National Traffic Information Service (NTIS) 2021+

Tender description

The National Traffic Information Service collects, processes and disseminates real-time traffic data and information relating to the 4,300 miles of strategic road network for which Highways England is responsible. The National Traffic Information Service provides information 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days a year to help Highways England's customers plan their journeys and avoid delays, and to help our operations teams understand and mitigate the impacts of planned and unplanned traffic events on the strategic road network. Historic data recorded by the National Traffic Information Service is used to help plan and evaluate development of the strategic road network. The scope of the new National Traffic Information Service contract includes the transition to and continued operation of the majority of the current National Traffic Information Service for a period of up to two years from Thursday 27 May 2021 while the selected service provider renews and transforms the underlying information technology (IT) system to provide a modern equivalent that is adaptable and scalable for Highways England's future traffic information needs. The renewal and transformation can be on an incremental basis over the two-year period. On completion of transformation, the service provider will operate the transformed service to achieve the required performance levels for the remainder of the contract period. During the contract period, further incremental improvements to the service may be agreed to accommodate continual improvement, innovation proposals and evolving customer needs. The new National Traffic Information Service will : (a) collect, process, validate and analyse traffic data and traffic event information from multiple data sources including third party in-vehicle data and over 10 000 roadside sensors; (b) collate and disseminate traffic information and travel advice to Highways England's customers on Highways England's roadside variable message signs; the service's websites (www.trafficengland.com and https://m.highwaysengland.co.uk) and mobile telephone applications ; and data feed application programming interfaces (APIs); (c) collect historic traffic data for use in strategic road network planning and the design of road improvement schemes; (d) help Highways England's Regional Operations Centres (ROCs); National Network Managers and National Incident Liaison Officers; and Customer Contact Centre (CCC) to understand and mitigate the impacts of planned and unplanned traffic events on the NTIS network; and (e) help Highways England to meet its 'improving safety for all,' 'fast and reliable journeys,' 'meeting the needs of all users' and environmental performance outcomes; measure the associated performance indicators; and meet its licence obligation to provide traffic information to its customers. These outcomes are further described in the procurement documents.