Research and development services and related consultancy services

Tender description

NetworkRail is effectively seeking a Design partner. The ke current known services being sought include: — provision of independent design review panels — design support, for example tailored expert advice to help support the increasingly challenging delivery of complex multi-disciplinary schemes which will ultimately deliver a well-designed built environment, and a proud future legacy. — Capacity building and design led innovation advice and support, — insight and evidencing capability including analysis of each of the above requirements to identify trends best practices national areas of concerns etc. whilst demonstrating the value add that a design led approach brings. This analysis will be provided to agreed timescales but as an early indicator, it is envisaged, that these would subject to DRP take-up across the organisation be via quarterly and annual reports. The purpose of the Network Rail Design Review Panel NRDRP is to provide, independent design advice and guidance to Network Rail and their design teams to ensure that good design and the concerns of communities and stakeholders have been considered in, and throughout, the planning and development process. Good design, when considered against NRs Design Principles, should add value and ease delivery risks whilst bad design can lead to significantly increased costs relating to the management of the asset across its design life. The panel’s advice will support the affordability safety and maintainability of the rail network and reflect scheme budgets whilst being without prejudice to preexisting initiatives such as, but not limited to, the Built environment accessibility panel and safe by design. The DRP will be an independent, transparent, advisory body that provides appropriate design advice in a timely and supportive manner. The Panel will use NR 8 Design principles to underpin design reviews and help NR execute the right design choices. To ensure national roll-out the service provider shall have working arrangements in place with organisations such as Architecture and Design Scotland and Design Commission for Wales, along with a network of built environment specialists covering England, Wales and Scotland. The NRDRP will support Network Rail in developing a culture where good design is at the heart of all built environment works and the costs, associated with poor design, are removed. NRDRP’s focus is on providing detailed scheme specific input and in advising Network Rail with insight developed from the collective review process across all nominated schemes. NRs Board approved the national DRP initiative in February 2018. Accordingly, the intention is to have a contract in place with a service provider ready for the start of CP 6.4. 2019. Given the known tight timescales of various programmes and individual projects, within a condensed operating period the requirement is that a NRDRP can be convened within 10 working days, anywhere in England Scotland or Wales. It is currently believed that the optimum panel size should be made up of circa 6 or 8 panel members and will have a single Chair, supported by Vice Chairs or equivalents, that will assist with the delivery of individual design reviews. NR will retain the right to appoint its own Chair as and when deemed necessary. It will also have final approval of the proposed panel members.