New Transport Watchdog Website Development

Description

Summary of the work: Transport Focus is the independent passenger watchdog. As part of our evolution, we are developing a new passenger watchdog that will continue to champion the needs of passengers across the transport network. To support this transition, we require a web development agency to help us define and deliver a new website for the new watchdog. This work will help us create a new front window for the organisation, identifying and delivering the functionality required for the new watchdog’s expanded role. The successful agency will work closely with Transport Focus to fully map out the requirements of the new site, and then design, build and test the site in time for our public launch date of 1 April 2027. Please note that this date is contingent on legislation currently passing through Parliament. The successful supplier should be capable of: • leading a structured discovery process; • defining technical and infrastructure requirements; • designing an accessible and user-centred website; • implementing a robust and maintainable technical solution; • delivering a fully tested and accessible website by 1 April 2027. Objectives The project objectives are: 1. Deliver a modern, accessible and maintainable website; 2. Meet all applicable public-sector accessibility obligations; 3. Improve access to publications and organisational information; 4. Support embedding of PowerBI dashboards or potential other (to be defined in discovery) live data sources; 5. Improve user experience and information architecture; 6. Ensure consumer engagement functionality, providing clear guidance and signposting for consumers to help them know their rights. Should use industry best practice. This could be an AI chatbot or equivalent. It should be future proofed to take advantage of advances in engagement tools including AI based tools. 7. Establish an appropriate hosting and support model; 8. Deliver a sustainable and maintainable CMS solution that can be used in house on an enduring basis. Pricing model: Fixed price Confirm if you require a contracted out service or supply of resource: Contracted out service: the off-payroll rules do not apply Organisation the work is for: Transport Focus Where you want the supplier to work: No specific location (for example they can work remotely) Latest start date: 2026-08-01 Expected contract length: 1-00-00 Expected contract structure: 1 year contract maximum. Fully tested accessible website needs to be live on 1 March 2027, ahead of a public launch on 1 April 2027. These are hard deadline with is no scope for shift. Contract period should include Discovery, Design, Build, Testing, Deployment and appropriate time for handover and snagging. Estimated contract value (excl VAT): 80000 Budget details: Budget available £80 - 100k. A key element of the evaluation criteria will be the ability to demonstrate value for money. Please provide a breakdown of cost across two stages: 1) Discovery - The cost to take us through a robust discovery period outlining the full requirements for the new site. 2) Design, Build, Testing, Deployment, Handover alongside recommendations for infrastructure, hosting, ongoing maintenance and in house management and any necessary training. The authority may choose not to proceed with stage two of the work with the successful bidder for the discovery stage. Why the work is being done: Transport Focus is evolving into the new Passenger Watchdog. As a part of the ongoing Rail Reform in the UK, the Government is currently passing legislation to allow a new Passenger Watchdog with stronger powers and a new identity to be formed. This new organisation needs a new website fit for communicating with it's key audiences. Problem to be solved: The project objectives are: 1. Deliver a modern, accessible and maintainable website; 2. Meet all applicable public-sector accessibility obligations; 3. Improve access to publications and organisational information; 4. Support embedding of PowerBI dashboards or potential other (to be defined in discovery) live data sources; 5. Improve user experience and information architecture; 6. Ensure consumer engagement functionality, providing clear guidance and signposting for consumers to help them know their rights. Should use industry best practice. This could be an AI chatbot or equivalent. It should be future proofed to take advantage of advances in engagement tools including AI based tools. 7. Establish an appropriate hosting and support model; 8. Deliver a sustainable and maintainable CMS solution that can be used in house on an enduring basis. Who the users are and what they need to do: Users for the new website will include various audiences including: Transport Users and Members of the Public The Transport Industry including operators, local authorities and other organisations interested in transport Politicians and decision makers who will need to access information and data developed by the new watchdog. Internal stakeholders including new watchdog employees (for publishing and sharing of reports with stakeholders) Current phase: Not started Existing team: The Supplier will be working primarily with the existing Transport Focus Communications team, but will also need to engage more broadly across the business, especially during the discovery phase. Incumbent supplier: Yes Provide further information: The current Transport Focus website is managed by Browser, and the new passenger watchdog website would need to consider transition from our existing site. Linked projects: There are multiple interdependencies across the business that will rely on the outputs of this piece of work. These should be captured and identified during discovery and considered throughout future phases of work. Working arrangements: We would expect the successful bidder to outline their proposed working arrangements including project delivery, drum beat of meetings, communications with the authority and other key activities. We would expect expenses to be built in the fixed price for the project. Security clearance: Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) Additional information on security clearance: We expect that only basic security clearance will be sufficient. Work will not involve any security sensitive locations or activity.