Transport and Infrastructure Research & Development (R&D) Partner

Coventry City Council ("the Council") seeks to appoint a framework of up to four (4) research and development partners to provide associated services in relation to transport and infrastructure projects.

Coventry City Council ("the Council") has opted to run a Competitive procedure with negotiation under the Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016 and is seeking to appoint a framework of Research & Development (R&D) partners.

Coventry City Council ("the Council") has been and will continue to develop the living and working environment within Coventry through a series of programmes that improve the transport infrastructure to attract inward investment and drive the transition from fossil fuel transport to sustainable transportation solutions.

One key project in this drive for modal shift is the Coventry Very Light Rail (VLR) project. This project is to develop a VLR product that can be manufactured predominantly in the West Midlands that will drive modal shift within small to medium size urban environments, consistent with many cities within the UK where a standard tram system would not be economically feasible.

This system will be a low capital cost for installation and will be environmentally clean at the point of use, which will have a positive impact on air quality, this modal shift is designed to reduce congestion, and as a result, open up the city for investment especially along the route.

The approach that the Council has taken to achieve the ambition outlined above is one of innovation and development. This framework of R&D Partners is to develop relationships with organisations that can support all phases of product development from ideation through to market ready product.

It is understood that any R&D Partner will need to be able to exercise a support framework of subcontractors and suppliers to achieve the service offering of the full technology development cycle.

By setting out the why, what and how of the Council's expectations, this document is intended to describe the relational foundation on which the Council and R&D Partners will team up to achieve those objectives.

The Council is seeking R&D partners that provide services that include, but are not limited to:

• Project management and cost control
• Innovation funding, and the development and identification of funding streams
• Ideation - investigation of current technologies and new developments
• Analysis and testing
• Prototyping
• Subcontractor management
• Market readiness and business case development including whole life analysis
• Design for manufacture, assembly, value engineering
• Product life (FATS, SATS, Durability etc.) testing and industry approvals
• Very low volume, low volume manufacturing strategy development.
• Technical contract specification
• Strategic stakeholder engagement
• Technical expertise in support of field trails of products and the application of products toward developing the technology readiness levels
• Development of digital analysis and data models.
• Development of products through the technology readiness levels.
• Operation and maintenance of products / components during tests and or development phases.
• Activities required to gain industry approval including (included but not restricted to) policy development, case for safety documentation and approval.
• Presenting and supporting the council at industry and public forums.

This contract will not be split into Lots, but it is recognised that a partner would require the capability to exercise the use of contracts, subcontracts and suppliers to support the contract requirements. Additional information: Full list of anticipated CPV codes captured within this procurement exercise and framework include;

38432000: Analysis apparatus (PARENT)

38432100: Gas-analysis apparatus

38432200: Chromatographs

38432210: Gas chromatographs

38432300: Smoke-analysis apparatus

71240000: Architectural, engineering and planning services (PARENT)

71241000: Feasibility study, advisory service, analysis

71242000: Project and design preparation, estimation of costs

71243000: Draft plans (systems and integration)

71244000: Calculation of costs, monitoring of costs

71245000: Approval plans, working drawings and specifications

71246000: Determining and listing of quantities in construction

71247000: Supervision of building work

71248000: Supervision of project and documentation

71300000: Engineering services (PARENT)

71310000: Consultative engineering and construction services

71320000: Engineering design services

71330000: Miscellaneous engineering services

71331000: Drilling-mud engineering services

71332000: Geotechnical engineering services

71333000: Mechanical engineering services

71334000: Mechanical and electrical engineering services

71335000: Engineering studies

71336000: Engineering support services

71337000: Corrosion engineering services

71340000: Integrated engineering services

71350000: Engineering-related scientific and technical services

72220000: Systems and technical consultancy services (PARENT)

72221000: Business analysis consultancy services

72222000: Information systems or technology strategic review and planning services

72223000: Information technology requirements review services

72224000: Project management consultancy services

72225000: System quality assurance assessment and review services

72226000: System software acceptance testing consultancy services

72227000: Software integration consultancy services

72228000: Hardware integration consultancy services

72240000: Systems analysis and programming services (PARENT)

72241000: Critical design target specification services

72242000: Design-modelling services

72243000: Programming services

72244000: Prototyping services

72245000: Contract systems analysis and programming services

72246000: Systems consultancy services

73000000: Research and development services and related consultancy services (PARENT)

73100000: Research and experimental development services

73200000: Research and development consultancy services

73300000: Design and execution of research and development

73400000: Research and Development services on security and defence materials

50220000: Repair, maintenance and associated services related to railways and other equipment (PARENT)

50221000: Repair and maintenance services of locomotives

50222000: Repair and maintenance services of rolling stock

50223000: Reconditioning services of locomotives

50224000: Reconditioning services of rolling stock

50225000: Railway-track maintenance services

50229000: Demolition of rolling stock