Seafarers' union RMT has called on the Scottish Government to announce the next Western Isles and west coast ferry operator before the May elections.
Serco and Cal Mac are rivals for the £1 billion subsidy to run the ferry network for eight years from autumn 2016.
A six week period to discuss their proposals with Transport Scotland is getting underway with the final tenders to be submitted in December.
The RMT says that window is far too wide and acts a drag weight on the process.
"There are only two bidders for the CHFS contract -
"The announcement of the winning bid must be brought forward to the earliest date possible.”
Steve Todd, RMT national secretary, said: “This is by far the biggest public sector contract for lifeline Scottish ferry services but Transport Scotland have had much longer than usual to plan for the tender process to be completed in good time before Scottish Parliament elections on 5th May.
"Rather than grimly insisting on a full, six week period discussing two bids Transport Scotland will already know very well, the Scottish Government should recognise the clear public interest in bringing the announcement of the winning bid forward to early April so that CalMac passengers, workers and customers know, when they cast their vote, who will be running their lifeline services for up to eight years from October 2016.”
Reveal ferry bid winner before elections, say RMT
30 October 2015