Transport and Infrastructure Research & Development (R&D) Partner

Coventry City Council ("the Council") opted to run a Competitive procedure with negotiation under the Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016 and appointed a framework of Research & Development (R&D) partners. Coventry City Council ("the Council") has been and will continue to develop the living and working environment within Coventry through a series of programmes that improve the transport infrastructure to attract inward investment and drive the transition from fossil fuel transport to sustainable transportation solutions. One key project in this drive for modal shift is the Coventry Very Light Rail (VLR) project. This project is to develop a VLR product that can be manufactured predominantly in the West Midlands that will drive modal shift within small to medium size urban environments, consistent with many cities within the UK where a standard tram system would not be economically feasible. This system will be a low capital cost for installation and will be environmentally clean at the point of use, which will have a positive impact on air quality, this modal shift is designed to reduce congestion, and as a result, open up the city for investment especially along the route. The approach that the Council has taken to achieve the ambition outlined above is one of innovation and development. This framework of R&D Partners is to develop relationships with organisations that can support all phases of product development from ideation through to market ready product. It is understood that any R&D Partner will need to be able to exercise a support framework of subcontractors and suppliers to achieve the service offering of the full technology development cycle. By setting out the why, what and how of the Council's expectations, this document is intended to describe the relational foundation on which the Council and R&D Partners will team up to achieve those objectives. The Council is seeking R&D partners that provide services that include, but are not limited to: • Project management and cost control • Innovation funding, and the development and identification of funding streams • Ideation - investigation of current technologies and new developments • Analysis and testing • Prototyping • Subcontractor management • Market readiness and business case development including whole life analysis • Design for manufacture, assembly, value engineering • Product life (FATS, SATS, Durability etc.) testing and industry approvals • Very low volume, low volume manufacturing strategy development. • Technical contract specification • Strategic stakeholder engagement • Technical expertise in support of field trails of products and the application of products toward developing the technology readiness levels • Development of digital analysis and data models. • Development of products through the technology readiness levels. • Operation and maintenance of products / components during tests and or development phases. • Activities required to gain industry approval including (included but not restricted to) policy development, case for safety documentation and approval. • Presenting and supporting the council at industry and public forums. This contract has not been split into Lots, but it is recognised that a partner would require the capability to exercise the use of contracts, subcontracts and suppliers to support the contract requirements. Additional information: Full list of anticipated CPV codes captured within this procurement exercise and framework include; 38432000: Analysis apparatus (PARENT) 38432100: Gas-analysis apparatus 38432200: Chromatographs 38432210: Gas chromatographs 38432300: Smoke-analysis apparatus 71240000: Architectural, engineering and planning services (PARENT) 71241000: Feasibility study, advisory service, analysis 71242000: Project and design preparation, estimation of costs 71243000: Draft plans (systems and integration) 71244000: Calculation of costs, monitoring of costs 71245000: Approval plans, working drawings and specifications 71246000: Determining and listing of quantities in construction 71247000: Supervision of building work 71248000: Supervision of project and documentation 71300000: Engineering services (PARENT) 71310000: Consultative engineering and construction services 71320000: Engineering design services 71330000: Miscellaneous engineering services 71331000: Drilling-mud engineering services 71332000: Geotechnical engineering services 71333000: Mechanical engineering services 71334000: Mechanical and electrical engineering services 71335000: Engineering studies 71336000: Engineering support services 71337000: Corrosion engineering services 71340000: Integrated engineering services 71350000: Engineering-related scientific and technical services 72220000: Systems and technical consultancy services (PARENT) 72221000: Business analysis consultancy services 72222000: Information systems or technology strategic review and planning services 72223000: Information technology requirements review services 72224000: Project management consultancy services 72225000: System quality assurance assessment and review services 72226000: System software acceptance testing consultancy services 72227000: Software integration consultancy services 72228000: Hardware integration consultancy services 72240000: Systems analysis and programming services (PARENT) 72241000: Critical design target specification services 72242000: Design-modelling services 72243000: Programming services 72244000: Prototyping services 72245000: Contract systems analysis and programming services 72246000: Systems consultancy services 73000000: Research and development services and related consultancy services (PARENT) 73100000: Research and experimental development services 73200000: Research and development consultancy services 73300000: Design and execution of research and development 73400000: Research and Development services on security and defence materials 50220000: Repair, maintenance and associated services related to railways and other equipment (PARENT) 50221000: Repair and maintenance services of locomotives 50222000: Repair and maintenance services of rolling stock 50223000: Reconditioning services of locomotives 50224000: Reconditioning services of rolling stock 50225000: Railway-track maintenance services 50229000: Demolition of rolling stock