Planning

Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS) Retrofit Project

TRANSPORT FOR LONDON

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

30 Nov 2021 at 15:11

Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The tender for the "Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS) Retrofit Project" is being issued by Transport for London (TfL), situated in London, England. This project falls under the transport equipment industry category and aims to enhance road safety by retrofitting existing buses with an AVAS, aligned with the Mayor's Transport Strategy to achieve zero deaths or serious injuries on London’s roads by 2041. Currently, this procurement is in the planning stage, with an engagement end date set for 17th December 2021. The total estimated value of this tender is £6,900,000, and it is initiated through a tender process to invite potential suppliers to demonstrate their capacity to meet TfL's specifications.

This procurement presents significant opportunities for businesses that specialise in transport safety equipment, particularly those offering sound systems designed for vehicles. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) that can provide or develop acoustic technology that ensures buses are audible to pedestrians, cyclists, and other road users will be well-suited for participation. Interested vendors have the chance to engage early with TfL to discuss their products' compatibility with the project requirements and submit relevant documentation to support their bids, positioning them favourably in the competitive tender process.

Find more tenders on our Open Data Platform.
How relevant is this notice?

D3 Tenders Premium

Win More Public Sector Contracts

AI-powered tender discovery, pipeline management, and market intelligence — everything you need to grow your public sector business.

Start Free Trial Book a Demo
All Features Pricing

Notice Information

Notice Title

Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS) Retrofit Project

Notice Description

The Mayor's Transport Strategy (MTS) sets out the Vision Zero goal of zero people killed or seriously injured (KSIs) on London's roads by 2041. It includes targets for a 70% reduction in KSIs by 2021 and for no one to be killed on or by a bus by 2030. The Bus Safety Standard (BSS) was launched in 2018 to help achieve the Vision Zero goal for buses. The BSS mandates the use of safer vehicles and supports safer behaviours and speeds, specifying safety requirements that new buses entering service in London must meet. An Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS) is one of a number of the measures in the BSS. AVAS is a system to make quiet running buses (i.e. electric, hybrid or hydrogen) audible to pedestrians and cyclists, and other road users outside the vehicle. The United Nations Economic Commission of Europe (UNECE) Regulation 138 has required AVAS on new electric and hybrid vehicles since July 2021. TfL committed to introducing this early and since September 2019 AVAS has been required on all new quiet running London bus models as part of the BSS. The UNECE regulatory requirements have also been exceeded for London Buses. This includes the development of a unique Urban Bus Sound, which along with moving the speakers to the front of the bus, aims to maximise the benefits of AVAS by making it easier for Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs) to distinguish the sound over typical city background noise and improve acoustic conspicuity compared to a diesel bus. A 'beacon' element has also been introduced which provides directionality to blind and vision-impaired persons (or anyone listening for the bus but not looking). In addition, a responsive AVAS system has more recently been developed. Responsive AVAS will provide optimal volume levels for the sound dependent on the location of the bus. This will both optimise the potential effectiveness for casualty reduction but also minimise the impact on the London soundscape, and the possibility of complaints. However, the requirement for new buses in London to have AVAS does not address existing or pre-2019 manufactured buses in the fleet. Therefore, to support our Vision Zero targets for no deaths on or by a bus by 2030 and for zero deaths or serious injury by 2041, we are developing a project to potentially retrofit AVAS onto existing quiet running buses in London (i.e. electric, hybrid or hydrogen buses). This retrofit will be of responsive and non-responsive AVAS, the type of AVAS chosen being determined in each instance by the model of bus being fitted, and whether that model is capable of supporting responsive AVAS or not. Additional information: TfL is conducting early market engagement to help identify organisations who have a product which meets (or is capable of meeting) TfL's specification for an AVAS system based on the performance specification which can be found in the associated Market Sounding Questionnaire (MSQ). The MSQ can be accessed via TfL's e-tendering website ProContract (https://procontract.due-north.com). You will need to register on the portal to access the MSQ and once you have logged-in to ProContract you can search for the MSQ by using any one of the following key terms: 'Acoustic', 'Vehicle', 'Alerting or 'System' Interested parties will be required to submit an MSQ response inclusive of relevant documentation including a technical specification, test methodology, reports and certifications to show how your product is able to meet (or has the potential to meet) our performance specification. A desk-based review will be undertaken by TfL on specific aspects of the submitted information (i.e. evidence to show UNECE Regulation 138 compliance, how frequency profile is achieved, that the system is 'E' marked for automotive electromagnetic compatibility, where applicable evidence to show where it has been used in the automotive industry, dimensions, Ingress Protection (IP) rating, impedance, and power etc. This will help determine which products, on paper at least, could meet (or is capable of meeting) TfL's AVAS requirements. Should TfL proceed to a procurement exercise for this project, the evaluation of potential products would form part of that exercise, including the need for rigorous testing of the products in controlled conditions in order to demonstrate that the products meet the specification, and can be successfully integrated with on-bus systems, across a range of bus types.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-a0c251bb-bc03-48fc-9d21-c8dd6740a901
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/6a6111f0-e269-4e23-bbd2-83781b7a0e7c
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Not specified
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation

CPV Codes

34000000 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£6,900,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
30 Nov 20214 years ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
17 Dec 2021Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
TRANSPORT FOR LONDON
Contact Name
Emma Milam
Contact Email
emma.milam@tfl.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SE1 8NJ
Post Town
South East London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI4 Inner London - East
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI44 Lewisham and Southwark
Delivery Location
TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England)
Local Authority
Southwark
Electoral Ward
Borough & Bankside
Westminster Constituency
Bermondsey and Old Southwark

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts. 

