University of Portsmouth Bus Services

The University of Portsmouth Higher Education Corporation requires a ‘pay-to-use’ bus service for its staff and students. The bus Service shall provide access for staff and student to the main University campus in Portsmouth city centre, during term-time and for special weekend and event Services.

The provision of a reliable and convenient low emission bus Service aims to attract students and staff away from using personal cars, further improving air quality and enhancing local community safety given the number of school children going to and from school in the area.

The Commencement Date for the Contract shall be 01 September 2025, with a Contract Term of three (3) years up to 31 August 2028 and an option to extend for a further two (2) x twelve (12) month periods, if required, with a potential full Contract Term up to 31 August 2030.

The Supplier shall be required to provide two main bus Service routes: U1: is a Southsea circular route that operates Monday to Friday, during term-time, in an anti-clockwise direction only, through the main student and staff housing areas and starting at Kings Theatre. U2: The U2 bus Service shall run Monday to Friday, during term-time, to help students get from the city centre campus to Langstone sports pitches.

The nature of the University activities is such that demand for bus Services will fluctuate during the day, (with early morning and late afternoon peaks for travel), and throughout the year, with greater demand at the start of the academic year and during events organised by the University or Student Union, for example. The Supplier shall be required to provide Services to cater for the busiest periods, and shall be required to deliver a flexible Service which is able to react to changes in demand. This may require the provision of duplicate or additional vehicles operating outside the standard timetable, and provision of additional vehicles to cater for specific events within the University calendar.