The Department of Transport (DoT) is seeking proposals from qualified bus operators for the provision of Regional Bus Services including Country Regional Urban Bus Services (CRUBS) and V/Line. 75 individual service packages for a range of routes across regional Victoria are offered in this public tender. There is a list of packages in the document labelled RFT Tender List which is available for download in this RFT. The service commencement date of these packages is 1 July 2022.

These services are an important component of the Victorian public transport network as they provide transport solutions for passengers seeking to connect with the country and regional rail system and travel between regional town centres.

An industry briefing will be held shortly after the release of the Request for Tender (RFT) via Microsoft Teams. To register for this briefing, please email Regional.Bus.Services@transport.vic.gov.au. Interested operators will be notified of the time and date of the briefing via email.

In order to access the Contract and Financial Offer Template, interested operators will be required to return a Confidentiality Deed Poll. This Deed Poll is available for download as one of the Specification Documents. Please note that the Contract will be made available on this RFT listing in a few days’ time. You will receive a notification from Buying for Victoria when this occurs.

Registrations of Interest:

If you have not previously registered to attend the industry briefing, please do so by emailing Regional.bus.services@transport.vic.gov.au.

Closing date for registration of interest: 8 October 2021

Confidentiality Deed Poll:

Please return a signed copy of the Confidentiality Deed Poll via email to Regional.bus.services@transport.vic.gov.au and indicate the RFT packages for which you will be submitting an Offer. You will receive a password which is required to gain access to the Contract/s and Financial OfferTemplate/s.

Questions and clarifications during the response period:

All enquiries throughout the response period must also be directed via email to Regional.bus.services@transport.vic.gov.au. Answers will be provided via addenda posted on Buying for Victoria. You will be notified via email when addenda are posted.

Closing date for questions: 28 October 2021

Submission of Offers:

Please submit your Offer and associated Returnables via the Buying for Victoria Website.

Closing date for Offer submission: 2:00pm, Melbourne time 4 November 2021. Late Offers may be disqualified from the RFT Process and may be ineligible for consideration.