invitation to tender was fair, open and transparent to both bidders.
Both participants are required to submit their final bids by 7 March 2016. We anticipate that the successful operator will be announced at the end of May 2016 and begin the new eight year contract from 1 October 2016.
The ITT and the panel’s report have been published on Transport Scotland’s website http://www.transport.gov.scot/ferries/clyde-and-hebrides.