Proof of Evidence of Mr James Willcock

Document Reference Number OA/13
Proof of Evidence of Mr James Willcock
5 COMMERICAL AND PROCUREMENT ISSUES
5.1 The proposed BRT service for the AVTM scheme is to replace the existing Long
Ashton Park & Ride service 903, therefore the BRT service will not be an entirely
new service. While the route of the AVTM BRT service will differ from service 903,
the origin and destination are the same. Therefore the commercial starting point
for the AVTM BRT is based on the known current passenger trips made on service
903. Furthermore, service 903 is currently provided under contract to Bristol City
Council (via competitive tender).
5.2 The local marketplace for bus services is moderately buoyant, there are two large
bus operators First and Wessex Connect, with several smaller operators providing
commercial and contracted bus services in the area. There is a good degree of
competition for contracted bus services. In the most recent tender rounds for Park
and Ride services (including the Long Ashton Park and Ride) an average of five
tender bids were received. Commercial bus service competition is more limited and
there is only limited route competition between bus operators for bus services
along corridors between Bristol and North Somerset, except in the city centre on
overlapping sections of bus routes.
5.3 There are no concerns over the capacity and appetite of the marketplace to deliver
the BRT services and corridor bus services. The underlying local factors and
dynamics are such that there is an effective marketplace for contracted services
while the extent of commercial bus service competition is more limited. Taking
account of this local context in consideration of the procurement options has led us
to conclude that the efficiency and effectiveness of the bus service marketplace
would not be materially affected whether services are provided on a contracted or
a commercial basis.
5.4 The draft JPS (CD/B2) entailed a procurement options appraisal, where options
were assessed and scored based upon the operational context of each BRT scheme.
For the AVTM scheme, the draft JPS (CD/B2) recommends the procurement of the
BRT service under contract via a competitive tender. This effectively is a
continuation of the existing approach for service 903, which is contracted via
competitive tender. This approach has the advantage that it manages the
commercial risks to both the councils and the bus operators, very effectively. The
delivery of the AVTM BRT service will require investment by the operator in a
minimum of 5 vehicles for an ‘every 6 minutes’ service frequency. This represents a
considerable investment in respect of capital outlay or lease arrangement in the
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