ICT14223 Future Bus System 2 - Bus Contract Management System

Descriptions

TfL has the responsibility for the London Bus Service, which includes planning routes, tendering routes to bus operators, specifying service levels and ensuring service quality. As part of the Future Bus System 2 (FBS2) project, TfL is currently considering its options for the procurement of a Bus Tenders and Bus Contracts Management system that can manage the end-to-end process and facilitate efficient communication between TfL and Bus Operators, all whilst maintaining alignment with the broader TfL technology strategy and creating operational efficiencies through the use of technology (for example, removing the need for multiple data entries). As part of this process, TfL also wants to consider how any potential solution could make use of open standards to allow for integration with other TfL platforms and how it may provide flexibility to adapt during the life of any contract to ensure that the system continually meets the operational needs of TfL. To assist with this, TfL is undertaking an early market engagement exercise and invites all interested parties to participate by expressing interest in response to this Prior Information Notice, reviewing the FBS2 Market Brochure and responding to the FBS2 Market Sounding Questionnaire (MSQ). Currently, TfL manages approximately 600 bus contracts with various Bus Operators, including contracts for school services and rail replacement services. TfL delivers its objective for "maintaining and enhancing a reliable, accessible and high-quality bus network across London" by planning and specifying the bus network and contracting out the operation of the bus services to private Bus Operator's through competitive tendering processes. As part of this, Quality Incentive Contracts (QIC's) were introduced by LBSL as a direct response to rising costs and declining performance under the previous contracting regime. The QIC's are a form of gross cost contract with a payment mechanism linked to reliability in terms of bus arrivals at stops. The arrivals at stops are measured either on Headway for High Frequency Routes or Scheduled for Low Frequency Routes. For each Route LBSL sets a performance standard based on the previous performance of the route, and the route characteristics. Based on the Bus Operator's actual performance, a bonus of up to 15% or a deduction of up to 10% of the contract price may be applied depending on the measure of reliability against the performance standard figure. This is just one example of a calculation that the new Bus Tenders and Bus Contracts Management system will need to be capable of undertaking. It will be required to have significant calculation capabilities, which are further defined alongside other system requirements within the Market Brochure.