Hiring of a Bus Operator for the Operations, Maintenance, and Management of Fifty Diesel Double-Decker Buses in Karachi

The Sindh Mass Transit Authority (SMTA), Transport & Mass Transit Department, Government of Sindh, invites sealed proposals from eligible corporate entities and consortia registered in Pakistan for the five-year operations, maintenance, and management (O&M) concession of fifty government-owned diesel double-decker buses on designated corridors in Karachi. This procurement follows the Single-Stage, Two-Envelope procedure under the Sindh Public Procurement Rules, 2010 (SPPRA Rules 2010, amended). Items being procured: - Operations, maintenance, and management of fifty (50) diesel double-decker buses on designated corridors in Karachi The scope covers two trunk corridors: Route 1 from Karachi Bus Terminal / Sohrab Goth to Tower (32.0 km) and Route 2 from Habib University to McDonald's Seaview (25.0 km). The concession period is five years on an ex-fuel operational expenditure per passenger basis. The scope includes providing and operating a concessionaire-provided bus depot of at least 2.5 contiguous acres within Karachi, deploying trained PSV drivers and conductors, executing OEM preventative and corrective maintenance, managing bulk diesel dispensary operations supplied through an authorized OMC, maintaining a mandatory 1.20 KM/Liter fuel efficiency benchmark, administering Automated Fare Collection (AFC) and daily escrow revenue sweeping, integrating onboard ITS/AVL/CCTV telemetry with SMTA's central Operations Control Center (OCC), and maintaining a comprehensive fleet and passenger insurance. Detailed scope, KPIs, and payment terms are set forth in the bidding documents. Eligibility criteria include valid incorporation/registration in Pakistan with SECP or relevant statutory body, NTN with Active Taxpayer Status (ATL), and relevant sales tax registration supported by tax returns for the last three years. Experience requirements include direct verifiable experience within the last seven years in commercial O&M of at least thirty heavy passenger transit buses (≥10m length) or fifty commercial heavy transport vehicles, management and technical upkeep of at least one dedicated operational bus depot or heavy vehicle workshop with capacity for at least thirty heavy buses, and scheduled transit dispatch with AFC or AVL/OCC telematics operations supported by client completion certificates or valid contracts. Financial capability requires a minimum average annual turnover of PKR 1.5 billion and a minimum tangible net worth of PKR 1 billion based on audited financial statements certified by an independent ICAP-registered Chartered Accountant firm. Non-blacklisting and litigation affidavit is also mandatory. Bidding documents will be available for download on the SMTA website (www.smta.gos.pk) from Friday, 13th November 2026. Complete technical and financial proposals must be submitted to the SMTA office before 3:00 PM on 30th November 2026. The original physical bid security of PKR 23,000,000/- along with executed non-judicial stamp paper instruments must be delivered in a sealed envelope prior to the deadline. Bids without original bid security or from blacklisted entities will be rejected. A practical tip for bidders: Ensure your bid security and all supporting documents are original and submitted in a sealed envelope before the deadline to avoid disqualification. Pay close attention to the detailed scope and KPIs in the bidding documents to align your proposal accordingly.