Network Rail Infrastructure Monitoring Programme and Project Management Support

Description

Summary of the work Programme and Project Management delivery Establish customer requirements Technical standards Benchmarking & best practice Market capability Service range and feasibility Development & Innovation Service roadmap SLA’s Expected Contract Length 2 years with option to extend for 6 months Latest start date Thursday 18 November 2021 Budget Range £4.6m to £4.9m Why the Work is Being Done A transformation programme has been established to develop the strategy, vision and implementation plan to enable Asset Information Services (AIS) to transform the way it collects, analyses and shares data on NR's Infrastructure Assets. As part of its reliability centred maintenance, Network Rail has an extensive Infrastructure Monitoring (IM) Programme that provides information to regional engineering teams on the condition of their assets and trend analysis to identify and classify defects to facilitate corrective and preventative maintenance of the network. The current frequency and method of collection has largely been developed to meet minimum requirements defined in technical standards on a single network approach. As devolved routes develop their own reliability based maintenance strategies with differing pace, priorities and maturity, there is an opportunity and increasing pull to transform how infrastructure monitoring is performed to provide the appropriate data at the frequency and quality needed to support the changing needs of route customers. Network Rail wishes to review its current approach for Infrastructure Monitoring against commercially available solutions, potential innovations and best practice adopted across other rail operators and relevant industries, to enable these needs to be met. Problem to Be Solved To support Network Rail's transformation programme, it is envisaged that the client side programme support partner will form part of a blended team and bring valuable project and programme expertise and experience in order to deliver outcomes which will ensure the programme is delivered efficiently and in line with Network Rail's overarching investment case. The role of the Client Side Programme and Project Management should be that they act as a trusted delivery partner to the IM Programme. Who Are the Users Network Rail's IM Programme is the user alongside wider Network Rail stakeholders such as the Network Rail Asset Information Services team, routes and regions. The Programme and Project Management supplier is required to deliver outcomes which support deliverables provided by the IM Programme whilst playing an integrated assurance role within the Programme and wider Network Rail. Work Already Done A mobilisation project to prepare Network Rail's transformation has been running internally and has identified initial scope, defined the vision and produced a high level target end state for the organisation. However, work to date has focused on trials and proofs of concepts and there is now a need to look beyond this at how customers (Network Rail routes and regions) can get the most value from transforming infrastructure monitoring services, this includes reviewing current ways of working. Existing Team The supplier will be working within a blended team with Network Rail staff, Client-Side Leadership Support Partner and the IM Programme. They will also be working with industry partners and suppliers. The Network Rail staff is made up of permanent and augmented resources. Current Phase Alpha Skills & Experience • Previous experience of delivering and supporting complex transformation projects and programmes within the Rail sector and an organisation of similar complexity as Network Rail (across the whole project lifecycle) • Experience of technical, operational and data project management services in a transformation environment in the rail industry (specific experience of Electrification & Plant and Track is preferential) • Broad experience in rail or similar environments spanning infrastructure maintenance, asset management, operational delivery, information management, customer service and stakeholder management • A natural curiosity and passion for challenge, continuous improvement and innovation, with demonstrable experience of applying these attributes to achieve tangible business benefits • Relevant experience in the successful management of major programmes of work or significant business/ operational change in infrastructure, operations and/or rail industries. • Knowledge and experience of the principles of safety and technical assurance processes and procedures • Knowledge of the principles of Health & Safety, quality and environment legislation and best practice • Demonstrable experience of working and leading blended teams made up of an eco-system of suppliers • Proven track record within client-side programme and project management of delivering effective outcomes to time, cost, scope and quality • Demonstrable experience of successful knowledge transfer against a variety of skill sets • Proven ability to build and manage relationships with senior stakeholders • Experience of maintaining programme alignment to existing governance model • Experience of managing transition of project management deliverables to meet service-based outcomes • Experience of delivering in highly regulated rail safety environment and which takes into account Network Rails Life Savings Rules. • Demonstrate any social value / social responsibility initiatives implemented within your organisation for Economy, Local Communities, Health and Wellbeing, Equality and Diversity. Nice to Haves • Experience of tailoring delivery approaches in line with performance • Designing