Prior information notice
This notice is for prior information only
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Transport Scotland
2nd floor, George House, 36 North Hanover St
Glasgow
G1 2AD
UK
Telephone: +44 1412727100
E-mail: stephen.breslin@transport.gov.scot
NUTS: UKM82
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://www.transport.gov.scot
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00099
I.2) Joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
I.3) Communication
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
National or federal agency/office
I.5) Main activity
Other: Transport
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Asset Management Technical Services Framework
II.1.2) Main CPV code
71311000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
Transport Scotland, on behalf of the Scottish Ministers, has identified the need to establish a Multiple Supplier Framework Agreement. This Multiple Framework Agreement for Asset Management Technical Services covers services crucial to allowing Transport Scotland to meet statutory, legal and contractual obligations and aimed at driving continuous improvement in how we manage and analyse Scottish Trunk Road asset data. The services consider national standards and codes of practice, maintenance processes/procedures, asset performance and budget assignment to deliver value for money and innovation.
The Framework will consist of four Lots covering:
1) Asset Management Improvement Programme (AMIP) Lot which will include lifecycle planning; network resilience; scheme identification, prioritisation and optimisation; updates to road asset management policy, strategy and planning; information management; performance management as well as staff support and training.
2) Asset Management Performance System (AMPS) Development and Maintenance Lot. AMPS is an IT existing management and service delivery tool that is essential to the effective management and maintenance of the Scottish trunk road network and the delivery of the Operating Company Contracts. The service will through its lifetime require development and maintenance in order to improve functionality aimed at driving future improvements in Transport Scotland’s asset management practices through improved analytical capabilities and fully integrated management tools that deliver value for money solutions.
3) Geotechnical Certification Services Lot. The principal services shall comprise the provision of an independent geotechnical services for the certification of ground investigations, geotechnical design and other geotechnical activities related to the Scottish Trunk Road network. This shall include both the performance of the service and the provision of advice in relation to the service. In addition the services shall comprise providing advice in relation to technical specifications or publications. Other geotechnical-related services may be required to be undertaken from time to time, including similar services related to railway and other transport infrastructure.
4) Asset Management Technical Advice Lot. This will cover Design Standards and Professional Services which covers the review and provision of advice in relation to Departures from Standards including the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB), Manual of Contract Documents for Highway Works (MCHW), and all other Transport Scotland and UK wide Design Guidance and Technical Documents (or an equivalent to each of these documents). In addition this Lot will cover Transport Research to enable research and development work to deliver improvements in safety, construction, operation, and maintenance of the Scottish road network.
The proposed framework will be in place for a period of 4 years.
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
13 400 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
Yes
II.2) Description
Lot No: 1
II.2.1) Title
Asset Management Improvement Programme
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
71311000
71311210
71311300
79420000
79411000
79311410
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM
Main site or place of performance:
Scotland
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The scope of services for Lot 1 will aim to deliver:
Enhanced asset management practices to support the optimal allocation of maintenance budgets and generate efficiencies.
Support the delivery of net zero initiatives being implemented across the Directorate. Research into low carbon solutions for maintenance and renewals, and develop tools and asset strategies to consider carbon in the whole life decision making process.
Consideration of maintenance practices and identifying opportunities for improvements to be made to specifications, contracts, and internal procedures. Respond to climate change through a network that is resilient to more frequent and extreme weather events, including flooding.
Continue to review and update the format and content of the Asset Management Policy, Strategy and Plan to ensure a holistic and transparent approach in managing and maintaining all trunk road assets as defined in the Scottish Government Infrastructure Investment Plan. Align with the principles of ISO 55000.
Extend the project level pavement lifecycle planning and costing model for comparison of alternatives across various trunk road elements.
Continued review of the requirements for data collection and storage, clearly demonstrating how it is being used to support business decisions.
Continued development of models and tools to produce long-term financial and maintenance plans in support of Scottish Government Spending Review submissions and State of the Asset reports.
Lot No: 2
II.2.1) Title
Asset Management Performance System (AMPS) Development and Maintenance
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
71311210
71311200
71311000
79313000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM
Main site or place of performance:
Scotland
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The scope of services for Lot 2 will aim to deliver:
Access to a range of Information & Communications Technology (ICT) specialists, such as System Developers and Testers to provide technical expertise in the continual development and maintenance of AMPS software, including data management products and other utility software. Ensure the continued availability of AMPS, a Transport Scotland contractual requirement for the Operating Company Contracts.
Ensure the security of the system that is used to store commercially sensitive contractual rates, and to approve, hold and monitor all OC spend, ensuring scrutiny and transparency in OC spend, protecting Ministers from financial risk.
The system is used to record and monitor the repair of safety critical defects - loss of service would result in a breach of Scottish Ministers’ statutory responsibilities. The system is used to store and analyse accident data and skidding resistance data - loss of service would result in a breach of Scottish Ministers’ statutory responsibilities.
