Two companies were pre-qualified for the delegated management of urban bus transport during the bid opening session chaired on Tuesday, 15 January, by the mayor of Tangier, Fouad El Omari. These are Autasa, a subsidiary of the Spanish group Ruiz, as well as the Moroccan company Lux Transports. The former has been in charge of urban transport in Tangier since the end of July 2001, while the latter has seen its activity develop in recent years by obtaining the concession for a large number of lines across Morocco.

It should be noted that these two candidates were pre-qualified from a total of eight companies that had withdrawn their application files. Six companies withdrew from this call for tenders during the bid opening session. Only the two pre-selected candidates submitted their administrative and technical files. And the name of the lucky winner of this public competition will be unveiled during the next week.

Let us emphasise that the two companies, Autasa and Lux Transports, managed to pass the first stage by meeting the pre-selection criteria mentioned in the call for tenders notice. But they do not have equal chances of winning the transport concession. The current concessionaire, Autasa, is predicted to win for several reasons, including its various experiences in Spain. The subsidiary of the Spanish group Ruiz was already able to obtain, in July 2011, and thanks to an agreement concluded with the Tangier city council, an extension for an additional year of its contract, which was then expiring. Autasa provides daily transport for thousands of passengers across 18 urban lines and 6 interurban lines.

Furthermore, the new call for tenders provides for the improvement of services and the increase of the bus fleet. To this end, the two candidates in the running must have a bus fleet greater than or equal to 120 units and a minimum experience of 5 consecutive years in delegated management. The future delegate will be responsible for ensuring the service of 26 urban lines and 17 other interurban lines.

The new 10-year contract, signed with the delegating authority, may be extended for an additional period of 5 years, but on the condition that the future concessionaire commits to renovating its entire fleet.