Tamar Bridge Toll Collection Service

Tamar Crossings and Cornwall Council, on behalf of the parent authorities of Cornwall Council and Plymouth City Council, invites tender submissions from suitable suppliers to provide a replacement contract for toll collection services at Tamar Bridge, as the current contract is reaching the end of its full term.
Tolls collected at the Tamar Bridge represent the major source of income for the Tamar Bridge and a physical presence is still required in each of the five mixed mode toll lanes and to support our two automated lanes. Tolls are collected in one direction only following crossing, from a plaza located on the eastern (Plymouth) side of the river.
A secondary element of office and rest facility cleaning has allowed contractors to productively engage reserve support staff in this activity. The routine presence of contractor’s supervisors and the pool of capable staff ensures cleaning is completed to appropriate levels of quality and there is robust continuity for both toll collection and cleaning provided by the appointed contractor.
This high-profile 24/7/365 service has been contracted out since 1986, with the current contract expiring on 31 March 2027 a new arrangement is required with an initial contract term of three years, with optional extensions of up to five years in total, in any combination, giving a maximum possible duration of eight years.
The structure and flexibility of the extension options are necessary due to ongoing investigations into the potential implementation of an Open Road Tolling (ORT) system. Introduction of ORT would directly affect future service requirements, and the potential for change requires that the Authority retain discretion over if, and for how long, the extension options are exercised.
For the avoidance of doubt, suppliers should be aware that Tamar Bridge have a maximum available budget of £944,671 for the initial year of this opportunity and that no contingency beyond this sum exists.
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