Awarded to Waysphere Transport Intelligence

Start date: Monday 4 November 2019
Value: £54,000
Company size: SME

West Midlands Combined Authority

Transforming Real Time Information in the West Midlands

5 Incomplete applications

4 SME, 1 large

5 Completed applications

1 SME, 4 large

• Published: Tuesday 3 September 2019
• Deadline for asking questions: Tuesday 10 September 2019 at 11:59pm GMT
• Closing date for applications: Tuesday 17 September 2019 at 11:59pm GMT

Overview

• Summary of the work: Understand current bus RTI architecture, processes, limitations and stakeholders.; Design robust, future-proof multi-modal SaaS architecture.; Write technical specification and documentation.; Produce capital and revenue expenditure reports.; Work with Legal and Procurement teams to write business case and tender documents.; Develop new supplier contracts and KPIs.; Write acceptance testing documentation.
• Latest start date: Monday 4 November 2019
• Expected contract length: 12 weeks
• Location: West Midlands
• Organisation the work is for: West Midlands Combined Authority

About the work

• Why the work is being done: The Transforming Real Time Information programme will rebuild the TfWM bus RTI architecture to bring it up-to-date, make it fit for the foreseeable future and deliver a robust real time multi-modal platform for the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022. The programme supports key priorities set out by WMCA including those to drive modal shift and tackle congestion.; For our customers the programme will enable the public to make informed decisions about travel arrangements, particularly at times of disruption. It will provide assurance about the journey to be undertaken and whilst on the journey, through on street and other digital interfaces.
• Problem to be solved: The existing system has developed organically over 15 years through server and software upgrades, addition of suppliers, transport operators and data feeds. There has been a substantial increase in display estate numbers and variety.; It is a complex, fragmented, multi-supplier, multi-feed system which requires significant manual monitoring and intervention.; The system does not have performance-led contracts or built-in KPI's and is not conducive to real-time fault finding and visibility of fleet, route and corridor performance. Real-time and historical analysis is cumbersome.; The system does not have an interface to allow multiple transport operators to monitor their fleet performance and compliance.
• Who the users are and what they need to do: As a system operator I need to have visibility of RTI screen status so that I can monitor and report on asset performance and ensure suppliers proactively manage their estate and meet their KPI targets.; As a system analyst or transport operator I need to have visibility of vehicle locations and have an overview of fleet and system performance in real-time so that I can monitor and report on performance and compliance.; As a customer I need to see vehicle locations and arrival/departure predictions as well as disruption information so that I can plan my journey accurately and in real-time.
• Early market engagement: TfWM contracted a consortium of consultants to produce an options report to identify the optimum way we could take the programme forward. The consultancy carried out a detailed review of the current architecture including governance, supplier contracts, monitoring and performance.; They cited examples of other systems, internal and external influences, including the Bus Services Act 2017 and evaluated financial criteria to put forward a series of options from do less through to do everything.; The resulting Transforming Real Time Information Options Report looked at how the architecture should work for transport users, transport operators, suppliers and stakeholders.
• Any work that’s already been done: September 2018 TfWM awarded funding from TCF tranche 1 to transform real time information in the West Midlands.; December 2018 Tender process carried out to provide an options report which will allow TfWM to establish the optimum way to transform real time information provision.; January 2019 Tender awarded to a joint bid consisting of a consortium of industry experts.; April 2019 Discovery phase and options paper completed and presented to TfWM.; May 2019 Option selected (a variation of one of the report options) and approved by TfWM board.
• Existing team: The supplier will be working with a number of stakeholders across multiple fields with differing levels of expertise including:; WMCA experts in the areas of public transport real time data, disruption information, website and app development.; TfWM Programme Sponsor - 12 years expertise in bus real time information.; TfWM Delivery Manager - 12 years expertise leading large scale systems integration on smart card platforms.; WMCA Project Manager, Legal and Procurement teams.; Public transport operators with a national presence.; Public transports operators with a very small, local presence.; Suppliers of public transport data and systems.; Industry experts and organisations.; Local Authorities.
• Current phase: Not applicable

Work setup

• Address where the work will take place: West Midlands Combined Authority; 16 Summer Lane; Birmingham; B19 3SD
• Working arrangements: Face-to-face engagement with stakeholders to fully understand current architecture, processes, limitations and requirements for the new architecture.; Presence at either WMCA office or with other stakeholders to work through new architecture requirements, design, processes and contracts. No requirement for overnight accommodation unless necessary. Availability for calls and conference calls (including video) as required. All estimated expenses must be included in costs quoted in submission.
• Security clearance: Those working under contract must be vetted to the WMCA Baseline Vetting Standard which includes:; • Confirmation of name, DOB, address.; • NI number or other unique personal identifying number.; • Details of previous employers (name, address, dates).; • Reference check.; • Confirmation of permission to work in the UK.

Additional information

Skills and experience

Buyers will use the essential and nice-to-have skills and experience to help them evaluate suppliers’ technical competence.

• Essential skills and experience:
  • Design server and server to server architectures for public transit authorities, SaaS preferred
  • Write technical specifications
  • Have strong knowledge of transit data interchange standards including SIRI (all types), TransXChange, GTFS, GTFS-RT and NeTEx
  • Have engaged with transit operators, authorities and suppliers on similar, previous projects
  • Write tender specifications
  • Have strong knowledge of API implementation, both XML and JSON
  • Have achieved ISO27001 accreditation on similar, previous projects
  • Have strong knowledge of digital service requirements of the Bus Services Act 2017
  • Follow agile project management methodologies
  • Write financial forecast reports
  • Have strong knowledge of ITIL framework
  • Have strong stakeholder engagement skills
  • Write supplier contracts
• Nice-to-have skills and experience:
  • Understand network and device monitoring protocols (ICMP, SNMP, Telnet, WMI)
  • Understand and write SQL code

How suppliers will be evaluated

• How many suppliers to evaluate: 15
• Proposal criteria:
  • Technical solution for similar, previous projects
  • Approach and methodology for similar, previous projects
  • Approach to managing risks and dependencies
  • Knowledge of transit data interchange standards
  • Knowledge of digital service requirements of the Bus Services Act 2017
  • Team skill level and structure
  • Estimated timeframe for the work
  • Value for money
• Cultural fit criteria:
  • Work as a team with our organisation, stakeholders and suppliers
  • Be transparent and collaborative when making decisions
  • Have a no-blame culture and encourage people to learn from their mistakes
  • Take responsibility for their work
  • Share knowledge and experience with other team members
  • Be comfortable standing up for their discipline
• Payment approach: Fixed price
• Assessment methods:
  • Written proposal
  • Case study
  • Work history
  • Reference
  • Presentation
• Evaluation weighting:

  Technical competence

  70%

  Cultural fit

  5%

  Price

  25%

Questions asked by suppliers

• 1. Can you please advise further on the expected budget?: Not at this time, we'd prefer applicants to quote a price based on their interpretation of the brief, rather than a set budget.
• 2. At what stage will you be instructing suppliers to submit their fixed price quote for delivering the RTI works to WCMA? This question has not been asked with the initial set of questions.: We require the fixed price to be included as part of the overall submission, on or before the deadline of the 17th September.
• 3. In relation to your response to question 2, where do you enter the fixed price quote? Whilst answering the 100 word limit questions I was not asked before, during or after to enter a fixed price figure. Please can you provide guidance as how this is provided?: It's difficult for me to answer this as I have no visibility of the information you have available to you when completing the application.; ; If there isn't a specific section for you to insert your fixed price, please reference it clearly somewhere else within your submission and it will be evaluated as normal.