Milk Marque releases its first phase milk tenders
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• The first of three phases of tendering for Milk Marque's haulage contracts began this week with the release of tender documents concerning the leasing of 23 depots and their associated farm collection vehicles.
Milk Marque is the body which next April will replace the buying activities of the Milk Marketing Board for England and Wales. MMB's 23 depots operate about 500 vehicles and are responsible for 30% of the collection of the 6 billion litres of milk currently handled by the MMB.
Applicants must be fully conversant with the laws applicable to transfer of undertakings and financial viability; they must also have quality assurance equivalent to BS5750.
Eventually all of Milk Marques transport requirements will be subject to tender and although distribution contracts between 114MB and independent hauliers will be honoured, they will be involved in later stages.
The MMB's plan to reform milk distribution in England and Wales follows the passing of the Agriculture Act 1993. This tendering process precedes a period of consultation which must be completed before the MMB plan can be agreed by the Government: for forms phone 081-398 4101.
MMB's transport consultant David Yeomans says completed forms must be returned by the end of December this year— contracts are expected to run from 1 April 1994. (see feature, page 44).