Public procurement notice: Prior Information Notice Without Call For Competition
Published: 2016-07-27
Buyer: Transport for London (Information and Communications Technology)
Country: UK
Contract type: Services
CPV classification: 63712700 | 72000000

Technical requirements: The Road Space Management directorate within TfL is responsible for managing the road space in London. The Surface Intelligent Transport System (SITS) is a technology based programme which has been launched to provide the capability to unlock significant additional capacity on the road network.
A key element of SITS will be the development of an improved Real Time Optimiser. TfL's current Real Time Optimiser is SCOOT (Split Cycle Offset Optimisation Technique), which TfL license from a third party supplier. Having undertaken extensive desktop analysis, TfL believes SCOOT is the only product in the market which can meet its requirements for an improved Real Time Optimiser. This is due to complexities around inter-operability, programme, functionality and the very significant costs associated with integrating an alternative product.
TfL has used the SCOOT software to manage the operation of traffic lights in London for many years and, consequently, it is deeply integrated into TfL's traffic management systems. TfL has invested heavily in the development of SCOOT and subject to the outcome of this market engagement exercise, is contemplating entering into a commercial partnering arrangement with 1 or more of the owners of SCOOT to develop it as a key component of SITS whilst considering its potential for commercial exploitation. TfL's UTC capability and associated IPR will be made available to the commercial arrangement, adding value to the proposition and also securing at least TfL's existing level of capability.
Details on its existing arrangements, requirements for a Real Time Optimiser and its current intentions as regards SCOOT and UTC going forward are set out in a Briefing Paper. Suppliers interested in responding to this market engagement exercise should send an email to (SITS@tfl.gov.uk) in order to receive a copy.
The Briefing Paper details specific questions which TfL is particularly interested in securing supplier comment on. TfL intends to hold 1:1 sessions with all suppliers that respond with a reasonable case that their product could meet TfL's requirements for the Real Time Optimiser set out in the Briefing Paper.
TfL is however committed to transparency and fairness and therefore invites potentially interested owners of real time optimisation software products to consider TfL's requirements set out in its supporting Briefing Paper (which is available from the email address above) and, if they believe they could offer a viable alternative, provide details on how this might be achieved by responding in the manner outlined in the Briefing Paper.
This Prior Information Notice (PIN) is issued solely for the purpose of conducting a market engagement exercise and does not constitute any commitment by TfL to undertake any public procurement exercise in the future. TfL is not liable for any costs, fees or expenses incurred by any party participating in this market engagement exercise. TfL cannot guarantee it will incorporate all or any feedback received into any subsequent procurement.
TfL will manage this process in an open and transparent manner to maximise the possible benefits. Participation or non-participation in this market engagement exercise will not disadvantage or advantage any supplier's ability to participate in any future procurement activity including in particular any subsequent procurement process undertaken to deliver the wider SITS project. Direct or indirect canvassing of any TfL employee or agent by any supplier concerning this requirement, or any attempt to procure information from any TfL employee or agent concerning this PIN outside of the formal process described in this document may result in the disqualification of the supplier from consideration of any future procurement activity.
TfL will not enter into a contract based solely on the responses to this PIN and no information contained in this document or in any communication made between TfL and any supplier in connection with this shall be relied upon as constituting a contract, agreement or representation that any contract shall be offered in accordance with this PIN.
TfL is under no obligation to follow up this market engagement exercise in any way or with any interested parties.
TfL is committed to ensuring fairness, openness and transparency, and to following EU procurement regulations.