programme and project delivery with an innovative approach to meet client requirements Work Location The Quadrant: MK | Elder Gate | Milton Keynes | MK9 1EN Supplier resources will work as part of a blended delivery team, working remotely but using Network Rail supplied equipment, Monday-Friday usual office hours. More flexibility may be arranged by mutual agreement after an initial onboarding process. Working Arrangments Supplier resources will work as part of a blended delivery team, working remotely but using Network Rail supplied equipment, Monday-Friday usual office hours. More flexibility may be arranged by mutual agreement after an initial onboarding process. We expect team(s) to reflect the roles and capabilities listed in the Essential Skills section. Team(s) will work in the Agile delivery methodology, or 'Waterfall', or in a hybrid of both disciplines. Security Clearance N/A No. of Suppliers to Evaluate 3 Proposal Criteria • Case study of previous experience of client-side programme, project design and delivery specific to the Transport Sector and how this experience will be applied to this requirement - 10% • Proposed Supply Chain Partnering – 10% • Delivery approach and methodology to achieve outcomes - 10% • Team structure, competency, continuity, and service of resources - 6% • Onboarding and Implementation Plan - 5% • Risk awareness and mitigation strategy - 5% • Through life contract management & reporting approach - 4% Cultural Fit Criteria • Has an inclusive approach to engaging with internal stakeholders that will support project success - 2% • Will work transparently, and collaboratively as one team with our organisation and other suppliers - 4% • Will share their approach, knowledge transfer and experience with other team members and seek actionable feedback - 2% • Has experience of working with similar multi-disciplinary complex programmes within a large organisation - 2% • Has evidence of how the supplier integrates with an existing team, while taking ownership of problems and resolving issues - 5% • Can demonstrate how it will openly share work and outputs iteratively throughout the project for NR consideration and challenge - 3% • Has a sound methodology and approach for working with and respecting a client's existing governance and decision making processes - 2% Payment Approach Capped time and materials Evaluation Weighting Technical competence 50% Cultural fit 20% Price 30% Questions from Suppliers 1. Assuming the start date is not 18th of Nov. Please clarify. The latest start date is 25th February 2022. 2. What is the day-rate for a project manager / programme manager? This DOS advert makes no reference to day rates for Project Managers and at this stage suppliers are not requested to provide any commercial/price information. 3. Can you clarify when the ITT will be released? The ITT shall be published after 29th December 2021. 4. Can you clarify if there are any TUPE requirements? TUPE shall not apply. 5. Can you clarify which if any assurance mechanism is used for Project delivery governance within IM? Details shall be provided to the 3 shortlisted suppliers in the ITT documentation. 6. Does bidding for this commission exclude tender organisations from also bidding for the infrastructure monitoring consultancy work? Supplier acting in the capacity of Client Side Services and Client Side Assurance are not permitted to deliver as part of delivery suppliers. 7. Experience of tailoring delivery approaches in line with performance. The performance of what do we need to be in line with, is this our performance, NR KPIs, train timetables? This is about tailoring delivery in an appropriate way to ensure that milestones are met e.g. in an agile, iterative way as opposed to choosing a slow, onerous, governance heavy approach to deliver something simple. 8. Experience of maintaining programme alignment to existing governance model – Is this ensuring compliance with a set process, or is this a question specifically about applying the GRIP process? This question relates to ensuring the Programme remains aligned to both existing Governance models established within the Programme i.e. not re-inventing the wheel and also following the current Network Rail Project and Programme Management Governance processes such as GRIP, MSP4NR and PACE. 9. Please will you provide the timetable for the subsequent stages of this opportunity such as when suppliers will be notified of selection for stage 2, the deadline for submission of stage 2 responses and the dates/window for any presentations that may be required. Stage 2 timelines will be shared in the ITT with the shortlisted 3 suppliers.Decisions on shortlisting will be concluded prior to the new year and suppliers will be notified of DOS advert evaluation decision. 10. Question 1 asks for “experience of delivering and supporting complex transformation projects and programmes within the Rail sector and an organisation of similar complexity as Network Rail”. Are you seeking one example from the Rail sector and one for an organisation of similar complexity to Network Rail, or do you require a single example that covers both the Rail sector and complexity requirements? If your organisation has one example of both Rail Sector and complexity that is acceptable alternatively two separate examples is also acceptable. 11. Question 2 asks for “experience of technical, operational and data project management services in a transformation environment…”. Do you mean project management encompassing all 3 areas (technical, operational, data) within the rail industry? If not, please clarify. Does this cover both the Rail sector and complexity requirements? Your answer should cover all three areas within the Rail Industry.