Scope
Reference
TVCA-PROC-0643
Description
Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA), part of the Tees Valley Combined Authority Group, seeks to engage the market through this Pre-Tender Market Engagement (PTME) exercise in preparation for the procurement of an impartial consultant to prepare and author a Green Book-compliant Business Case for Project CASTLE.
The Connected Automated Strategic Teesside Logistics Ecosystem (CASTLE) project aims to drive technological and economic transformation across Tees Valley. Project CASTLE aims to deliver a step-change in regional passenger mobility, logistics, and innovation by establishing a Connected and Automated Mobility (CAMhub) at Teesside International Airport (TIA). This demonstrator site will serve as the foundation for proving Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) concepts, airside automation, and data-led operational innovation, with a view to regional deployment of CAMTrams (autonomous bus shuttles) into 5 town centres, (1 per local authority), which will enhance inclusive mobility across Tees Valley.
This PTME aims to:
• Understand the market's capability and appetite to deliver a Green Book-compliant Outline Business Case (OBC) trough to Full Business Case (FBC) for complex, CAM innovation-led transport projects.
• Validate suppliers' experience in transport business case development, with a focus on connected & automated transport systems.
• Assess market capacity, availability of specialist expertise (e.g. CAM, passenger services and logistics), and anticipated delivery timelines.
• Explore indicative costs, delivery models, and dependencies-particularly relating to regulatory interfaces, stakeholder engagement (e.g. airport, DfT, CCAV), and cross-sector coordination.
• Provide potential suppliers with the opportunity to raise queries, identify delivery risks, and suggest approaches that could enhance the specification or value for money of the commission.
The final commission is expected to include development of the Outline Business Case through to Full Business Case, structured around HM Treasury's Five Case Model and aligned with Department for Transport and Connected & Automated Mobility (CAM) guidance, where applicable.
Please refer to the Pre-Tender Market Engagement documents for further detail. These can be found on the ProContract e-tendering portal:
https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=c212650f-f466-f011-813a-005056b64545
You will need to register as a supplier to gain access to the documentation. Registration is free.
Contract dates (estimated)
- 3 November 2025 to 2 November 2026
- 1 year
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services
- 79000000 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security
Contract locations
- UKC1 - Tees Valley and Durham
Engagement
Engagement deadline
5 August 2025
Engagement process description
To respond to this pre-market engagement request, you must be registered to use the ProContract e-tendering portal at:
https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=c212650f-f466-f011-813a-005056b64545
All completed responses must be submitted electronically via the portal using the submission template.
Should you require assistance in relation to the e-tender portal, please contact Proactis Supplier Support either on-line at https://suppliersupport.proactisservicedesk.com, via email to ProContractSuppliers@proactis.com or call 0330 0050 352.
Queries regarding this process and/or the content of this PTME should be submitted as clarification requests via the portal, no communication will be accepted via other means.
Contracting authority
Tees Valley Combined Authority
- Companies House: 11747311
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PDNG-8971-ZVCR
Teesside Airport Business Suite, Teesside International Airport
Darlington
DL2 1NJ
United Kingdom
Region: UKC13 - Darlington
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government