Tender

Procurement of Countdown3 (CD3) Services

  • London Bus Services Limited (LBSL)

F05: Contract notice – utilities

Notice identifier: 2023/S 000-010852

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-03beed

Published 14 April 2023, 4:41pm



Section one: Contracting entity

one.1) Name and addresses

London Bus Services Limited (LBSL)

5 ENDEAVOUR SQUARE

LONDON

E201JN

Contact

Jess Denton

Email

countdown3commercial@tfl.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKI - London

Companies House

03914787

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://tfl.gov.uk/

Buyer's address

https://tfl.gov.uk/

one.3) Communication

Access to the procurement documents is restricted. Further information can be obtained at

https://s1-eu.ariba.com/Sourcing/Main/aw?awh=r&awssk=.y15TKFR&realm=TfL#b0

Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address

Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via

https://s1-eu.ariba.com/Sourcing/Main/aw?awh=r&awssk=.y15TKFR&realm=TfL#b0

one.6) Main activity

Urban railway, tramway, trolleybus or bus services


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

Procurement of Countdown3 (CD3) Services

Reference number

ICT13350

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 31682230 - Graphic display panels

two.1.3) Type of contract

Supplies

two.1.4) Short description

LBSL is a wholly owned subsidiary of Transport for London (TfL) responsible for maintaining and enhancing a reliable, accessible and high-quality bus network access London. As part of this objective, it is imperative that LBSL provides customers with timely and accurate real time passenger information on the bus network.

This Contract Notice relates to the CD3 procurement which is intended to secure the ongoing support and maintenance of all LBSL on-street real time information displays over the life of the contract (further details on these displays is available in the CD3 Tender Documentation available on SAP Ariba). This will ensure that the major passenger information benefits which are delivered through the provision of the displays will continue.

The CD3 contract will have an initial term of six years, with extension options potentially bringing the overall arrangement to a maximum duration of 10 years.

The estimated total value of £58m indicated in II 1.5 includes up to £46m of potential future investment that is not currently committed. This amount is included to cover potential future investments focusing on the delivery of enhanced customer experience and accessibility which may be commissioned by TfL during the term of the Contract under programmes such as BCAP (Bus Customer Action Plan)

An important element of the contract will be the ability for LBSL to request from the supplier new and innovative types of real time information displays throughout the term and to add these to the contract price book as part of a single, long-term contract.

Another important element of the contract will be the ability for LBSL to make additional investments to on-street signage throughout the term to meet changing business needs. As such, the volume of signage under the contract may either increase or decrease during the term. Further details in this regard are set out in the procurement documents.

two.1.5) Estimated total value

Value excluding VAT: £58,000,000

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 30231000 - Computer screens and consoles
  • 31523200 - Permanent message signs
  • 31682230 - Graphic display panels
  • 34924000 - Variable message signs
  • 39133000 - Display units
  • 48813000 - Passenger information system
  • 50312600 - Maintenance and repair of information technology equipment
  • 51211000 - Installation services of time-measuring equipment
  • 72319000 - Data supply services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKI - London

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

The CD3 procurement will cover the supply, installation and maintenance of the Countdown Smart Signs (CDSSs) and their integration with Real Time Passenger Information (RTPI) APIs, as well as the provision of a Remote Management Tool (RMT) and its integration with TfL's systems.

This will include the following key areas:

a) the conversion of all existing CDSSs to receive their RTPI data via a publish and subscribe model from a Message Queue Telemetry Transport (MQTT) broker and ultimately the iBus2 RTI API2, as opposed to the current "push" of arrival prediction data from the CD2 Back-Office;

b) a technical refresh of existing CDSSs to ensure the CDSSs can continue to be maintained for the duration of the CD3 contract including any upgrade to internal components to enable the following functions:

i) request the RTPI and messaging for the stop associated with the CDSSs from an API;

ii) enable remote management and configuration of the CDSSs without attending the CDSSs; and

iii) utilise remotely programmable e-SIM comms, to allow reconfiguration of the CDSSs' SIMs,

c) communications upgrade of all existing CDSSs;

d) provision of an RMT, that will interface with, monitor and manage the CDSSs, their firmware, behaviours and configuration;

e) provision of an interface either directly from the RMT, or from a supplier's Information Technology Service Management (ITSM) tools to TfL/LBSL's ITSM platform, for end to end service management;

f) supply and install any new components required to upgrade the CDSSs in order to achieve the above transition to a publish and subscribe model under support of the CD3 services; and

g) maintenance and support of the small number of alternate displays, and a mechanism to ensure that LBSL can access new and innovative types of real time information displays throughout the term.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents

two.2.6) Estimated value

Value excluding VAT: £58,000,000

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Duration in months

120

This contract is subject to renewal

No

two.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited

Envisaged number of candidates: 5

two.2.10) Information about variants

Variants will be accepted: No

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: Yes

Description of options

The contract will be awarded for an initial term of six (6) years from the Operational Commencement Date, with the option to extend the term to a maximum duration of ten (10) years from the Operational Commencement Date.


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.1) Type of procedure

Negotiated procedure with prior call for competition

four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes

four.2) Administrative information

four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate

Date

23 May 2023

Local time

1:00pm

four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted

English

four.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender

Duration in months: 6 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)


Section six. Complementary information

six.1) Information about recurrence

This is a recurrent procurement: No

six.3) Additional information

Interested parties should note that LBSL is using the SAP Ariba portal to manage this procurement process, as detailed in Section I.3 of this notice. All documentation will be made available through this portal. All communications by interested parties should be submitted through this portal - any communications sent by alternative means will be ignored. If you have previously participated in the MSQ event related to the CD3 opportunity you should receive an individual link to this event via email. If you have not received this or are not registered for Ariba please email countdown3commercial@tfl.gov.uk to request your company is set up on Ariba. This process must be followed for suppliers to gain access to the SQ documentation.

Please note that a "request to participate" for the purposes of this notice (in particular, Section IV.2.2) is by completion and return of the Selection Questionnaire (SQ) by the stated deadline.

Interested parties should note that LBLS reserves the right to cancel or vary this procurement process at any point and will not be liable for any costs or expenses incurred by interested parties in responding to this opportunity. LBSL also reserves the right not to award a contract to the lowest priced bidder or indeed to award any contract at all as a result of this procurement. LBSL may also change the basis, procedures and/or timescales set out or referred to within the procurement documents.

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

Royal Courts of Justice

The Strand

London

WC2A 2LL

Country

United Kingdom

Internet address

https://judiciary.gov.uk

six.4.3) Review procedure

Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures

LBSL will observe a standstill period for a minimum of 10 calendar days prior to the award of the CD3 contract in accordance with the Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016 (as amended).