Research and development services and related consultancy services

Tender description

This Expression of Interest (EoI) seeks to obtain market feedback in relation to exploring the potential procurement of an innovation collaboration framework and to see if suppliers have an interest in attending engagement sessions with TfL. Its primary focus is to better understand market/supplier appetite to inform the design of the framework. TfL is considering creating an innovation collaboration framework that allows TfL rapid access to a number of corporations with Research and Development (R&D) facilities. This would provide TfL easy access to R&D to help us solve key problem statements and deliver our strategic and business objectives. In addition, the framework would provide a route to market that allows TfL and its partners to scale up viable products and co-commercialise them. During the last 18 months, we have trialled working in this way with a collaboration partner and this trial partnership has highlighted a number of mutual benefits. TfL benefitted from early sight of new innovations, technical expertise, access to the partner’s eco-system of mobility start-ups and investment from the partner in supporting trials on our network. The partner really valued being able to test and validate their innovative products on our network as well as have access to our data and subject matter experts. They also gained first-hand knowledge of the way that city authorities operate. It is anticipated that framework suppliers will self-fund the trial and development of the solutions as well as invest in some of the scaling. Ideally, the partner would have an eco-system of start-ups and SMEs they could bring into those projects where they could add value. The supplier will also provide a dedicated single point of contact to manage and grow the partnership with TfL. As our requirements evolve, we could approach our Suppliers to develop trials for innovative solutions that are appropriate to the lot they have been allocated. If a supplier is willing to invest in a trial, a direct call-off can be executed. Depending on how the lots might be designed, we anticipate that there may be a need for collaboration between suppliers on different lots.