---
title: "SOL - Connected Autonomous Vehicle (CAV)"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0299e2"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0299e2"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0299e2.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0299e2.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "METROPOLITAN BOROUGH OF SOLIHULL"
published: "2021-03-09"
---

# SOL - Connected Autonomous Vehicle (CAV)

Buyer: METROPOLITAN BOROUGH OF SOLIHULL  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0299e2

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## Summary

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council (SMBC) is conducting the procurement for a Connected Autonomous Vehicle (CAV) as part of its Low Carbon Future Mobility project to explore new low and zero-carbon transport solutions. This tender is classified under the goods category, specifically for motor vehicles designed for the transport of ten or more persons. The procurement method is limited, negotiated without publication of a contract notice, due to the technical constraints of the market. The contract was awarded on 9th March 2021, with a project delivery period extending for at least two years from April 2021, primarily focused on enhancing mass transport options in the UK Central Infrastructure Programme region.

This opportunity presents significant growth potential for businesses specialising in connected and autonomous vehicle technology, particularly those with expertise in mass transport solutions. Companies with a proven track record in deploying CAVs or those capable of providing robust support services related to such vehicles would be particularly well-suited to compete. The project aims to increase understanding and application of CAV technology amongst regional stakeholders, thus fostering an environment ripe for innovation and collaboration in public transport initiatives.

## Notice

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council (SMBC) is delivering the Low Carbon Future Mobility (LCFM) project within the UK Central Infrastructure Programme. The project is assessing a breadth of new solutions to delivering low / zero carbon active and mass transport solutions. Working closely with Borough and regional stakeholders there is an identified desire to learn how Connected Autonomous Vehicle (CAV) technology may in the future be incorporated into both the Council's and private company's operations, as a way of providing an increased number of mass transport options to the public, addressing the over-reliance on privately-owned single-occupancy motor vehicles. Current trends indicate that if car sales continue along existing trajectories then moving in and around the Borough will become increasingly problematic at key pinch-points, so pathfinding interventions must be accelerated. To support this ambition SMBC is seeking to procure one proven mass-people-moving connected autonomous vehicle (CAV), and associated supplier support, for use across the Borough and potentially wider West Midlands region over a period of a minimum of two years from April 2021. The vehicle will be loaned out to key regional stakeholders to deliver defined use case applications with the ambition of increasing regional understanding and awareness of the technology, helping the authority apply learning to future highways, residential, commercial and transport interchange infrastructure development. The project is not a technology development / feasibility study, rather a use case application demonstrator.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

SMBC wish to purchase one Connected Autonomous Vehicle (CAV) capable of being driven both manually, i.e. by traditional steering wheel and foot pedals, and autonomously. The vehicle must be suitable for operation on the public highway, so as to maximise potential future application. The vehicle must be able to carry ten or more persons, including the safety driver, simultaneously so as to fit the core project outcome of contributing to the demonstration of autonomy in mass people and / or goods movement. Alongside the purchase of the vehicle, appropriate levels of on-going project delivery support must be provided so as to maximise delivery of the intended use. Both the vehicle and the supplier must possess and be able to demonstrate a proven track record in the movement of people by fully autonomous means, as the intended use is for multiple use case application across varying locations, not technology development. The project delivery period is for a minimum of two years from contract start in April 2021. The vehicle will be loaned out to key regional stakeholders to deliver defined use case applications with the ambition of increasing regional understanding and awareness of the technology, helping the authority apply learning to future highways, residential, commercial and transport interchange infrastructure development.

### Procurement Information

Prior to conducting the negotiated procedure, considerable efforts were made to identify alternative suppliers who could meet SMBC's requirements. This included engaging CAV-specialist consultants in development of the FBC. To date, no alternative suppliers have been identified. Due to the market for purpose-built, autonomous vehicles still being under-developed only one supplier has been identified that is able to meet the requirements of the project.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/004721-2021 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Limited |
| Procurement method details | Negotiated without publication of a contract notice |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 9 Mar 2021 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 9 Mar 2021 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £250,000 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | METROPOLITAN BOROUGH OF SOLIHULL |
| Locality | SOLIHULL |
| Post town | Not specified |
| Postcode | N/A |
| Country | Not specified |
| ITL 1 | Not specified |
| ITL 2 | Not specified |
| ITL 3 | Not specified |
| Local authority | Not specified |
| Electoral ward | Not specified |
| Westminster constituency | Not specified |
| Delivery location | TLG32 Solihull |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | RICHMOND DESIGN & MARKETING |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation
- 60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

### Codes

- 34100000 - Motor vehicles
- 34120000 - Motor vehicles for the transport of 10 or more persons
- 34200000 - Vehicle bodies, trailers or semi-trailers
- 34300000 - Parts and accessories for vehicles and their engines
- 60130000 - Special-purpose road passenger-transport services

## Release History

- 9 Mar 2021 at 15:31 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/004721-2021

## Notice URLs

- http://www.solihull.gov.uk

## 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-h6vhtk-0299e2. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0299e2.json.