The Highways England and Local Authority Transport Data Discovery

Tender description

Summary of the work The winning supplier will determine the user needs, pain points, and recommend responses for improving road operations between Highways England and local highway authorities. Following this discovery, we want to make user centred decisions for exchanging data and integrating systems that will improve network efficiency and better inform road users. Expected Contract Length 8 weeks Latest start date Monday 28 October 2019 Budget Range £80,000 to £100,000 ( Capped) Why the Work is Being Done The DfT’s “Future of Mobility Urban Strategy” advocates data sharing to improve transport system operation. Opening up and sharing Highways England and local authority data is critical to keeping the road network moving. There are exemplar models of both data exchange and system integration across the networks, but these are isolated and not replicated. The DfT’s Local Transport Data Discovery, undertaken to assess the maturity and value of open Local Authority transport data, was published in September 2018. The need for greater cross-boundary data cooperation, and specifically for Highways England/local authority collaboration, was one of the five key recommendations. Problem to Be Solved Local Highway Authorities are the highway authority for most of the local road network and Highways England for the Strategic Road Network. A lack of data exchange and system integration, between the two networks, leads to sub-optimum network management and lack of coordination particularly with regards to incident management. Communication channels are not formalised nationally and, where in place, tend to be ad hoc and either generated by individuals or schemes. Increasing digitalisation, and connectivity/sensor data, is both an opportunity and challenge. Developed in isolation, these new systems and data mechanisms are likely to reinforce the siloed operations. Who Are the Users The key stakeholders are: • Local highway and planning authorities – who need to manage their road networks in order that they meet the Traffic Management Act 2004 requirements. • Highways England • Department for Transport • Road users - better data will improve their journey experience • Real-time traffic data providers - who need to create systems based on accurate data so that their customers are informed. • Traffic systems providers • Sat-nav companies and digital map providers Early Market Engagement No early market engagement has taken place for this requirement. Work Already Done Any work that’s already been done The “Future of Mobility; Urban Strategy” is a reference point and can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/future-of-mobility-urban-strategy The North Highland “Local Transport Data Discovery” summary report, which provides the recommendation for this discovery, can be found at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/730787/local-transport-data-summary.pdf Existing Team Suppliers undertaking this requirement will work remotely but in partnership with the Department for Transport’s Traffic and Technology Division and Highways England. The core team will be: •Anthony Ferguson – SRO – Deputy Director, Traffic and Technology DfT •Graham Hanson – Service Owner – Head of Smarter Traffic Management DfT •Chris Barnes – Product Owner – Senior Data & Information Governance Manager, Information and Technology Highways England Current Phase Discovery Skills & Experience • Recent and relevant experience in delivering agile research to inform outputs focused onuser needs, pain-points, and end-to-end user journeys • Recent and demonstrable experience of designing and developing data services, and data systems, that meet identified user needs and business objectives • Recent and demonstrable experience of working with both central and local government Nice to Haves • Demonstrable experience working successfully with transport technology and/or transport data sector stakeholders • Demonstrable experience of connected and digital transport systems and their data requirements • Demonstrable experience of integrating transport data and systems Work Location The majority of the work should be conducted at the supplier’s own location. The team should also have the ability to travel to other locations as required to meet users. Expenses will be paid in accordance with DfT rates outside the M25. We would expect the Supplier to work at our offices when agreed and required. Exact days will be discussed and agreed as part of the statement for work decided with the supplier, once the contract has been appointed. Address: Department for Transport, Great Minster House, Horseferry Road, SW1P 4DR Working Arrangments We expect full-time engagement from delivery teams to deliver the required outcomes. We would expect the Discovery to be completed within 8 weeks which should comprise several sprints, in accordance with Agile programme management, to determine user need. Exact milestones will be determined with the supplier, post appointment. We require weekly updates detailing achievements of milestones and issues that may impact timescales/cost. Security Clearance Contractors’ personnel must be working toward security clearance level BPSS at minimum and be cleared to begin immediately following award. Evidence of clearance/working toward will be requested at written proposal stage. Personal data collected during the discovery will constitute an information asset. Suppliers are required to appropriately protect this asset. Additional T&Cs N/A No. of Suppliers to Evaluate 6 Proposal Criteria • Clear approach with evidence that it will successfully identify user needs (20%) • Evidence that the supplier has an understanding of the policy and technical landscape and that the proposal is relevant to that context (30%) • Plan of activities with clear deliverables and dates that demonstrate completion of the project within the required timescales (10%) • Clear team structure and demonstration of how their skills and experience will deliver the requirement (10%) • Identification of key assumptions, dependencies, risks and issues, with robust mitigation plans (5%) Cultural Fit Criteria • Experience of working as a team with more than one client 1% • Experience of transparent and collaborative decision making 2% • Experience of sharing approach, knowledge and skills with other team members and with the Department 2% Payment Approach Capped time and materials Evaluation Weighting Technical competence 75% Cultural fit 5% Price 20% Questions from Suppliers 1. What's the difference between 'Demonstrable experience of connected and digital transport systems and their data requirements' and 'Demonstrable experience of integrating transport data and systems'. The difference between these criteria is as alluded to in the advert one is in relation to connected and digital transport systems and their data requirements and the other is in relation to integrating transport data and systems. The first required experience considers relates to connectivity in systems/data for delivering transport services whilst the latter experience is seeking experience in data integration and systems integration. Please consider and align your responses appropriately. 2. When and how do we submit our price? There is no field for entering this when answering your experience/ knowledge questions. Pricing shall be submitted with your tender responses at stage 2.There is not requirement to submit pricing at stage 1. 3. Does the budget include or exclude VAT? The budget is excluding VAT. 4. Does Highways England have a pre-existing understanding of which sensors/equipment/data feeds would be included in the scope of the work? Yes, anecdotally – there are no documented requirements. 5. Does Highways England have a pre-existing understanding of which systems require integration? Yes, anecdotally – there are no documented requirements. 6. Will data feeds and/or systems need to integrate with third parties outside of Highways England? Potentially. 7. What are the current coordination challenges with incident management? No nationwide template/blue print for requirements of how incidents are managed between Highways England and Local Authorities 8. Are you able to provide an example of sub-optimum network management? We close our network and send traffic off onto a diversion. We do not know if Local Authorities have put a closure in place on that diversion route. Customers are therefore doubly frustrated at having been directed from one closure to another. The expectation is that end to end journeys should be considered and coordinated