Road transport services

Description

Transport for London (TfL) is awarding the contracts for the first stage innovation programme for London RoadLab; finding new and untested solutions to reduce the adverse impact of roadworks by making them safer smarter and/or more inclusive. The contracts will involve 9 suppliers taking part in the innovation programme under a "participation agreement". The programme will allow TfL and its partners to work closely with the suppliers to develop their solutions and, if required, trial them on live roadworks sites. The duration of the contracts is 10 weeks with the option to extend for a further 4 weeks. Procurement documentation can be accessed at https://procontract.due-north.com. Economic Operators should note this procurement is being undertaken under the Innovation Partnership Procedure as set out in Regulation 31 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. TfL reserves the right to cancel or terminate this procurement at its discretion and without liability to an Economic Operator. London RoadLab is a new way for TfL to solve some of the problems associated with roadworks in London and TfL is looking for Economic Operators with innovative ideas to deliver the solutions. The problem statements are grouped into three main theme areas: making roadworks safer smarter and/or more inclusive to all road users. Through the London RoadLab TfL is looking for solutions that haven't been seen in the roadworks sector before, or are still being developed, to the reduce the impact that roadworks have on London and TfL's transport network. TfL is working with the following partner organisations to deliver the programme; Plexal, Cadent Gas, Openreach, SGN, UK Power Networks, Virgin Media, and London Councils. This project looks to deliver new solutions into the roadworks market, allowing TfL to work with innovative companies to shape and help develop these in a way that responds to the problems London faces. The first stage will involve the down selection of suppliers to take part in a ten week innovation programme under a first stage "participation agreement" and in respect of which participating suppliers will be required to dedicate at least half a full-time equivalent employee, and will meet all key programme milestones identified by and agreed with TfL in week one of the programme. TfL and its partners will work closely with the Economic Operators to develop their solutions and to trial them with TfL and, if required, on live roadworks sites across London. The Economic Operators will be required to deliver a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) by the end of the ten weeks, which will be presented at a Demonstration Day. The MVP will be presented to TfL stakeholders and partners and at this stage TfL will evaluate and establish, based on the criteria set out in the tender documentation, whether or not the solutions meet the MVP and Quality Proposal requirements. Following down selection contractual and commencial negotiations will take place. Any second stage contracts will be based upon the template agreements set out in the procurement documentation which will form the basis of the contractual and commercial negotiation to be undertaken (as noted above) to agree final terms for such contract prior to the seeking of final tenders. If applicable, options for scaling the solution will be included in negotiations. Following negotiations a final commercial submission will be provided which will be evaluated based on criteria set out in the tender documentation to determine the Economic Operators who may be awarded the second stage contract. Any Second Stage contract will have some bespoke elements relevant to the Economic Operator and their solutions, however the goal is to enable demonstrable reduction in the adverse effect or roadworks on London that can be effectively rolled out on projects currently in progress or in the pipeline. Detailed information of the requirements is set out in the tender documentation for the Invitation to Participate in an Innovation Partnership.