Access to specialist technical System Support to provide a managed service that can identify and explore opportunities for continual service improvement, determining costs and benefits of new approaches and managing change or assisting implementation where needed.
Access to specialist Business Analysis support to identify improvements in business processes that derive efficiencies in system operations, ensuring that the organisation drives maximum value from its services and delivers a transparent and auditable system that can monitor Operating Company spend and compliance.
Access to Decision Support Tool Specialists to provide advice on the implementation of a number of important decision support tools in AMPS, such as Abnormal Load Routing, Whole Life Cost Modelling, Whole Life Carbon Modelling’ Bridge Condition Index (BCI) Calculations, Deflectograph analysis, Accident Cluster Analysis etc.
Access to Data Scientists to continually develop and improve AMPS data analytical capabilities through the use of a range of statistical tools and techniques such as predictive analysis and modelling that transforms data into organisational insight.
Develop modelling capability aligned with climate change policy and Net Zero targets.
Provision of specialist technical support essential to management of risk to the Scottish Ministers arising from failure to comply with statutory obligations and contractual duties.
Provision of specialist technical support essential to the delivery of transparency, accountability and assurance as required by the Scottish Ministers.
Lot No: 3
II.2.1) Title
Geotechnical Design Certification Services
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
71351500
71332000
79132000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM
Main site or place of performance:
Scotland
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The scope of the services for Lot 3 will aim to:
Mitigate the risk to Scottish Ministers posed by the management of geo-hazards and the implementation of ground engineering solutions.
Deliver compliance with legal duties to comply with national design standards and Construction Design and Management Regulations.
Deliver Scottish Ministers’ contractual obligations with respect to published national design standards in the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges, British Standards and Eurocodes for design of ground engineering solutions.
Contribute to the delivery of Net Zero objectives within ground engineering.
Contribute to the delivery of adaptation to the trunk road asset in mitigating the impacts of the climate emergency.
Contribute to the continual review and revision of national Design Standards to ensure the interests of Scottish Ministers are represented at UK national level
Mitigate the risks to Scottish Ministers from third party works on, or adjacent to, the trunk road network and the implications thereof.
Lot No: 4
II.2.1) Title
Asset Management Technical Advice
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
73200000
73000000
73210000
71310000
71311000
71311100
71311210
71311220
71311300
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM
Main site or place of performance:
Scotland
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The scope of services for Lot 4 aims to deliver the following:
Access to specialist technical and academic advice to enable road related research to be quickly and efficiently undertaken by Transport Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Road Research Board.
Access to specialists who can provide advice and guidance in relation to the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges, Manual of Contract Documents for Highway Works, Transport Scotland Interim Amendments, European and British Standards and all other Transport Scotland Design Guidance and Technical Documents.
Support and advice on engagement with the Department for Transport, Highways Agency, other National and European organisations and devolved administrations.
Access to suppliers who can organise, undertake, and present conferences, workshops and seminars including events related to the communication of updated guidance and standards.
Access to suppliers who can support Transport Scotland in Technical Working Groups and research projects.
Delivers on legal duty as a road authority to comply with, and implement, national standards, including Construction Design and Management to be adopted on our road network
Delivers compliance with legal duties to comply with national design standards
Facilitates reviews of Departure from Standards applications for Major Projects capital schemes and Road and Bridge maintenance projects and third party developer works on the trunk road network.
Provide technical assistance as needed to review and develop standards and guidance for the design, operation, and maintenance of the trunk road network
Service has an integral role in Transport Scotland’s promotion and development of major capital schemes, alongside the provision of advice for smaller schemes.
II.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice:
06/10/2023
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information
Transport Scotland will conduct the proposed procurement process for the Framework Agreement on behalf of the Scottish Ministers. In the event of the conclusion of the Framework, it is the intention that the Agreement will be entered into between the Scottish Ministers and the most economically advantageous tenderers. The Framework Agreement will operate in accordance with the Scottish Government's Model Services Framework Agreement, and the Contract Terms and Conditions will be based on the Scottish Government's Conditions of Contract. Each economic operator shall be invited to submit a Tender on the same contract terms.
The Framework (all 4 Lots) will last for 4 years from the date of execution of the Agreement. The estimated total value of the Framework is provided in II.1.5). Please note that the estimated Framework value and all dates and timescales given are purely indicative at this stage.
CPV codes used are not exhaustive and are indicative of the main elements of the currently proposed project scope of services.
Framework Contractors will be procured through a restricted procedure, in accordance with the restricted procedure as provided for in the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
To be considered for this procurement competition, economic operators will be required to complete a SPD through the Public Contract Scotland portal. Further details will be provided in the Contract Notice when published.
Any enquiries should be emailed to Stephen.Breslin@transport.gov.scot.
NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Public Contracts Scotland Web Site at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=727675.
(SC Ref:727675)
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
06/09/2023