--- title: "Thames Valley Berkshire Smart City Cluster - Challenge Fund Call - Using Chatbots and AI to improve Council Highways,Waste and Recycling Services" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-7dd81fb5-019a-4c1d-966c-20a9a99cca8b" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-7dd81fb5-019a-4c1d-966c-20a9a99cca8b" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-7dd81fb5-019a-4c1d-966c-20a9a99cca8b.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-7dd81fb5-019a-4c1d-966c-20a9a99cca8b.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "READING BOROUGH COUNCIL" published: "2019-08-06" --- # Thames Valley Berkshire Smart City Cluster - Challenge Fund Call - Using Chatbots and AI to improve Council Highways,Waste and Recycling Services Buyer: READING BOROUGH COUNCIL Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-b5fd17-7dd81fb5-019a-4c1d-966c-20a9a99cca8b [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-7dd81fb5-019a-4c1d-966c-20a9a99cca8b) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-7dd81fb5-019a-4c1d-966c-20a9a99cca8b.json) ## Summary The procurement process is initiated by Reading Borough Council, which is seeking innovative solutions for their "Thames Valley Berkshire Smart City Cluster - Challenge Fund Call." This tender, specifically focusing on using chatbots and AI to enhance Council Highways, Waste, and Recycling Services, falls under the IT services industry category. The tender period is set to conclude on 18 September 2019, with the successful contract start date anticipated for 14 October 2019, and a contract duration extending until 30 May 2020. A grant of up to £100,000 is available to support selected projects that meet the defined local authority challenges. Interested parties are encouraged to register via the Council's e-tendering portal to access documentation and submit their proposals. This tender represents a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in IT solutions, particularly those advancing in chatbot and AI technologies. SMEs and voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations are particularly well-suited to participate. By addressing real challenges identified through collaboration with local authorities, businesses can not only contribute to community improvements but also strengthen their own market position and business case through innovative project development and successful implementation. ## Notice This Challenge Call is funded through a PS1.73m project funded by Thames Valley Berkshire (TVB) Local Enterprise Partnership. The Challenge Fund Calls involve addressing challenges developed by the four local authorities engaged in the project, namely Reading Borough Council, Bracknell Forest Council, Wokingham Borough Council and West Berkshire Council. This is the second of two Challenge Fund Calls to be launched in 2019. These challenges are being delivered in parallel with the deployment of a LoRa LPWAN internet of things network across the four authorities. This is one of five challenges that are each being published separately. The aim of the Challenge Fund Calls is to grant fund innovative projects that will address the challenges set out in each Call. The challenges have been developed through a series of workshops with senior officers within the local authorities and hence identify real needs that should be met. Through funding the projects we are expecting solutions and pilots that not only address the challenges set by the local authorities but also have a strong business case for the recipient of the funding so that we are growing innovative business in Thames Valley Berkshire. This call consists of challenge 8: Using Chatbots and AI to improve Council Highways, Waste and Recycling Services (West Berkshire Council), with a grant award of up to PS100k. Each of the four authorities owns a challenge and will work with the successful applicant to help guide the solution to meet the local authority need. Additional information: Organisations interested in expressing an interest in this procurement should download the procurement documents which are available on the Council's e-tendering system at: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/readingbc/aspx/Home and complete as instructed. The Portal is free of charge - to register please follow the supplier registration guidance which is available on the Portal. Contractors wishing to be considered for this tendering opportunity must complete the tender documents and return them electronically via the Council's e-tendering portal. Please note: you must register your interest via the Council's e-tendering portal if you intend to submit a tender. Interested parties must log onto the Council's e-tendering portal at: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/readingbc, to express an interest and download the procurement documents. All communications regarding this procurement exercise will be conducted through the Council's e-tendering portal including requests for clarifications or general enquiries. The procurement documents will be available for download up until the closing time and date for tender submissions, it is the organisation's responsibility to ensure that they download the documents in ample time to ensure that they can be completed and returned electronically, along with supporting documents, prior to the closing time and date stipulated. Before completing the tender, potential providers/suppliers should ensure that the e-mail address that has been used to register their organisation will be checked regularly as the Council's e-tendering system will generate automatic notifications to this e-mail address when there are updates, changes or messages sent relating to the project. Potential bidders should also check that their organisation's details are correct and kept up to date. Technical questions and assistance regarding the use and operation of the Portal should be addressed to the In-Tend Help Desk - e-mail: support@in-tend.co.uk, telephone number +44 8442728810. Is a Recurrent Procurement Type? : No ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/86ae55d1-a295-4897-8307-81e20d6833a9 | | Notice type | Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Other - | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 6 Aug 2019 | | Submission deadline | 18 Sep 2019 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 13 Oct 2019 - 30 May 2020 | | 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 | READING BOROUGH COUNCIL | | Locality | BERKSHIRE | | Post town | Reading | | Postcode | RG1 2LU | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLJ South East (England) | | ITL 2 | TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire | | ITL 3 | TLJ16 Berkshire West | | Local authority | Reading | | Electoral ward | Abbey | | Westminster constituency | Reading Central | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support ### Codes - 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support ## Release History - 6 Aug 2019 at 19:20 - TenderAmendment - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/86ae55d1-a295-4897-8307-81e20d6833a9 - 6 Aug 2019 at 19:18 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/86ae55d1-a295-4897-8307-81e20d6833a9 ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/86ae55d1-a295-4897-8307-81e20d6833a9 6th August 2019 - Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder - https://in-tendhost.co.uk/readingbc/aspx/ Additional information on how to apply for this contract ## Notice URLs - https://in-tendhost.co.uk/readingbc - https://in-tendhost.co.uk/readingbc/aspx/Home ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-7dd81fb5-019a-4c1d-966c-20a9a99cca8b. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-7dd81fb5-019a-4c1d-966c-20a9a99cca8b.json.