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-b5fd17-a0c251bb-bc03-48fc-9d21-c8dd6740a901-2021-11-30T15:11:51Z",
    "date": "2021-11-30T15:11:51Z",
    "ocid": "ocds-b5fd17-a0c251bb-bc03-48fc-9d21-c8dd6740a901",
    "language": "en",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "title": "Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS) Retrofit Project",
    "planning": {
        "milestones": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "title": "Engagement end date",
                "type": "engagement",
                "dueDate": "2021-12-17T23:59:59Z"
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "description": "Early engagement notice on Contracts Finder",
                "url": "https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/6a6111f0-e269-4e23-bbd2-83781b7a0e7c",
                "datePublished": "2021-11-30T15:11:51Z",
                "format": "text/html",
                "language": "en"
            }
        ]
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "TFL001-DN584755-17072358",
        "title": "Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS) Retrofit Project",
        "description": "The Mayor's Transport Strategy (MTS) sets out the Vision Zero goal of zero people killed or seriously injured (KSIs) on London's roads by 2041. It includes targets for a 70% reduction in KSIs by 2021 and for no one to be killed on or by a bus by 2030. The Bus Safety Standard (BSS) was launched in 2018 to help achieve the Vision Zero goal for buses. The BSS mandates the use of safer vehicles and supports safer behaviours and speeds, specifying safety requirements that new buses entering service in London must meet. An Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS) is one of a number of the measures in the BSS. AVAS is a system to make quiet running buses (i.e. electric, hybrid or hydrogen) audible to pedestrians and cyclists, and other road users outside the vehicle. The United Nations Economic Commission of Europe (UNECE) Regulation 138 has required AVAS on new electric and hybrid vehicles since July 2021. TfL committed to introducing this early and since September 2019 AVAS has been required on all new quiet running London bus models as part of the BSS. The UNECE regulatory requirements have also been exceeded for London Buses. This includes the development of a unique Urban Bus Sound, which along with moving the speakers to the front of the bus, aims to maximise the benefits of AVAS by making it easier for Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs) to distinguish the sound over typical city background noise and improve acoustic conspicuity compared to a diesel bus. A 'beacon' element has also been introduced which provides directionality to blind and vision-impaired persons (or anyone listening for the bus but not looking). In addition, a responsive AVAS system has more recently been developed. Responsive AVAS will provide optimal volume levels for the sound dependent on the location of the bus. This will both optimise the potential effectiveness for casualty reduction but also minimise the impact on the London soundscape, and the possibility of complaints. However, the requirement for new buses in London to have AVAS does not address existing or pre-2019 manufactured buses in the fleet. Therefore, to support our Vision Zero targets for no deaths on or by a bus by 2030 and for zero deaths or serious injury by 2041, we are developing a project to potentially retrofit AVAS onto existing quiet running buses in London (i.e. electric, hybrid or hydrogen buses). This retrofit will be of responsive and non-responsive AVAS, the type of AVAS chosen being determined in each instance by the model of bus being fitted, and whether that model is capable of supporting responsive AVAS or not. Additional information: TfL is conducting early market engagement to help identify organisations who have a product which meets (or is capable of meeting) TfL's specification for an AVAS system based on the performance specification which can be found in the associated Market Sounding Questionnaire (MSQ). The MSQ can be accessed via TfL's e-tendering website ProContract (https://procontract.due-north.com). You will need to register on the portal to access the MSQ and once you have logged-in to ProContract you can search for the MSQ by using any one of the following key terms: 'Acoustic', 'Vehicle', 'Alerting or 'System' Interested parties will be required to submit an MSQ response inclusive of relevant documentation including a technical specification, test methodology, reports and certifications to show how your product is able to meet (or has the potential to meet) our performance specification. A desk-based review will be undertaken by TfL on specific aspects of the submitted information (i.e. evidence to show UNECE Regulation 138 compliance, how frequency profile is achieved, that the system is 'E' marked for automotive electromagnetic compatibility, where applicable evidence to show where it has been used in the automotive industry, dimensions, Ingress Protection (IP) rating, impedance, and power etc. This will help determine which products, on paper at least, could meet (or is capable of meeting) TfL's AVAS requirements. Should TfL proceed to a procurement exercise for this project, the evaluation of potential products would form part of that exercise, including the need for rigorous testing of the products in controlled conditions in order to demonstrate that the products meet the specification, and can be successfully integrated with on-bus systems, across a range of bus types.",
        "status": "planning",
        "classification": {
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "id": "34000000",
            "description": "Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation"
        },
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "England",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    }
                ]
            }
        ],
        "value": {
            "amount": 6900000,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "suitability": {
            "sme": true,
            "vcse": true
        }
    },
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-CFS-188040",
            "name": "Transport for London",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "Transport for London"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "197 Blackfriars Road",
                "locality": "LONDON",
                "postalCode": "SE1 8NJ",
                "countryName": "England"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "name": "Emma Milam",
                "email": "Emma.Milam@tfl.gov.uk"
            },
            "details": {
                "url": "https://procontract.due-north.com"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ]
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-CFS-188040",
        "name": "Transport for London"
    }
}