Research and development services and related consultancy services

Tender description

DRP seeks to build a Joint Development Group (JDG) - a community of suppliers with a range and breadth of skills, capabilities, and competencies that are called upon to support digital railway project development activities. A lead delivery partner will be required to manage and operate the JDG and their primary objective will be to connect the right capability from the supplier community to work with the Digital Railway project teams on particular problem statements and other project development activities. This procurement is the lead delivery partner role only. It should be noted that the majority of the estimated value described herein is likely to materialize through the work of the community of suppliers in the resources and capabilities provided to the DRP in working through project development activities. Having considered various procurement options and reference models, DRP seeks to appoint a lead delivery partner who will manage and operate the JDG. In practical terms this means engaging, as necessary, a community of suppliers to collaboratively work alongside project teams on early stage digital railway project deliverables. NR intends to publish an OJEU Notice in Quarter 1 2018 to seek interested suppliers in tendering for the delivery partner opportunity. Interested suppliers will be requested to submit their expression of interest by responding to a PQQ which will be issued at the same time and as part of the OJEU Notice. Publication of the OJEU notice will be supported with supplier engagement sessions to support a transparent and consistent understanding of required outcomes, strategic approach to delivery and the supplier selection process. The PQQ process will follow the NR corporate pre-qualification criteria and will place emphasis on supplier’s experience and the ability to provide the professional services required in establishing an appropriate mechanism for managing and appointing specialist services and resources from the supplier community to work on DR problem statements/early GRIP deliverables to successful outcomes. The aim of the PQQ evaluation will be to establish an ITT list of 4 potential delivery partners; subject to supply market appetite and capability. An ITT will be issued to short-listed suppliers. Included will be standard DR contractual documents as well as evaluation details based on declared criteria, weightings and evaluation methodologies. Negotiation Stage – this step in the process will benchmark all major bid elements and provide appropriate feedback to bidders. This will enable clarification of any incorrect assumptions and give suppliers the opportunity to update bids in the light of such clarification. All suppliers will be treated equally and given all the required information to formulate their bids in a transparent manner, ensuring full OJEU compliance and demonstrating optimum value for money. Appointment Stage - a preferred supply/delivery partner will be selected. All suppliers will be informed of the decision in the normal manner. NB - Total estimated value (notional estimate) c£7,000,000, is for a lead delivery partner over a 5 year period (this procurement is for the appointment of the lead delivery partner to undertake the core management of the Joint Development Group). Total value through the proposed JDG arrangement is estimated at c£35,000,000 over 5 years. However, this value includes all the services expected to be procured by the JDG (via the supplier community and the delivery partner) of which only the above notional estimate will be awarded to the lead delivery partner.