Public procurement notice: Prior Information Notice Without Call For Competition
Published: 2018-09-18
Buyer: University of Warwick
Country: UK
Contract type: Services
CPV classification: 45234116
Estimated value: 3000000 GBP
Award criteria: The most economic tender

Technical requirements: The University of Warwick are looking to tender for concept design, Construction, Consultancy and analysis work for a novel low cost trackform for the Coventry Very Light Rail project. The Coventry VLR (Very Light Rail) project is a research and development programme to develop a novel, low-cost, low-carbon rail-based public transport system for operation within the city of Coventry. The programme is a collaboration between WMG (University of Warwick), Coventry City Council (CCC) and Transport for West Midlands (TfWM). The overall programme is conceived to deliver an affordable rail based system, capable of on-and off-street running, marketable to the general public, and have low-carbon light-weight self-propelled vehicles which are emissions free at the point of use. The vision is for an innovative trackform, which causes minimal disruption to the locality during onsite installation thus providing a step-change in light-rail installation costs. Further, the design should encompass the requirements of all stakeholders, including, but not limited to, utility companies (gas, electricity, telephone, etc.), staff and passengers, pedestrians, other road vehicles including cyclists, local businesses, other statutory undertakers and system operator. As part of the larger programme, a novel, lightweight vehicle is being developed, along with a potential route offering suitable economic viability. The development of a rail network requires a fully integrated systems approach, ensuring compatibility, consistency and cost-effectiveness. As such, the supplier will be expected to interact with the project partners, including CCC, TfWM and the vehicle development consortium, as well as any other companies that assist with the development of the Coventry VLR programme. In order to express interest in this opportunity and download some further details please go to the University of Warwick In-Tend supplier portal (https://in-tendhost.co.uk/universityofwarwick). The University of Warwick is not a Contracting Authority for the purposes of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (as amended) and its procurement activities are not subject to the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 or the obligations under the European Public Procurement Directives, including the European Remedies Directive. Advertisement of any contract in the Official Journal of the European Union or Contracts Finder is at the sole discretion of the University and is undertaken on a voluntary basis with no implied obligation to comply with the procurement legislation.
The development of a rail network requires a fully integrated systems approach, ensuring compatibility, consistency and cost-effectiveness. As such, the supplier will be expected to interact with the project partners, including CCC, TfWM and the vehicle development consortium, as well as any other companies that assist with the development of the Coventry VLR programme. The overall track research and development program is envisaged to encompass the following parts:
The high level project timing and interaction with other parts of the Coventry Very Light Rail (VLR) programme are highlighted as an attached document. It is expected that the successful bidder will work with the University of Warwick and other research and industrial partners to deliver the high level objectives as set out above. Expertise will be required in areas relevant to track form design and development, for example: wheel to rail interface, noise and vibration analysis, trackform design, geotechnical, system integration, risk management, relevant computer aided engineering, and digitisation. Track design and systems integration assurance will have experience of track product acceptance in a recognised rail network and experience of new network/line upgrade projects. We are particularly interested in applying technology and innovation across all aspects of the design and build of civil/rail structures to drive down the costs of rail installation. Estimated total value:
The above 4 parts are likely to be procured via 4 separate tenders. Part 1-3 we are using this PIN as an invitation to have dialogue with the Contracting Authority as part of our pre-market engagement for this project. These tenders if required are likely to be awarded via the Competitive with Negotiation procedure. Part 4 will be tendered via this University but some of the other Parts may be tender by of collaborative partners. For Part 4 we may use this PIN to shorten the timescales of that procurement. This is likely to be an Open tender with a shortened timescale. In order to express interest in this opportunity and download some further details please go to the University of Warwick In-Tend supplier portal (https://in-tendhost.co.uk/universityofwarwick). The University of Warwick is not a Contracting Authority for the purposes of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (as amended) and its procurement activities are not subject to the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 or the obligations under the European Public Procurement Directives, including the European Remedies Directive. Advertisement of any contract in the Official Journal of the European Union or Contracts Finder is at the sole discretion of the University and is undertaken on a voluntary basis with no implied obligation to comply with the procurement legislation.
This is a PIN for the purchase of a parts some services and one works package. The project team has not yet confirmed whether this will be a series of tenders, 1 tender with a series of lots or other. For further information and to be kept updated on when tender(s) are available, we recommend you register on https://in-tendhost.co.uk/universityofwarwick (free to register and use).
The University's particular requirements will be set out in the Invitation to Tender documentation and may include, inter alia, performance bond(s) and/or bank guarantee(s) and/or other forms of security. Where a consortium or other grouping of suppliers submits a bid, such consortia or grouping must nominate a lead organisation to deal with the Contracting Authority on all matters relating to the Contract. All consortium members or grouping will be required to be jointly and severally liable in respect of the obligations and liabilities relating to the Contract.
Please refer to http://in-tendhost.co.uk/universityofwarwick for further information and to express interest. You will be able to download the full tender documents from this site. Any queries in relation to this requirement should be directed to the University of Warwick via the correspondence functionality of the In-tend system. Failure to do so may result in queries being excluded from the procedure. The University expressly reserves the rights:
(i) not to award any contract as a result of this procurement process commenced by publication of this Notice;
(ii) to make whatever changes it may see fit to the content and structure of the tendering competition;
(iii) to award (a) contract(s) in respect of any part(s) of the [services] covered by this Notice; and
(iv) to award contract(s) in stages. Under no circumstances will the University be liable for any costs incurred by candidates. The University of Warwick is not a Contracting Authority for the purposes of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (as amended) and its procurement activities are not subject to the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 or the obligations under the European Public Procurement Directives, including the European Remedies Directive. Advertisement of any contract in the Official Journal of the European Union or Contracts Finder is at the sole discretion of the University and is undertaken on a voluntary basis with no implied obligation to comply with the procurement legislation.

Eligibility requirements: Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents.

Award value: 3000000