---
title: "Sunderland Advanced Mobility Shuttle Research and Development Project"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-04e68f"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-04e68f"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04e68f.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04e68f.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SUNDERLAND"
published: "2025-02-21"
---

# Sunderland Advanced Mobility Shuttle Research and Development Project

Buyer: THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SUNDERLAND  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-04e68f

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## Summary

The Council of the City of Sunderland has completed the procurement process for the Sunderland Advanced Mobility Shuttle Research and Development Project, under the industry category of "Buses and coaches" (CPV 34121000). The process focused on the supply of an autonomous shuttle and related services to support this project. Located in Sunderland (region UKC23), this procurement reached the award stage with the contract being awarded on 13th February 2025. The procurement method utilised was without prior publication of a call for competition, allowable under Regulation 32(5)(a) of the Public Contract Regulations 2015, due to the unique and urgent requirements of the project.

This tender offers significant business growth opportunities, particularly for firms specialising in autonomous vehicle technology and sustainable urban transport solutions. The project aimed to define a sustainable future for urban mobility by leveraging zero-emission shuttles. Given the very specific and technical nature of the requirements, businesses with expertise in research and development of innovative transport solutions, especially those capable of providing comprehensive operational and professional services, would have been well-suited to compete. The awarded contract to OXA Autonomy Limited signifies a substantial opportunity in pioneering autonomous shuttle technologies within urban settings.

## Notice

Supply of an autonomous shuttle and provision of related services to support the delivery of the Sunderland Advanced Mobility Shuttle Research and Development project

### Lot Information

Lot 1

The manufacture, supply and delivery of a fully autonomous shuttle, together with all necessary operational and professional services to support the delivery of the externally funded Sunderland Advanced Mobility Shuttle Research and Development project ("the Project") during the initial period 1st January to 31st March 2025 (subject to options to extend in the event that further external funding is secured to extend the project thereafter). The purpose of the Project is to help define a more sustainable future for urban mobility by demonstrating the feasibility of a commercially viable urban public transport solution using autonomous zero-emission shuttles.

Options: Potential option to extend the research and development Project subject to the receipt of further external grant funding for the project from Innovate UK.

### Procurement Information

Given the specific and unique nature of the Project, namely it is an experimental and temporary R&D project sponsored by IUK in order to trial autonomous vehicle technology in a public setting, and the urgent need arising to safeguard the grant and deliver the Project, the Council is entitled to directly appoint the contractor in accordance with Regulation 32(5)(a) (use of negotiated procedure without prior publication for award of supply contracts for R&D projects) of the Public Contract Regulations 2015.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/006749-2025 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Limited |
| Procurement method details | Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 21 Feb 2025 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 13 Feb 2025 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £305,415 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Cancelled |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SUNDERLAND |
| Locality | SUNDERLAND |
| Post town | Sunderland |
| Postcode | SR1 3AA |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLC North East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear |
| ITL 3 | TLC44 Sunderland |
| Local authority | Sunderland |
| Electoral ward | Millfield |
| Westminster constituency | Sunderland Central |
| Delivery location | TLC23 Sunderland |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | OXA AUTONOMY |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation

### Codes

- 34121000 - Buses and coaches

## Release History

- 21 Feb 2025 at 13:36 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/006749-2025

## Notice URLs

- http://www.sunderland.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-04e68f. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04e68f.json.