Railway traffic control software package

Tender description

As part of the proposed East Coast Main Line (ECML) Digital programme, it is intended that this project will deliver a Traffic Management System (TMS) from London King’s Cross station to Doncaster South. This is one of currently three main packages envisaged to be procured for the ECML programme; the other two being the implementation of a European Tran Control System (ETCS) system and the award of an RSIP (Railway System Integration Partner) contract or framework. This proposed procurement will result in a single supplier contract to deliver a Traffic Management System for the ECML Route, subject to funding, the DR national strategy not materially changing and supplier performance. The procurement will be undertaken through the Bravo NR portal application. This proposed procurement is for the provision of a Traffic Management System (TMS) solution for the East Coast Main Line for a 10 year period from operation of the live services, (with interfaces to adjacent areas as necessary to function effectively) which will enable the delivery of new or retention of recently introduced control and command systems under other contracts in York ROC. The TM system will be required to interface with a Connected-Driver Advisory System (C-DAS). The TM system will also be required to interface via the LINX protocol to business systems and other TMS deployments for adjacent areas which may be separately procured in a similar timeframe. The objective of this procurement is to deliver a TMS that will maximise the throughput that the ECML can support, improve service recovery and enhance performance. The suppliers will be expected to tender against a set of output performance criteria. It is intended that the TMS solution be procured as Software as a Service (SaaS) using the NR variant of the CCS (Crown Commercial Services) Model Services Contract. This is intended to be a single supplier contract awarded via the Negotiated procedure. The proposed payment mechanism will be a service charge (comprised of a fixed element and a variable element based on system performance and achievement of output performance criteria) paid to the successful Supplier for each period the TMS is operational. In practice, this means that it is not intended to pay the successful Supplier until the service is operational, so that any upfront investment will be recovered through the service charge once the service is brought into operational use. The successful supplier will be required to exhibit the right behaviours to successfully deliver the required outcomes, will need to be collaborative in working with NR and other Suppliers, such as the ETCS and RSIP suppliers, as well as offering a sustainable, value for money.