UK Public Sector Contracts & Tenders

We currently have the need for interpretation (i.e. orally at meetings) and translation services (i.e. of written documents). There will be two separate contracts (one each for interpretation and translation services) commencing on 1 April 2023 for a period of 5 years (3 years + possible 2 year extension contract). This tender is divided into two "Lots"; prospective suppliers may bid for both or either Lot. Lot 1: Simultaneous interpretation at meetings in both languages Lot 2: Document translation from French into English only Additional information: The tender exercise is being managed via the ORR Procurement portal (BRAVO). All tender clarification questions must be raised via the portal.

The objective of this piece of work is to produce dedicated guidance that assists heritage railway operators in designing and implementing effective safety management systems that meet the requirements of ROGs. The guidance will be used to assist individual heritage railways in developing a safety management system that is both appropriate to the nature of their operations and proportionate to the level of risk that is being managed. The finished guidance will be publicly available and form part of ORR's ongoing regulatory strategy with the heritage sector to increase risk management capability at both individual operator level and across the wider sector. Additional information: The tender exercise is being managed via the ORR Procurement portal (BRAVO). All tender clarification questions must be raised via the portal.

The ORR wishes to commission consultants to undertake research in the areas of productivity and efficiency. The research is intended to provide contextual evidence to inform the ORR's assessment of National Highways' RIS3 efficiency proposals.

The aim of this project is the development and application of a gravity model to forecast the demand and revenue impact on flows that deliver large journey time changes as a result of GUT's proposed new services. The gravity model outputs are for use as part of ORR's demand and revenue forecasting suite for forecasting the total demand and revenue impacts of GUT's new services. Also, to deliver a gravity model template for future analysis by ORR. Additional information: The tender exercise is being managed via the ORR Procurement portal (BRAVO). All tender clarification questions must be raised via the portal.

The ORR is seeking an independent supplier to provide a complete end-to-end Alternative Dispute Resolution scheme for the rail industry on a not for profit basis, to include the following key features: a. free to consumers; b. an impartial arbitrator for firms and consumers in resolving disputes; c. run on a not for profit basis; d. issues decisions that are binding on firms but not consumers; and e. a source of evidence and intelligence, drawn from its role resolving disputes, on issues that may cause consumer detriment in the rail industry, the overall passenger experience of raising a complaint about a rail service. Additional information: This requirement is advertised on Finder A Tender: https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/002457-2023?

The ORR is seeking an independent supplier to provide a complete end-to-end Alternative Dispute Resolution scheme for the rail industry on a not for profit basis, to include the following key features: a. free to consumers; b. an impartial arbitrator for firms and consumers in resolving disputes; c. run on a not for profit basis; d. issues decisions that are binding on firms but not consumers; and e. a source of evidence and intelligence, drawn from its role resolving disputes, on issues that may cause consumer detriment in the rail industry, the overall passenger experience of raising a complaint about a rail service.

We're looking for a supplier to use in-person survey (mystery shopping) methods to compare the overall passenger offering for ready to eat food and/or drink that is being obtained by consumers at mainline rail stations in Great Britain (GB) against relevant comparators.

The appointed supplier will measure ORR's data maturity using the 'Data Maturity Assessment for Government' framework provided by the Central Digital and Data Office (hereafter referred to as 'DMA tool'). The tool is fit for purpose for government bodies and is free to use.

This commission is concerned with National Highways' approach to renewals planning and the evidence upon which its plans for RP3 will be based. We would like a consultant to assess the maturity of National Highways' approach with reference to its renewals investment planning roadmap.

The project objective is to assess licence holders' environmental arrangements with reference to licence compliance, alignment with ORR guidance, and quality, in order to create a reputational incentive for licensees.

