The selection process for the next Clyde and Hebrides ferry services (CHFS) contract is now underway, it has been announced.
State-
The next contract will run for eight years from October 2016.
The routed will be tendered as a single contract with no unbundling of services.
The ships will still be owned by the Scottish Government but leased to the winning bidder.
On top of income from fares, the winning tenderer will get a subsidy up to £1 billion.
This funding will also ensure Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) will be safeguarded on the routes.
Island ferry routes up for bids
17 February 2015
Transport minister Derek Mackay said: “The Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services play
a crucial role in the day-
“We have made clear our commitment to supporting them by ensuring we deliver safe and reliable services for ferry users.”
He added: “We are looking to award a contract that runs for a period up to eight years. This will make it more attractive to potential bidders by giving the operator more opportunity to deliver service improvements and efficiencies over the course of the contract.
“The tendering team began the preliminary procurement steps last year, but this effectively starts the selection stage of the process and we are now encouraging potential bidders to come forward.”
A full public consultation exercise was undertaken during the ferries review, which helped to define the shape of future ferry services.
The Ferries Plan, published in December 2012, will form the basis of the contract.