Micromobility Data Discovery

Description

Summary of the work User-focused research is required to provide key recommendations on needs and uses for shared micromobility data, and how to best ensure this data is used. Include looking at existing micromobility data standards (MDS/CDS-M/GBFS), recommendations on the data infrastructure necessary, other DfT projects to link into, the future role of DfT. Expected Contract Length 6 weeks Latest start date Friday 22 April 2022 Budget Range £60,000 - £80,000 Why the Work is Being Done Shared micromobility, pedal cycle, and e-cycle schemes can offer an abundance of transport data, which can be used by local authorities for monitoring and compliance, as well as offering a major opportunity for open data users. A Discovery phase is required to better understand the specific data needs and use cases for local authorities and public open data users, and the appropriateness of existing data standards to achieve this. Additionally, research is needed to better understand the infrastructure necessary for shared micromobility data, DfT's role in this, recommendations on how this should work alongside existing transport data. Problem to Be Solved The ongoing micromobility rental schemes have highlighted difficulties authorities have in obtaining data without a legislative mandate. Projects such as ‘Bus Open Data’ have highlighted the requirement for well-developed legislation in obtaining open transport data. Currently, legislation is being developed to mandate data sharing within a new local licensing framework, research and investigation is required into: data needs/uses for local authorities data uses for open data how to ensure data use by local authorities and open data users appropriateness of existing data standards different data needs by shared vehicle types (e-scooters/e-cycles.) understanding the future role of DfT in this data Who Are the Users Various DfT policy teams have policy and research responsibility including: Traffic & Technology Division -Micromobility and Future Transport Zones Active Travel / Cycling DfT Future Transport and MaaS (Mobility-as-a-Service) Team DfT Active Travel Statistics Team DfT Future Transport Strategy Unit - Mode Shift Project Various users and operators Local traffic and highway authorities Data providers / aggregators Journey planning applications / innovators MaaS providers Early Market Engagement This work forms part of the development of legislation for a local authority licensing regime for shared micromobility. Data sharing aims to be mandated within this licensing structure as a requirement to obtain a licence for operators. DfT has already completed substantial desk research into the topic, engaging with a wide number of stakeholders: Local transport authorities Shared micromobility operators Data aggregators MaaS providers/Journey planners This has provided a strong basis to justify the data sharing proposed, and the different data sets desired. It has not provided the necessary level of detail to outline the specifics of data standards or the open data infrastructure necessary. Monitoring and evaluation work has additionally been completed as part of the ongoing e-scooter trials, with a final report due later in 2022. These trials are ongoing in a number of local authorities nationwide, providing a good starting point for engagement. Recent projects into open data have additionally be engaged with, such as ‘Bus Open Data’. This legislation sets a precedent for open transport data. Micromobility data standard developers have additionally released guidance into their standards. Namely, OMF (Open Mobility Foundation), who published the MDS standard have released guidance on using MDS under GDPR. Existing Team The core team will be: • Anthony Ferguson – SRO – Deputy Director, Traffic and Technology DfT • Eleanor Chappell – Service Owner – Head of Micromobility Policy DfT • Alasdair Forrest – Product Owner – Micromobility Policy DfT Assurance will be provided by DFT Digital Service. Current Phase Discovery Skills & Experience • Provide demonstrable evidence of recent (within 3 years) and relevant discovery project(s) that you have undertaken according to GDS guidelines or similar. • Provide demonstrable evidence of delivering discovery project(s) and their outcomes that formulate actionable recommendations and plans to improve the service for both present and short/medium term delivery. • Provide demonstrable evidence of experience within (shared) mobility and transport data skills within the team you define for this proposal. Nice to Haves • Demonstrate experience of working across policy teams within a Government department • Experience working with Local Authorities • Experience working within micromobility • Work within open data Work Location We expect this work will be done remotely. Working Arrangments We expect full-time engagement from delivery teams to deliver the required outcomes. We would expect the Discovery to be completed within 6 weeks which should comprise several sprints, in accordance with Agile programme management, to determine user need. Exact milestones will be determined with the supplier, post appointment. Security Clearance All contractors’ personnel must be working toward security clearance level BPSS at minimum and be cleared to begin immediately following award. Evidence of this will be requested at written proposal stage. Personal data collected during discovery will constitute an information asset which suppliers will be required to appropriately protect No. of Suppliers to Evaluate 5 Proposal Criteria • Approach and methodology • Recommendations and Deliverables • Team structure Cultural Fit Criteria • Provide demonstrable evidence of experience of delivering Discovery project(s) working as a team with our organisation and other suppliers • Provide demonstrable evidence of experience of delivering Discovery project(s) and being transparent and collaborative when making decisions • What provisions are undertaken to support and encourage in work progression/ development to acquire new skills relevant to the contract Payment Approach Capped time and materials Assessment Method • Case study • Work history • Presentation Evaluation Weighting Technical competence 50% Cultural fit 10% Price 40% Questions from Suppliers 1. You mention the work is expected to be completed remotely. Can the team be working remotely from outside of the UK? (e.g. within the EEA) There would be scope for this, however any application proposing to work outside of the UK would have to highlight where they would be based, and the security considerations they are making to account for working internationally. 2. You mention in the nice to have skills section “experience of working across policy teams within a Government department”. Does this need to be a UK Government department or is a foreign Government department acceptable? A UK government department would be preferred in this situation. 3. You mention in the Working arrangements section: “We expect full-time engagement from delivery teams to deliver the required outcomes.” – If we were successful, could a team member potentially be assigned to this engagement part time (e.g. 50% allocation)? A team member would be able to be part time on the project; as long as suitable resource is allocated overall this would not be a worry. It should be highlighted in the Team Structure of the application who would be working part time though. 4. You mention in the Essential skills and experience section about delivering “according to GDS guidelines or similar.”. When you say similar, are you referring to a comparable body’s guidelines (e.g. foreign government) or any guidelines that are similar in content? Any guidelines that are similar in content would be suitable evidence, though the closer the guidelines are aligned with GDS, the better the overall example will be. 5. For question “Provide demonstrable evidence of experience within (shared) mobility and transport data skills within the team you define for this proposal.” please could you elaborate on what you mean by “shared”? To clarify, is this essentially rental scheme for (for example) e-cycles and other similar modes of transport? The above is correct; ‘shared’ mobility in this context refers to rental schemes for cycles, e-cycles, and e-scooters (for example). Obvious examples would be the Santander bikes in London, or the e-scooter rental trial schemes taking place across England. 6. For question “Demonstrate experience of working across policy teams within a Government department” please could you confirm what you mean by working “across” policy teams? In this case, this refers to experience working with a range of different policy teams within Government. Ideally this would be on a single project that involved working across a number teams and balancing the priorities that came with this, though it could be from work on different projects with a range of teams. 7. Will DfT be able to facilitate access to user research participants and stakeholders to support user research? Yes, DfT will be able to provide help in setting user research and offer contacts. 8. Is it acceptable for suppliers to cite multiple examples to demonstrate their experience? For example, question “Experience working with Local Authorities” might be best demonstrated with multiple examples. Yes, that would be fine.