--- title: "TVCA-PROC-0869 - Autonomous Passenger Service Vehicle Trial at Teesworks - Pre-tender Market Engagement" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06afc8" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06afc8" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06afc8.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06afc8.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "TEES VALLEY COMBINED AUTHORITY" published: "2026-06-08" --- # TVCA-PROC-0869 - Autonomous Passenger Service Vehicle Trial at Teesworks - Pre-tender Market Engagement Buyer: TEES VALLEY COMBINED AUTHORITY Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06afc8 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06afc8) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06afc8.json) ## Summary The Tees Valley Combined Authority is in the planning stage for an upcoming procurement process titled "TVCA-PROC-0869 - Autonomous Passenger Service Vehicle Trial at Teesworks Pre-tender Market Engagement." This initiative falls under the goods category, specifically focusing on specialist vehicles, with the main location being Darlington, United Kingdom. The procurement process aims to conduct a 14-week trial of an autonomous passenger service vehicle and is set to begin on 31 August 2026, ending on 30 November 2026. As of 08 June 2026, this process is in the pre-tender market engagement stage, inviting market participants to express interest and engage with the procurement entity by 30 June 2026. This tender presents an excellent opportunity for businesses specialising in autonomous vehicle technologies and transport solutions keen to leverage innovative trials to enhance their portfolio. Companies with experience in developing or supplying cutting-edge transport technologies will find this tender fitting, especially those focused on integrating their solutions within the public transit infrastructure. The pre-tender engagement allows these businesses to influence the procurement process and shape a tailored proposal, fostering potential growth through public sector collaboration. The Tees Valley Combined Authority's initiative to engage suppliers early demonstrates a commitment to collaborative procurement, paving the way for robust partnership opportunities. ## Notice Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) (the "Contracting Authority") seeks to engage the market through this Pre-Tender Market Engagement (PTME) exercise in preparation for the potential procurement of a supplier to conduct a 14-week trial of an autonomous Passenger Service Vehicle. Through this PTME, the Contracting Authority aims to: *Understand the market's appetite to be involved in the potential future procurement exercise; *Validate the supplier's proposal; *Understand the capacity of the market and timescales for delivery; *Understand potential risks associated with the procurement; *Understand opportunities, costs and considerations; and *Provide potential suppliers with an opportunity to raise queries and points of consideration in advance of any potential procurement exercise. Collaboration with the supply chain is central to our approach to delivering the proposed Autonomous Passenger Service Vehicle Trial at Teesworks. While the Authority will maintain commercial confidentiality of information received during the PTME, its output will be communicated to potential suppliers as part of any subsequent procurement exercises. To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://teesvalley.delta-esourcing.com/respond/44HPHP93CV If you experience any technical difficulties from accessing the above url, then please contact the Delta eSourcing Helpdesk on call 0800 923 9236 or email helpdesk@delta-esourcing.com. For more information about this opportunity, please visit the eSourcing portal at: https://teesvalley.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Darlington:-Specialist-vehicles./44HPHP93CV To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://teesvalley.delta-esourcing.com/respond/44HPHP93CV ### Planning Information To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://teesvalley.delta-esourcing.com/respond/44HPHP93CV If you experience any technical difficulties from accessing the above url, then please contact the Delta eSourcing Helpdesk on call 0800 923 9236 or email helpdesk@delta-esourcing.com. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/053803-2026 | | Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Goods | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 8 Jun 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 30 Jun 2026 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 30 Aug 2026 - 30 Nov 2026 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planning | | Lots status | Planning | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | TEES VALLEY COMBINED AUTHORITY | | Locality | DARLINGTON | | Post town | Darlington | | Postcode | DL2 1NJ | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLC North East (England) | | ITL 2 | TLC3 Tees Valley | | ITL 3 | TLC33 Darlington | | Local authority | Darlington | | Electoral ward | Sadberge & Middleton St George | | Westminster constituency | Stockton West | | Delivery location | TLC1 Tees Valley and Durham, TLC12 South Teesside | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation ### Codes - 34114000 - Specialist vehicles ## Release History - 8 Jun 2026 at 12:54 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/053803-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/053803-2026 8th June 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - https://teesvalley.delta-esourcing.com/respond/44HPHP93CV - https://teesvalley.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Darlington:-Specialist-vehicles./44HPHP93CV - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents ## 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-06afc8. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06afc8.json.