(11 Oct 2013, 7:05 am)Daniel wrote Can't keep up with the edits here Matt - 'twas totally different last time I saw that post!

Surely the bid would be non-compliant again, if Stagecoach could not include confirmation from the relevant manufacturer(s) that they can meet the deadline of 31st March 2014?

See Section 4.2:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/sy...idance.pdf

Unless an exception has been made in the past, is it likely that it will happen this time?

Admittedly, Section 4.2 also states
"Bids will be non­-compliant if they are received after the advertised deadline of 17:00 on Tuesday 26th March 2013"

On top of the 37 already intended for Stagecoach (in accordance with the 2013/14 Stagecoach Handbook), an additional 3 have been ordered. We know that 17 were intended for Stagecoach in Sunderland whilst the other 20 were for Sheffield (?), but an additional 3 have been ordered.
So perhaps the guidelines can be bent to suit circumstances such as this - but it does seem a little unlikely to me. I admit that the manufacturers would be incredibly pressured to have these buses built for March 2014, but I'm just going on the official documentation made available publicly.

Not quite Dan, the additional 20 were to be an order for West Scotland (?) but unfortunately they could not get the funding for these so therefore that order didn't get placed. Therefore the additional 23 for Sundrland will go in as a fresh order. The government will have to extend the deadline for this additional batch they've just announced surely due to the lead time from orders being placed to taking delivery.