One of the companies vying to operate the bus service has complained about the government’s decision to start talks with the “preferred bidder”, saying a formal announcement should first have been made in line with the call for expressions of interest.

In a statement, Island Buses Malta Ltd said it had not been involved in any discussions nor been officially notified about the choice of the preferred bidder.

The company said it understood that “no negotiations should have been entered into with any bidder prior to the formal announcement of a preferred bidder” in terms of the Expression of Interest notice.

Following the call for interest that closed on April 7, conflicting reports started to emerge about the outcome of the process, which intensified as the wait for the winning bid grew longer.

Last week, Mr Mizzi was quoted by the General Workers’ Union’s daily, l-orizzont, saying that negotiations were in the final stages and the wait for the name of the new bus operator was nearly over.

But two days later he told this newspaper negotiations had not even started as the preferred bidder was still about to be chosen.

In another twist, Mr Mizzi yesterday said talks with the preferred bidder had begun, but declined to give further details.

However, reports that the government was holding talks with Spanish Group Autobuses de Leon have not been denied.

Last May a Maltese delegation, including the minister himself, flew to Spain for talks, fuelling speculation that negotiations with the only foreign bidder were at an advanced stage. Mr Mizzi later justified his presence in the delegation, saying that he wanted to “verify” in person some aspects of the bid.

Sources said that in contrast, the government had shown little interest in the two Maltese bids submitted by Gozo First Travel and Island Buses Malta.

Since the deadline for submissions, the Maltese bidders had received very little feedback, possibly due to the fact that they demanded a higher annual subsidy from the government, in the region of €42 million.

Probed about such claims at the end of a news conference held yesterday morning in Paceville, Mr Mizzi denied he had been reluctant to meet the Maltese bidders.

“Whenever the Maltese bidders expressed their wish to hold talks, I always accepted their request,” he said. However, one of the conditions laid out in notice of expressions of interest makes it clear that any kind of soliciting by the bidders is strictly forbidden.

“Candidates shall not contact any other person at the authority, at the operating company, at the Ministry for Transport and Infrastructure…” during any stage of the bidding process, as they would be disqualified.