Digital Tree Surveys · UK public procurement notice

2.1. Feedback is requested in relation to the proposals described within this document. Your feedback is important as it will allow views from the market to inform the development and finalisation of the procurement strategy and the tender documents that follow.

2.2. TfL would greatly appreciate your feedback in the form of a response to the questionnaire in Section 4. Please submit your responses via email to [email protected] with the Subject Line "TfL 96162 - Digital Street Tree Surveys MSQ".

2.3. The feedback that we receive will be reviewed, analysed, and will be considered in deciding the Procurement Strategy for this requirement.

2.4. For your feedback to be considered, your completed MSQ must be received by 13th June 2025 @ 12:00pm.

3. Problem Statement

3.1. A problem statement is provided below. Respondents must demonstrate their capacity and capability to meet TfL's requirements in the below questionnaire.

Transport for London (TfL) manages approximately 25,000 street trees along 580 km of the Transport for London Road Network (TLRN). Currently, significant resources are allocated to in-person tree surveys to ensure public safety and maintain network efficiency. While effective, this approach is resource-intensive and reactive in nature.

TfL is exploring opportunities to enhance asset inspection and maintenance through innovative technologies, including camera-based scanning and AI-driven analysis. We are seeking market feedback on the feasibility and maturity of digital tree survey solutions that can:

• Conduct a comprehensive digital scan of all street trees across the TLRN.
• Accurately capture and analyse data on tree location, species, health, size, and safety risk.
• Generate summary statistics on physical characteristics and ecosystem services.
• Integrate with existing GIS and asset management systems.
• Demonstrate very low error rates in data capture and classification.
• Enhance fault detection, reduce unnecessary tree removals, and improve operational efficiency.

The proposed solution should supplement existing inspection methods, offering a new layer of insight that could inform a revised inspection and maintenance strategy. This may include reducing inspection frequency for low-risk trees and enabling preventative maintenance through early identification of risk zones (e.g., overhanging canopies, proximity to kerb lines).

We are particularly interested in solutions that support a proactive approach to tree management-shifting from reactive interventions to scheduled maintenance that improves safety outcomes and reduces emergency callouts.

This market engagement aims to:

• Understand the capabilities and limitations of current digital tree survey technologies.
• Assess the cost-effectiveness and scalability of such solutions.
• Inform the development of a future procurement strategy for digital arboricultural services.

We invite suppliers, technology providers, and industry experts to share their insights, capabilities, and innovative approaches to address this challenge.

Questionnaire

As part of this market sounding exercise, TfL wishes to seek your views on the extent of your capabilities and appetite for providing Digital Tree Surveys for street trees across the London Transport Network.

TfL would appreciate your feedback in the form of a response to the following questionnaire, with the specific questions to be answered in the blank tables/boxes provided. Should you consider a particular question to be not applicable to your organisation, please state "not applicable" in the tables/boxes provided.

4. Market Sounding Questionnaire

This exercise does not form part of any formal procurement process. All responses will be carefully considered but will not bind TfL to any particular approach to the procurement, nor will responses be treated as conveying any promise or commitment on the part of the respondent.

Please provide answers to the following questions in your email response to this Market Sounding Questionnaire:

Organisation Name:

Key Contact Name:

Key Contact Email Address:

Is your Organisation considered an SME*? (Small or Medium Enterprise)

*Any business with fewer than 250 staff and with a turnover of an amount less than or equal to £44 million, or a balance sheet total of an amount less than or equal to £38 million.

Your Capability

In no more than 800 words, please outline how you would approach this requirement, with specific detail on the methodology you would use and outputs you are able to deliver with a particular focus on the points detailed in the problem statement above.

Interest and packaging

Q1. If you intend to bid directly for this contract and have identified a need to subcontract any part of works above, please provide details of the services/disciplines you would expect to subcontract.

Q2. What would encourage you to participate or deter you from participating in this procurement? Please list and explain 3 factors for each.

Procurement

Q3. Do you have any comments on the scope of work as explained at this stage?

Risks and opportunities

Q4. What does your organisation consider to be the top three risks to the successful delivery of the proposed contract? What mitigating action do you think can be taken by TfL and/or the supply industry to mitigate these risks?

Q5. Please identify any shortages of resources or skills and any critical or long lead items which you think may affect the delivery of this programme. What mitigating action do you think can be taken by TfL and/or the supply industry to mitigate the risks listed above?

Other

Q6. Do you have any other comments regarding the proposals set out in this market engagement questionnaire?

We would like to thank you for taking the time to respond to this questionnaire