To date in RP2, National Highway's renewals efficiency reporting and ORR's monitoring has been focused on evidence of delivery of output volumes within the post-efficient funding budget. We would like to better understand how efficiency reporting/monitoring could be developed for reporting: over/under delivery of outputs; performance on other RIS2 KPIs measuring renewals performance; and demonstrating asset stewardship The objectives of this commission are to review aspects of National Highways' efficiency reporting (headwind adjustments and renewals primary evidence) and recommend improvements. Additional information: The tender exercise is being managed via the ORR Procurement portal (BRAVO). All tender clarification questions must be raised via the portal.

Later in 2023, the government will publish its draft RIS. This includes the proposed requirements to be delivered by National Highways, and the financial resources to be provided by the Secretary of State (the SoFA). National Highways' Draft Strategic Business Plan (SBP) details its plans for delivering the requirements set out in the Draft RIS. During the Efficiency Review, we undertake a detailed review of the Draft SBP to confirm that National Highways' plans will deliver the governments requirements (as set out in its Draft RIS) and do so in a way that represents an effective and efficient use of public money. The Efficiency Review will consider whether National Highways' plans have been appropriately costed and will deliver the government's requirements in an efficient manner. However, our advice is not limited to cost, and efficiency. We will also evaluate the quality of National Highways' plans to ensure they provide a robust basis for delivery. Furthermore, we advise government on the performance requirements and targets included in the RIS3 Performance Specification. It is our role to ensure that requirements and targets are sufficiently stretching, supported by appropriate plans and that the RIS package as a whole is challenging and deliverable with the funding available. For context, the second Road Investment Strategy - containing the RIS2 Performance Specification - can also be found on the Department for Transport's website (Road Investment Strategy 2 (RIS2): 2020 to 2025 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)) This commission will inform ORR's advice in each of the areas set out above. To meet ORR's requirements, this commission has been subdivided into the following five lots: Lot 1: Operations, maintenance, renewals and digital Lot 2: Enhancements Lot 3: Safety Lot 4: Environment Lot 5: Economic advice Successful bidders will be responsible for scrutinising aspects of the Draft SBP and providing expert advice and analysis. For each lot, the final deliverable will be a report setting out the consultant's findings. ORR will draw on these reports when developing its advice to the Secretary of State. The advice itself, and the opinions it contains, remain the responsibility of ORR. The ORR project team and consultancy teams will need to work in an integrated manner during the Efficiency Review. In some cases, the boundaries between various lots are overlapping. Therefore, consultants will also need to liaise with each other during the process. Direct engagement with subject-matter experts within National Highways will be required. National Highways and ORR will facilitate interviews and workshops for this purpose. Meetings will typically be attended by both consultants and ORR. The ORR will submit requests for data and information to National Highways on the consultants' behalf via an agreed process for the Efficiency Review.

The objectives of this commission are to: • review and assess the use of the RIS2 earned value measures in by ORR for monitoring and National Highways as management information in RP2; • assess the merit of using earned value measures as a lag/leading indicator for monitoring and reporting on the health of the enhancement portfolio; and • recommend improvements for use in RIS3. Additional information: The tender exercise is being managed via the ORR Procurement portal (BRAVO). All tender clarification questions must be raised via the portal.

