IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support in Bristol – Framework Lead

The current contract for IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support in Bristol is projected to end on 23/2/2018 and may be available for re-tender.The current contract for IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support in Bristol included the operation and maintenance of the English and Dutch motorway and trunk road networks. Since 2011 they have teamed up in order to develop requirements for a new generation of traffic management (centre) systems that may be jointly procured. Setting up this architecture is being executed under the CHARM programme.For the CHARM Pre Commercial Procurement project (PCP), the consortium consists of the Highways Agency and Rijkswaterstaat.The objective of the CHARM-PCP project is to create new modules for the CHARM architecture that offer radical improvement of traffic management services. The development of innovative modules should contribute to optimizing the performance of the road network, improved safety and reduced CO2 emissions.The following topics have been selected for the development of innovative modules:Advanced Distributed Network Management (developing a module that provides state-of-the-art-and-beyond automated support for management of large regional and national-size traffic networks).Advanced Traffic Predictions (developing a module that provides state-of-the-art-and-beyond real time, near future prediction of traffic conditions using simulation and modelling techniques).Support of Co-operative ITS Functions (developing a module that supports the implementation of cooperative systems services requiring participation of intelligent infrastructure).The challenges have been identified from earlier work conducted by the CHARM partners. The CHARM-PCP project challenges the market place to develop innovative traffic management modules that fit within the proposed new CHARM architecture. At the end of the project the selected innovations will be tested in an operational TMC, procured with the new architecture. The project partners envisage the development of separate modules for the complete challenge and are not looking for modules that cover more than one challenge.The CHARM-PCP has three lots:one for each challenge. In each lot we use a phased approach. Phase 1 is intended to demonstrate feasibility. Phase 2 is for the development and evaluation of prototypes or demonstrators. Phase 3 is intended for the original development and testing of a limited volume of first products/ services (test series). In each phase bids are competing with each other for assignments.