Lewis and Harris School and Public Bus Service 2026-31

The tender invites suppliers to provide comprehensive school and public bus services throughout Lewis and Harris in the Outer Hebrides for the period 2026‑2031. The contract is structured as a recurrent procurement covering a full five‑year term and is delivered through 47 distinct lots that together cover integrated daytime and evening routes, school‑only services, early‑worker links and local feeder services across the island groups of Ness, Westside Lewis, Point District, Tolsta, Back, Harris and Stornoway. These lots include both conventional route specifications and several operator‑designed categories that allow successful bidders to propose tailored service solutions for specific geographic and demand profiles.

Suppliers must equip a fleet capable of meeting the operational demands of each lot, ensuring coverage for primary and secondary schools such as the Nicolson Institute, Sgoil an Rubha, and Sgoil nan Loch, as well as community links to towns and villages including Stornoway, Barvas, and Tarbert. The contract requires adherence to all applicable local transport safety and accessibility regulations, with operator‑designed lots demanding compliance with the technical and service standards detailed in the accompanying documentation.

This requirement is for school and public bus services in Lewis and Harris, na h-Eileanan an Iar (the Outer Hebrides), Scotland, United Kingdom for a five year period.

Award criteria:

Criteria below:

Quality criterion: Quality / Weighting: 10

Price / Weighting:  90

Information about variants:

Variants will be accepted: No

Information about options:

Options: No

Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted:

EN

Conditions for opening of tenders:

Date: 08/06/2026

Local time: 14:00

Place:

Council Offices, Sandwick Road, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis

Information about recurrence:

This is a recurrent procurement: Yes

Estimated timing for further notices to be published:

May 2031

This contract is divided into lots: Yes
Lot 1: NS1 Ness to Stornoway Integrated Main Daytime Service
Lot 2: NS2 Ness Local Feeder and Lionel School Services
Lot 3: NS3 North Galson and Brue to sgoil Taobh Siar. School Only
Lot 4: NS4 Ness to Nicolson Institute School School Only
Lot 5: NS5E Ness to Stornoway Public Evening Service
Lot 6: WS1 Westside Lewis Circular integrated Main Daytime Service
Lot 7: WS2 Carloway Local Feeder aand School Transport to Shawbost School
Lot 8: WS3 Tolstachaolais Local Feeder and School Transport Services to Breasclete and connections with W1 service for Nicolson Institute.
Lot 9: WS4 Carloway to Barvas Early Worker Service and School Services to Shawbost School and Sgoil an Taobh Siar
Lot 10: WS10 Carloway to Barvas Public Evening Service
Lot 11: BR1 Options 1, 2 and 3 Bernera Public and School Services to Breasclete and Sgoil nan Loch. Connections with WS1 Services at Garynahine.
Lot 12: UG1 Uig Public and School Services to Uig School and Connections with WS1 Services at Garynahine.
Lot 13: P1 Point District to Stornoway and Town Daytime Services, Integrated Public and School Services
Lot 14: BB2 Point District to Stornoway Evening Services
Lot 15: TL1 Tolsta and Back to Stornoway Integrated and Public Daytime Services
Lot 16: BB3 Tolsta and Back to Stornoway Public Evening Services
Lot 17: P2 Point District School Services to Sgoil an Rubha, The Nicolson Institute and Stornoway Primary Schools.
Lot 18: TL2 School Services Tolsta and Back District to Back, Tong and The Nicolson Institute Schools.
Lot 19: SY1 School Services, Melbost to The Nicolson Institute and Stornoway Primary School.
Lot 20: SY2 School Services, Newmarket and Marybank to Laxdale and The Nicolson Institute Schools.
Lot 21: NL1 Public and School Services from Ranish and Grimshader to Sgoil nan Loch and The Nicolson Institute Schools and Stornoway Town.
Lot 22: NL3 School Services, Ranish to Sgoil nan Loch.
Lot 23: NL4 Keose Village Feeder Service and School Service to Sgoil nan Loch and The Nicolson Institute.
Lot 24: NL5 School Services to Sgoil nan Loch from Eisken, Sheildinish, Arivruach and Kinloch.
Lot 25: NL6E Evening Public Services, Kinloch District to Stornoway.
Lot 26: SL1 Public and School Services, to Balallan, Stornoway and Pairc School.
Lot 27: SL2 Integrated School Day Service Gravir to The Nicolson Institute School and Stornoway Town.
Lot 28: SL3 Early Workers Public Service, Lemreway to Stornoway.
Lot 29: SR1 Stornoway to Tarbert Spine Route, Part Rodel / Leverburgh to Tarbert via Westside, Part Scalpay to Tarbert Services. School Services to Sir E Scott School.
Lot 30: HAR1 Part Rodel / Leverburgh to Tarbert via Westside Harris. Public, Integrated and School Services. School Services to Leverhulme and Sir E Scott Schools.
Lot 31: HAR2 Strond, Leverburgh to Tarbert via East Bays Route. Public, Integrated and School Services to Leverhulme and Sir E Scott Schools.
Lot 32: HAR3 Scalpay to Tarbert Public, Integrated and School Services to Sir E Scott School
Lot 33: HAR4 Hushinish to Tarbert Public, Integrated and School Services to Sir E Scott School.
Lot 34: HAR5Aline and Rhenigidale to Tarbert Public, Integrated and School Services to Sir E Scott School.
Lot 35: HAR6 East Harris Golden Road to Tarbert Public, Integrated and School Services to Sir E Scott School
Lot 36: L1 Operator Designed, See documents for details
Lot 37: L2 Operator Designed, See documents for details
Lot 38: Lot L2 Operator designed. See documents for details
Lot 39: Lot L3 Operator Designed, All Uig and Bernera Districts, Public and School Services to Breasclete, Sgoil nan Loch, Uig and The Nicolson Institute Schools.
Lot 40: Lot L4 Operator Designed, All Tolsta, Back, Point District and Stornoway Town Public Daytime only.
Lot 41: Lot L4A Operator Designed, All Tolsta, Back, Point District and Stornoway Town Public Daytime and Evening Services
Lot 42: Lot L5 Operator Designed See Documents for details
Lot 43: Lot L6 Operator Designed See Documents for details
Lot 44: Lot H1 Operator designed See Documents for details
Lot 45: Lot LH1 All Lewis and Harris Daytime Public, Integrated and School Services. Evening services as included in Lots L1, L2A, L4A and L6.
Lot 46: Lot LH2 All Lewis and Harris Daytime Public, Integrated and School Services. Excluding Lot 4 Daytime Services plus Evening services as included in Lots L1, L2A and L6.
Lot 47: Lot LH3 All Lewis and Harris Public, Integrated and School Services. Except Lot L4
OCID: : ocds-r6ebe6-0000829035
Notice type: : F2 - Contract Notice