Later in 2023, the government will publish its draft RIS. This includes the proposed requirements to be delivered by National Highways, and the financial resources to be provided by the Secretary of State (the SoFA). National Highways' Draft Strategic Business Plan (SBP) details its plans for delivering the requirements set out in the Draft RIS. During the Efficiency Review, we undertake a detailed review of the Draft SBP to confirm that National Highways' plans will deliver the governments requirements (as set out in its Draft RIS) and do so in a way that represents an effective and efficient use of public money. The Efficiency Review will consider whether National Highways' plans have been appropriately costed and will deliver the government's requirements in an efficient manner. However, our advice is not limited to cost, and efficiency. We will also evaluate the quality of National Highways' plans to ensure they provide a robust basis for delivery. Furthermore, we advise government on the performance requirements and targets included in the RIS3 Performance Specification. It is our role to ensure that requirements and targets are sufficiently stretching, supported by appropriate plans and that the RIS package as a whole is challenging and deliverable with the funding available. For context, the second Road Investment Strategy - containing the RIS2 Performance Specification - can also be found on the Department for Transport's website (Road Investment Strategy 2 (RIS2): 2020 to 2025 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)) This commission will inform ORR's advice in each of the areas set out above. To meet ORR's requirements, this commission has been subdivided into the following five lots: Lot 1: Operations, maintenance, renewals and digital Lot 2: Enhancements Lot 3: Safety Lot 4: Environment Lot 5: Economic advice Successful bidders will be responsible for scrutinising aspects of the Draft SBP and providing expert advice and analysis. For each lot, the final deliverable will be a report setting out the consultant's findings. ORR will draw on these reports when developing its advice to the Secretary of State. The advice itself, and the opinions it contains, remain the responsibility of ORR. The ORR project team and consultancy teams will need to work in an integrated manner during the Efficiency Review. In some cases, the boundaries between various lots are overlapping. Therefore, consultants will also need to liaise with each other during the process. Direct engagement with subject-matter experts within National Highways will be required. National Highways and ORR will facilitate interviews and workshops for this purpose. Meetings will typically be attended by both consultants and ORR. The ORR will submit requests for data and information to National Highways on the consultants' behalf via an agreed process for the Efficiency Review.

The project will clarify the legislative bounds of regulatory access price setting for Network Rail and the methodologies that conform to this. This research will identify and outline the range of economically efficient methodologies for setting rail access charges that also fulfil our statutory obligations. Additional information: The tender exercise is being managed via the ORR Procurement portal (BRAVO). All tender clarification questions must be raised via the portal.

The objective of the project is to scrutinise the quality of evidence that NH uses to assure itself that it is compliant with the conditions of its licence. To do this, ORR would like the supplier to sample the evidence base for compliance with three selected conditions from the licence. The purpose of the sampling will be to test the robustness of the evidence used by NH to demonstrate compliance and provide an analysis of the quality, suitability and completeness of that evidence. The three conditions are as follows: 1. Condition 5.15 and 5.16 - Safety 2. Condition 4.1 - Operation and management of the network in the public interest 3. Condition 8.5 - Notification of Licence breach Additional information: The tender exercise is being managed via the ORR Procurement portal (BRAVO). All tender clarification questions must be raised via the portal.

The primary objective of this commission is to support ORR in holding National Highways to account with respect to its delivery of operational activity on the SRN. This will include using established measures of performance, such as the smart motorways national average 10-minute attendance time of traffic officers on All Lane Running (ALR) motorways more than one mile apart. It will also include defining what good operational performance looks like and support ORR's strategic objective for Better Highways. Additional information: The tender exercise is being managed via the ORR Procurement portal (BRAVO). All tender clarification questions must be raised via the portal.

The overall purpose of this work is to support the ORR CTSA team with its technical reviews and recommendations to the IGC on vehicle authorisations. This will require the consultant to have extensive experience with vehicle authorisations in Great Britain and Europe, with an appreciation of the specific arrangements for vehicle authorisation within the Channel Tunnel. Additional information: The tender exercise is being managed via the ORR Procurement portal (BRAVO). All tender clarification questions must be raised via the portal.

The scope of this project covers the calculation of VUCs and the specific objective of this work is to establish the feasibility of using econometrics to calculate VUCs. The first step of the project should apply the econometric approach to calculating marginal costs and then individual vehicles variable usage charges (VUCs). Following this the study should then undertake a comparison between its findings and the findings of the engineering approach as calculated in PR23 (as per the CP7 price list). This should also consider the data Network Rail used in this process. For example, we know that the robustness of econometrics heavily depends on the quality and quantity of the data available and Network Rail may not have this. Any recommendations should take such issues into account. Finally, the study should come up with recommendations on whether it is appropriate to use two different approaches and how to do so effectively, taking into account their respective weaknesses and strengths.