Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
METROPOLITAN BOROUGH OF SOLIHULL
SOLIHULL
Telephone
+44 1217047800
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKG32 - Solihull
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
one.5) Main activity
General public services
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
SOL - Connected Autonomous Vehicle (CAV)
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 34120000 - Motor vehicles for the transport of 10 or more persons
two.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
two.1.4) Short description
Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council (SMBC) is delivering the Low Carbon Future Mobility (LCFM) project within the UK Central Infrastructure Programme. The project is assessing a breadth of new solutions to delivering low / zero carbon active and mass transport solutions.
Working closely with Borough and regional stakeholders there is an identified desire to learn how Connected Autonomous Vehicle (CAV) technology may in the future be incorporated into both the Council's and private company's operations, as a way of providing an increased number of mass transport options to the public, addressing the over-reliance on privately-owned single-occupancy motor vehicles. Current trends indicate that if car sales continue along existing trajectories then moving in and around the Borough will become increasingly problematic at key pinch-points, so pathfinding interventions must be accelerated.
To support this ambition SMBC is seeking to procure one proven mass-people-moving connected autonomous vehicle (CAV), and associated supplier support, for use across the Borough and potentially wider West Midlands region over a period of a minimum of two years from April 2021. The vehicle will be loaned out to key regional stakeholders to deliver defined use case applications with the ambition of increasing regional understanding and awareness of the technology, helping the authority apply learning to future highways, residential, commercial and transport interchange infrastructure development. The project is not a technology development / feasibility study, rather a use case application demonstrator.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £250,000
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 34100000 - Motor vehicles
- 34200000 - Vehicle bodies, trailers or semi-trailers
- 34300000 - Parts and accessories for vehicles and their engines
- 60130000 - Special-purpose road passenger-transport services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKG32 - Solihull
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
SMBC wish to purchase one Connected Autonomous Vehicle (CAV) capable of being driven both manually, i.e. by traditional steering wheel and foot pedals, and autonomously. The vehicle must be suitable for operation on the public highway, so as to maximise potential future application. The vehicle must be able to carry ten or more persons, including the safety driver, simultaneously so as to fit the core project outcome of contributing to the demonstration of autonomy in mass people and / or goods movement.
Alongside the purchase of the vehicle, appropriate levels of on-going project delivery support must be provided so as to maximise delivery of the intended use.
Both the vehicle and the supplier must possess and be able to demonstrate a proven track record in the movement of people by fully autonomous means, as the intended use is for multiple use case application across varying locations, not technology development.
The project delivery period is for a minimum of two years from contract start in April 2021.
The vehicle will be loaned out to key regional stakeholders to deliver defined use case applications with the ambition of increasing regional understanding and awareness of the technology, helping the authority apply learning to future highways, residential, commercial and transport interchange infrastructure development.
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Negotiated without a prior call for competition
- The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason:
- absence of competition for technical reasons
Explanation:
Prior to conducting the negotiated procedure, considerable efforts were made to identify alternative suppliers who could meet SMBC's requirements. This included engaging CAV-specialist consultants in development of the FBC.
To date, no alternative suppliers have been identified.
Due to the market for purpose-built, autonomous vehicles still being under-developed only one supplier has been identified that is able to meet the requirements of the project.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
Section five. Award of contract/concession
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
9 March 2021
five.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
Richmond Design & Marketing Ltd
Coventry
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKG33 - Coventry
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £250,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Royal Courts of Justice
London
WC2A 2LL
Telephone
+44 2079476000
Country
United Kingdom