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

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

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.

The Council seeks to appoint a framework of up to six (6) research and development partners to provide associated services .