COV - CVLR Vehicle Control System

Market engagement is planned for 16-17 July 2026. The purpose of the pre-market engagement is to test market capability, appetite and delivery models for providing the control and autonomy solution for the CVLR demonstrator vehicle. This should include not only the autonomous control system, but also its integration with the vehicle control system, existing vehicle subsystems and the associated safety assurance.

This requirement is dictated by constraints of both time and space. Potential lead contractors should, however, be prepared to demonstrate during any subsequent procurement the means by which they are able to, and would, potentially lead supply-chain structure in conjunction with their role in a potential partnership with the Council.

In particular, the engagement should help the Council understand:

• whether the market can deliver an integrated control and autonomy solution through a single supplier, or whether a prime contractor / consortium / partner model is more realistic
• whether the tender specification is technically achievable, proportionate and clear enough for suppliers to price and deliver against
• where suppliers would expect responsibility boundaries to sit between autonomous control, vehicle control, vehicle integration, existing vehicle hardware, testing and safety assurance
• what assumptions, exclusions, dependencies or Council-furnished information suppliers would require before tender
• what safety case, functional safety, independent assessment and wider vehicle-level assurance responsibilities suppliers would expect to own, and what residual responsibilities would remain with the Council
• whether Phase 1 supervised trial capability can be delivered in a way that does not close the door to future Phase 2 driverless operation
• what contract structure and delivery model would give the Council the best chance of achieving a safe, integrated and mixed traffic capable demonstrator.
• Procurement structure: how best to structure the procurement in respect of the Control System and Automation Requirements, including whether these should be procured together or whether there is benefit in allowing for separate lots or bids.
• Programme and delivery: whether suppliers can commit to a defined delivery programme and key milestones, and any constraints affecting delivery timescales.
• Risk and liability (including integration and interfaces): the extent to which suppliers are willing to accept responsibility for system integration and interface risk, and their position on liability caps and exclusions.
• Intellectual property: given that the VLR is a patented project, the extent to which the Council can secure appropriate ownership or sufficiently broad rights to use, share and rely on outputs across the programme.
• Payment structure: whether suppliers would accept a milestone based payment approach, including retention mechanisms and the application of liquidated damages.

Spaces at the market engagement event will be limited and distributed on a first-come, first served basis. Booking information for the market engagement will be released on on a fully executed NDA between organisations and the Council. To access the documents relating to the market engagement exercise, interested organisations must register on www.csw-jets.co.uk ↗ and express an interest in the project COV-24503 CVLR Vehicle Control System. Once interest has been expressed, interested bidders must download the template Non-Disclosure Agreement, published via 'Clarifications', complete, sign and return to the Council through the 'Correspondence' function on www.csw-jets.co.uk ↗. Completed and signed Non-Disclosure Agreements must be returned to the Council no later than 12:00pm, 08 July 2026.