Bus Retrofit Support Workstreams

Full description of this PIN is in box ii.2.14.1 Additional Information (due to character limits under this box) Additional information: Defra are looking to engage the market to understand the market’s appetite to participate in a competition for a replacement contract for work relating to bus retrofit and the Clean Vehicle Retrofit Accreditation Scheme (CVRAS). This will include evidence gathering and policy advice functions in support of improving the emissions performance of buses retrofitted with Selective Catalytic Reduction technology (SCRT) and the delivery and enforcement of the CVRAS scheme. <br/><br/>The CVRAS is a technology neutral certification scheme that approved suppliers and their vehicle retrofit products in support of emissions standards set by Clean Air Zones (CAZ) and other emissions-based charging schemes. Following a government investigation into the emissions performance of buses retrofitted with SCRT which showed performance to be mixed and generally not delivering the anticipated emission reductions, the CVRAS has been closed to new applications. A renewed enforcement process is being introduced from 12 December 2024 to ensure retrofitted buses are reporting emissions data through telematics systems.<br/><br/>This work programme will look to continue to work to deliver cleaner air in our towns and cities across the UK where NO2 exceedances dictate that action is needed at a local level. This programme will target the cleaning up of older and more polluting legacy vehicles that contribute to NO2 and particulate matter pollution. The UK Government has a legal obligation to meet ambient air quality limits and has a programme to focus on meeting legal concentrations of NO2 run by the Defra and DfT Joint Air Quality Unit, where this contract will be managed from. <br/><br/><br/>The future contract may be split into lots and will need the winning supplier to deliver requirements including:<br/><br/>Lot 1 - CVRAS<br/>

• Hosting the CVRAS website and updating it as required<br/>
• Maintaining the CVRAS Approved Device List and CVRAS Register, an online tool enabling quick reference to vehicle applications and approved suppliers<br/>
• Carrying out annual audits of CVRAS accredited suppliers<br/>
• Securely hosting certifications on the supplier’s intranet in accordance with published CVRAS requirements<br/>
• Maintaining the associated scheme documentation<br/>
• Responding to enquiries from retrofit suppliers, local authorities, bus operators and vehicle owners regarding retrofit technology and CVRAS<br/>
• Support DVSA vehicle inspection services if and when required <br/><br/><br/>Lot 2 - Telematics<br/><br/>
• Working closely with retrofit suppliers on providing accurate telematics data and improving the systems used<br/>
• Hosting database systems and uploading data from multiple sources and interpreting it<br/>
• Producing and sending out telematics performance information to bus operators at depot level on a fortnightly basis<br/>
• Producing and disseminating telematics performance overview reports to Defra<br/>
• Managing vehicle emissions data collection and interpretation<br/>
• Stakeholder engagement including but not limited to bus retrofit suppliers, bus operators and local authorities.<br/>
• Maintaining a list of retrofitted vehicles and uploading to appropriate CAZ vehicle checker databases<br/>
• Monitoring and assessing retrofitted vehicle in-service performance.<br/><br/>Lot 3 – Retrofit Maintenance<br/>
• Monitoring the real-world performance of buses included in retrofitted bus maintenance trials, including through telematics data <br/>
• Providing advice and expertise on the bus retrofit market<br/>
• Maintaining existing trusted relationships with suppliers, bus operators and local authorities<br/>
• Inputting expertise and market knowledge to support the development of policy options regarding retrofitted bus maintenance and enforcement of emissions standards, <br/>
• Production and dissemination of guidance on maintenance of bus retrofit SCR systems <br/>
• Building awareness and upskill bus depot staff on benefits of improved maintenance of retrofitted SCR systems<br/>
• Providing further evidence where needed to support policy development and/or evaluation.<br/><br/><br/><br/>If your company would like to participate in any future competition, should it be approved then please register your expression of interest to this PIN and express which lots you are interested in.