--- title: "RSSB2655 - T1140 Defining the requirements of a seat comfort selection process" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-4ab7e554-4d0e-41a8-82c4-e0085428ff5b" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-4ab7e554-4d0e-41a8-82c4-e0085428ff5b" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-4ab7e554-4d0e-41a8-82c4-e0085428ff5b.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-4ab7e554-4d0e-41a8-82c4-e0085428ff5b.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "RAIL SAFETY AND STANDARDS BOARD LIMITED" published: "2017-12-20" --- # RSSB2655 - T1140 Defining the requirements of a seat comfort selection process Buyer: RAIL SAFETY AND STANDARDS BOARD LIMITED Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-b5fd17-4ab7e554-4d0e-41a8-82c4-e0085428ff5b [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-4ab7e554-4d0e-41a8-82c4-e0085428ff5b) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-4ab7e554-4d0e-41a8-82c4-e0085428ff5b.json) ## Summary The Rail Safety and Standards Board Limited is seeking submissions for a tender titled "RSSB2655 - T1140 Defining the requirements of a seat comfort selection process". This project falls under the category of engineering design services within the rail industry and is focused on enhancing passenger comfort during rail travel. The tender is currently in the planning stage, with the submission deadline set for 29 December 2017. The anticipated contract period will commence on 5 February 2018 and conclude on 28 February 2019, and the total estimated contract value is £100,000, with a minimum value of £85,000. This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in research, development, and engineering design services, particularly those with expertise in passenger comfort solutions. Companies that can provide innovative methodologies for assessing seat comfort, as well as applicable testing frameworks, would be particularly well-suited to compete. This initiative aims to improve customer satisfaction within the rail sector, making it a valuable opportunity for businesses looking to expand their influence in the transport industry by contributing to enhancing the overall passenger experience. ## Notice The Rail Technical Strategy (RTS) provides strategic guidance to industry, underpinned by the 4Cs: Cost, Capacity, Carbon, and Customer. This research presents an opportunity to improve the customer experience, through enhancing passenger satisfaction of seat comfort. Passenger comfort during rail travel is an important aspect of the customer experience, and forms part of the rolling stock vision for comfortable and attractive train interiors (RTS, 2012). One key aspect of passenger comfort is the seat, and the comfort of the seating area may contribute up to 5% of the overall impact on customer satisfaction (Transport Focus, 2016). Recent passenger satisfaction scores revealed that 67% of passengers (n = 24,767) rated the comfort of the seats as satisfied or good (Transport Focus, 2017). This was below the national average of 83% passengers satisfied with their journey, and the industry wide target of achieving 90% satisfaction by 2035 (Long Term Planning Ahead Framework, 2010). Improvements in seat comfort may contribute to reaching this target, through offering passengers better value for money and comfort during their journey experience. Research, guidance and testing methodologies to determine seat comfort have previously been undertaken by the University of Southampton and the Roll2Rail programme . The Roll2Rail Attractiveness & Comfort Features Report (2017) called for future work to develop a seat comfort methodology to measure a range of design values that can be objectively assessed. However, as noted in the RSSB Knowledge Search (S240, 2016) on seat comfort, while few measures exist to quantify passenger seat comfort, a standardised specification is yet to be established. The lack of quantifiable parameters available to sufficiently assess and demonstrate passenger seat comfort may risk underperforming seat comfort, and thereby negating the customer experience. Quantifying seat comfort is a complex area that may depend on: (a) the human, (b) the product, and (c) the context (de Looze, 2003 ). Perceptions of comfort and discomfort occur through the interaction between the passenger and seat within a particular context. As such, passenger anthropometry and the activities performed while sat in the seat (e.g. reading, sleeping, working on a laptop), can have a bearing on the level of comfort experienced. The physical constraints of the seat design are also considered to impact passenger comfort. These include: (a) static factors (e.g. seat pan, backrest and armrest dimensions), (b) dynamic factors (e.g. vibration and pressure, cushion material), and (c) temporal factors (e.g. variation in journey length). Through assessing these parameters, it is expected that seat comfort can be quantified, and a seat comfort selection process can be developed, tested and validated. The seat comfort selection process should determine the minimum requirements for seat comfort, a defined testing methodology, and scoring system. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/a83596d3-f04b-43a2-ba40-f0eb78387199 | | Notice type | Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure (below threshold) | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 20 Dec 2017 | | Submission deadline | 29 Dec 2017 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 5 Feb 2018 - 28 Feb 2019 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £100,000 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Active | | Lots status | Not specified | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | RAIL SAFETY AND STANDARDS BOARD LIMITED | | Locality | LONDON | | Post town | Central London | | Postcode | EC2M 2RB | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLI London | | ITL 2 | TLI4 Inner London - East | | ITL 3 | TLI43 Haringey and Islington | | Local authority | Islington | | Electoral ward | Bunhill | | Westminster constituency | Islington South and Finsbury | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services - 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support - 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services ### Codes - 71320000 - Engineering design services - 72241000 - Critical design target specification services - 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services ## Release History - 20 Dec 2017 at 13:44 - TenderAmendment - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/a83596d3-f04b-43a2-ba40-f0eb78387199 - 27 Nov 2017 at 15:02 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/a83596d3-f04b-43a2-ba40-f0eb78387199 ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/a83596d3-f04b-43a2-ba40-f0eb78387199 20th December 2017 - Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/5ea4d803-c849-4f39-8973-8032aef147a0 Commercial Pricing Schedule - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/ede7f921-6a6b-47af-af74-238d21982891 RSSB2655 - T1140 Defining the requirements of a seat comfort selection process - I.T.T - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/7635d562-21ce-40fe-8428-e732e962892c RSSB2655 - T1140 Defining the requirements of a seat comfort selection process - Research&Development Terms & Conditions - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/5070051f-8875-469d-8da3-b142e023b289 RSSB2655 - Rail Vehicle Seat Comfort ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. 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