Roadside Technology Product Acceptance Discover, Develop and Operate

Tender description

Summary of the work This outcome will design and develop our capability to successfully assure new and current roadside technology products, ensuring they are fit for purpose, fit for use across our strategic road network Expected Contract Length Up to 24 months Latest start date Monday 23 November 2020 Budget Range Up to £0.6m over contract period Why the Work is Being Done At Highways England we know that our technology services which connect our customers, control rooms and roadside services are critical to smooth road network operations. As part of our current I&T Transformation programme we have the opportunity to assess our current capability and develop our operating model in terms of our expert technology product design and engineering services. We need through this outcome to design and develop a robust product acceptance procedure, tools and the right team to operate in order for us to assure the quality of technology systems that will be used on our live road network. Problem to Be Solved Roadside devices such as signals, message signs and CCTV are critical to the safe operation of our network but in recent years, we have seen issues arising that impact this operation due to product quality/suitability issues. We intend to develop an acceptance team approach with the mandate to assure that products destined for the roadside are fit for purpose/fit for use and meet our specifications and those of the supplier. Who Are the Users Our key stakeholders for this outcome sit within our Operations and Major Projects business areas as well as I&T itself. In all cases assurance is needed that technology products are ready for use in a road environment where follow up works are costly and hazardous Work Already Done Highways England already publishes a number of documents that detail current expectation on our supply chain and these will form the basis of this development Existing Team This outcome will delivered in partnership with our current Architecture, Design and Technology Services team. Initial discovery/design work will be led by our Test Manager who will then lead the future acceptance team itself Current Phase Not applicable Skills & Experience • Able to deliver and communicate testing strategies up to a senior level. • Able to understand complex Operational Technology landscapes and apply industry standard testing conventions. • Able demonstrate a wide knowledge of product testing and assurance methodologies. • Have a current understanding of Highways England's Operational Technology Services and Systems. • Able to design testing regimes for operationally critical services • Communicate testing methodology and requirements in a clear and simple way including the provision of documentation, processes and communication materials. Nice to Haves Specific knowldge of other countries OT technology, particularly those seen as leading the advancement of Connected Vehicles, Corridors and Advanced Traffic Management. Work Location Discovery Phase - Remote Delivery Phase - Remote + Test Site likely in the Midlands Working Arrangments This team is expected to form an integral part of our group working with our Test Manager as the outcome lead Security Clearance Baseline Security Check No. of Suppliers to Evaluate 3 Proposal Criteria • Demonstrate how you will deliver Product Acceptance for Operational Technology (18%) • Demonstrate how you can deliver a product assurance roadmap for all of HE's Operational Technology (20%) • Demonstrate how you will design and build a testing framework and testing service wrap for operational systems (12%) • Demonstrate how you will plan and execute a robust and effective communication plan for OT product acceptance including the provision of materials (10%) Cultural Fit Criteria • Place safety of ourselves, our workforce and our customers as number one priority (2%) • Take ownership of work tasks with limited supervision (5%) • Considers new and innovative ways of working (1%) • Acts with integrity in delivering the service (2%) Payment Approach Time and materials Assessment Method Presentation Evaluation Weighting Technical competence 60% Cultural fit 10% Price 30% Questions from Suppliers 1. Could Highways England confirm that suppliers will not be conflicted for tendering for the ‘Information & Technology Commercial Framework’ and the ‘Operational Technology Commercial Framework’, if they are successful on the ‘Roadside Technology Product Acceptance Discover, Develop and Operate’ opportunity. This outcome is to support an immediate need to undertake key pieces of work. The ITCF and OTCF are future commercial vehicles for procurement activity and all suppliers remain able to apply to join these opportunities regardless of currently contracted work, including this opportunity. 2. Can Highways England confirm what percentage of this task is a continuation of an existing SPaTS task? Are there any similarities in the expected method of delivery of this task? This task is not a continuation of the current SPaTS task and is focused on the current self certification process within the supply chain and evolution of that process. 3. Can Highways England confirm what percentage of the scope of the delivery of this task is a continuation of an existing roadside equipment testing task carried out under the SPATS framework This task is not a continuation of the current SPaTS task and is focused on the current self certification process within the supply chain and evolution of that process. 4. Can Highways England confirm if one supplier will be successful in the tender phase? It is the Authority's intention to award to one supplier 5. Could you clarify you whether you require the successful supplier to conduct Roadside Technology Product Acceptance processes, in addition to process design? We are looking for the supplier to help prove the product acceptance process works, but we are not looking for someone to conduct long term product acceptance on our behalf.