Cross-pavement charging for electric vehicles

Description

The purpose of this notice is to inform potential suppliers of Shropshire Council’s intention to procure one or more suppliers to deliver, install, own and maintain embedded cross-pavement channel solutions within Shropshire. The cross-pavement channel solutions would allow residents without off-street parking to safely charge their vehicle while parked on-street. This is a pre-market engagement exercise to aid the Council in gathering information. It is not an invitation to tender, or request for formal expressions of interest. A procurement exercise is expected at a future point in Spring 2026, with a view to installations commencing in Summer 2026. Background The Department for Transport has made funding available to local authorities to install cross-pavement channels, through the EV Pavement Channels Grant. Shropshire Council has a grant allocation, which can be used to help subsidise trial channel hardware and installation costs. Further details will be provided at procurement stage. Approval was given to take forward a programme to deliver embedded cross-pavement channel solutions at a meeting of the Shropshire Cabinet on 11 March 2026. The Council intends on appointing one or more suppliers with a view to commencing with a small-scale trial, before scaling up with one or more of the selected suppliers. Interested suppliers should also be aware that the Council is also developing a programme of charge point delivery utilising funding from the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund. Procurement for this has not yet commenced. Our anticipated requirements The Council’s anticipated requirements are outlined here: •Installed cross-pavement channel solutions will be owned by the supplier, rather than the Council or residents themselves. •Cross-pavement channel solutions will be supplied, installed and maintained by the supplier, rather than by the Council. •As far as reasonably possible, the Council is seeking a fully managed (turnkey) solution from resident application to installation and maintenance. •The cross-pavement channel solution must be embedded within the pavement, fully concealing the cable below the surface of the pavement. A level surface providing no trip hazard must be maintained. •The cross-pavement channel solution provider must request all necessary permits and permissions on behalf of residents prior to undertaking any works. •The cross-pavement channel solution must be easy to use by the benefitting resident, and include measures to reduce the risk of tampering or misuse. •The cross-pavement channel solution must require minimal maintenance by the benefitting resident. •The supplier must agree to work collaboratively with the Council, including participating in monitoring and evaluation activities, and supporting promotional and publicity activities. •A suitable warranty must be provided to the Council. The Council’s draft Technical Specification is attached. This focuses on the XPS product, installation and maintenance. The final specification will cover other activities including operations. Your response to the market engagement activity outlined below will assist in finalising the specification.