MFA for Transport and Land-Use Modelling, Appraisal and Transport Planning Services

Tender description

Transport Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Ministers has identified an on-going need for the services of experienced consultants to carry out services in connection with Transport and Land-Use Modelling and Transport Appraisal and Planning. Transport Scotland, on behalf of the Scottish Ministers, wishes to progress a procurement competition for a Multi-Supplier Framework Agreement. The Framework Agreement, to cover 3 years with a 1-year extension option, will be available for use by Regional Transport Partnerships and other Scottish Government Directorates. The framework will consist of the following Lots: - Lot 1 is for Development, Update and Application of Transport Models; - Lot 2 is for Advice on the Case for Transport Investment; - Lot 3 is for Development, Update and Application of Economic and Land-Use Models; and - Lot 4 is for Transport Planning Advice. Lot 1: Development, Update and Application of Transport Models The scope of Lot 1 Services is centred around general updates to the Transport Model for Scotland (TMfS) and keeping future year scenarios up to date. This will include providing advice, improving and maintaining a new suite of scenario-based transport models. The Services will also include adding and improving functionality to new or existing models, including TMfS, second-tier models (regional models) and third-tier models (local area models). During the framework period, a National Accessibility Model will be adopted into LATIS Lot 1 and will be part of the development and maintenance requirement. It should be noted that most of the current LATIS models have some degree of interface to the national Transport, Economic and Land-use Model of Scotland (TELMoS). All Lot 1 models exist to support the Scottish Ministers in the testing and appraisal of projects and policies and while these have traditionally focussed on road and rail projects, the modelling framework is expanding to address a wider range of policies, scenarios and metrics, reflecting the outcomes sought by the second National Transport Strategy (NTS2). Lot 2: Advice on the Case for Transport Investment The Lot 2 Services relate to the development and interpretation of the transport appraisal and modelling aspects of business cases for transport programmes and key priority projects. The work undertaken should align with Transport Scotland’s published guidance on the development of business cases and align with Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG). The focus of Lot 2 Services is the preparation of business cases which provide the rationale for a project, policy or programme following the process outlined by HM Treasury’s Five Case Model set. This will principally entail advising on the on ‘The Strategic Case’ and ‘The Socio-Economic Case’ at the Strategic, Outline and Final stages of business case development. The Services may also require inputs to ‘The Commercial Case’, ‘The Financial Case’ and ‘The Management Case’ of the Outline and Final stages. Framework Suppliers need to have an awareness of the increasingly wide range of factors and policy drivers influencing the Employer requirements to be able to appraise policies and projects that reflect the outcomes sought by NTS2. Lot 3: Development, Update and Application of Economic and Land-Use Models The Services under Lot 3 will primarily relate to the development, update and application of the Transport, Economic and Land-Use Model of Scotland (TELMoS) to facilitate the output of strategic transport and land-use planning advice for authorities and third parties. TELMoS will have many interactions with modelling and policy appraisal work undertaken within the other three Lots and an understanding of their requirements is essential. The delivery of Lot 3 Services will require an active and collaborative role to be undertaken in the model audit process on TELMoS, and also on audits of other LATIS models where there is functional interaction with TELMoS. All modelling work undertaken in Lot 3 is to support the Scottish Ministers in the testing and appraisal ofrojects and policies and while these have traditionally focussed on road and rail projects, the modelling framework is expanding to address a wider range of policies, scenarios and metrics, reflecting the outcomes sought by the second National Transport Strategy (NTS2). Lot 4: Transport Planning Advice Lot 4 entails a broad array of transport planning services, principally advising upon and auditing the full range of traffic, transport and land-use models and business cases that support transport projects, programmes and policies in accordance with STAG, the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB), Governance for Railway Investment Projects (GRIP) and HM Treasury and Transport Scotland guidance on business cases. The scope embraces national models (TMfS and TELMoS); second-tier models (regional models) and third-tier models (local area models). In addition, advice, audit and appraisal Services are required to support the development of business cases for transport projects and policies. Lot 4 also requires the provision of expert advice on Transport Appraisals undertaken by Transport Scotland and other parties for projects, development plans and policies. Further, this Lot will entail the evaluation of all transport projects in accordance with the appropriate guidance, such as Scottish Trunk Road Infrastructure Project Evaluation (STRIPE); rail projects evaluation and HM Treasury's Magenta book. In all aspects of Lot 4 Services the Framework Suppliers need to have an awareness of the increasingly wide range of factors and policy drivers influencing the Employer requirements to be able to appraise all transport proposals and evaluate project outcomes against the policy objectives of NTS2.