Design-modelling services

Tender description

TfWM is seeking to appoint suppliers across a number of specialist service areas to support the development of an innovative new transport model for the West Midlands. Over the past 5 years modelling and simulation capabilities and the availability of data has changed dramatically for the better. We want to harness this progress to develop the next generation of models with improved usability and functionality, able to answer a range of questions related to our future mobility challenges. At this stage, we attach a draft specification which addresses both the technical aspirations for the model and procurement strategies which we invite comments upon from potential suppliers in order to help us refine the specification ahead of an invitation to tender. We invite comments for 30 days from the date of publication. The draft specification and a link to the online feedback form is contained in the Additional Information (II.2.14) section of this PIN. Please note that this description contains TfWM’s draft views regarding functional requirements and procurement strategy, upon which, we invite comments from potential suppliers using the link provided in the Additional Information (II.2.14) section of this PIN. There are four key functional developments we expect to be undertaken as part of our initial procurement activity, following the R&D stage are as follows: 1) Dynamic real-time model development; 2) Improved behavioural modelling; 3) Multi-resolution modelling suite: creation of scalable forecasting models at a micro-meso-macro and strategic level that enables users to switch from Strategic to Meso to Micro models (or levels of modelling within 1 large model); 4) User interface: parallel to other phases will be the development of a comprehensive easily accessible web-based user interface. The development of this model is new to the market and will require a staged approach to its development: 1) ‘Research and Development’ (R&D): model architecture development (to sufficient degree of detail to allow progress to the next stages); 2) ‘Development’ — proof of concepts to be developed for each element of the model architecture and interfaces between them. It is anticipated that there will be a number of components to be tested and proved. The development of these may run sequentially or concurrently depending on the needs of the TfWM client base; 3) ‘Deployment’ — scale a proof of concept up to full scale solution; 4) ‘Operational’ — transfer the solution to business as usual — embedment/deployment. In terms of procurement structure, we wish to appoint 1 supplier to each of 6 services as described below, supported by resource from TfWM to project and programme manage streams of work across the different suppliers and align with other internal related work streams. We wish to build a long-term relationship with these suppliers to provide continuity through the different stages of the model development identified above. The exact format of the procurement is not yet known and we invite feedback from suppliers on how this may work most effectively. The 6 areas of specialism we envisage include: 1) An internationally recognised best practice model developer with a proven, successful delivery track record and well-aligned to West Midlands’ local requirements; 2) Big data specialist: — big data processing, — real-time processing and artificial intelligence/machine learning to in-fill, — non-functional data management expertise; 3) A behavioural modelling specialist: — behavioural analysts (persona development) and modelling, — activity based modelling which might involve an agent-based method; 4) A software supplier: — dynamic traffic modelling, including real/short-term non-equilibrium routeing, — visualisation specialists, — data manipulation (aggregation, disaggregation), — user experience analyst; 5) An academic/research institute: — to use the model to support further research and development activities, — to support funding applications for further R&D activities; 6) Technical project manager. We also invite feedback on the structure of these specialist services through the feedback questionnaire. Please note, the figures stated in Sections II.1.5) and II.2.7) are currently only an estimated figure and are in no way guaranteed.