Planning

TfL 96162 - Digital Street Tree Surveys Market Sounding Questionnaire

TRANSPORT FOR LONDON

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

23 May 2025 at 14:06

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

23 May 2025 at 12:15

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Transport for London (TfL) is currently in the planning stage of a procurement process titled "TfL 96162 - Digital Street Tree Surveys Market Sounding Questionnaire". This initiative is part of a broader effort to integrate digital technologies into tree surveying within the Transport for London Road Network (TLRN), which consists of approximately 25,000 street trees across London. Interested parties are invited to submit their insights and solutions aimed at enhancing asset inspection through innovative technologies such as camera-based scanning and AI-driven analysis. The deadline for submitting the completed Market Sounding Questionnaire is set for 13th June 2025 at 12:00 pm. This engagement follows a strategic timeline with the procurement period expected to run from 15th September 2025 to 15th November 2025, focusing on services within industry categories like digital mapping, surveying, forestry management, and environmental planning.

This tender represents a significant opportunity for SMEs and other businesses specializing in digital technologies, GIS integration, and arboricultural services to engage with a major public authority. The emphasis is on innovative solutions that reduce operational costs and improve maintenance efficiency. Companies with capabilities in environmental planning and digital mapping, particularly those adept in handling AI and data analysis, would be well-suited to participate. Through contributing valuable insights and demonstrating expertise, businesses can gain a foothold in influencing the future digital infrastructure of TfL’s arboricultural management, thus potentially opening avenues for long-term collaboration and growth in the public sector.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

TfL 96162 - Digital Street Tree Surveys Market Sounding Questionnaire

Notice Description

This Market Sounding Questionnaire (MSQ) is issued by Transport for London (TfL) and seeks to obtain market feedback in relation to the procurement of Digital Tree Surveys. Its primary focus is to better understand market interest and capacity and gather market feedback on any risks and opportunities that may be present. Please see the attached MSQ form for more details.

Planning Information

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 SamWalden@tfl.gov.uk 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

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-052278
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026649-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

77 - Agricultural, forestry, horticultural, aquacultural and apicultural services

90 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services

CPV Codes

71354100 - Digital mapping services

71355000 - Surveying services

77231000 - Forestry management services

90712000 - Environmental planning

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
23 May 20259 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
13 Jun 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
14 Sep 2025 - 15 Nov 2025 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
TRANSPORT FOR LONDON
Contact Name
Sam Walden
Contact Email
samwalden@tfl.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
E20 1JN
Post Town
East London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI4 Inner London - East
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI41 Hackney and Newham
Delivery Location
TLI London
Local Authority
Newham
Electoral Ward
Stratford Olympic Park
Westminster Constituency
Stratford and Bow

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. 

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