tfl_scp_002246: AVAS Bus Sounder MSQ

Transport for London Overview

TfL was created in 2000 as the integrated body responsible for London’s transport system. TfL is a functional body of the Greater London Authority. Its primary role is to implement the Mayor of London’s Transport Strategy and manage transport services to, from and within London.

TfL manages London’s buses, the Tube network, Docklands Light Railway, Overground and Trams. TfL also runs Santander Cycles, London River Services, Victoria Coach Station, the Emirates Air Line and London Transport Museum. As well as controlling a 580km network of main roads and the city’s 6,000 traffic lights, TfL also regulates London’s taxis and private hire vehicles and the Congestion Charge scheme.

Further background on what TfL does can be found on the TfL website here: https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/about-tfl/what-we-do

Project Overview

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Regulation 138 requires the addition of an Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS) on all new quiet running vehicles. The regulation came into effect for all new vehicle models of this type manufactured after 1st July 2019 and applies to all quiet running vehicles manufactured after 1st July 2021.

Currently, our AVAS for buses plays the TfL Urban Bus Sound on quiet-running buses moving at speeds up to a maximum of 28kph, this sound emanates from the front of the bus. The speakers that are currently in use are of a lower audio fidelity than is ideal for the sound quality but there are other limitations for any suitable sounder to overcome including a limited space/size and minimum IP67rating or above (to prevent water/dirt ingress and withstand bus washing).

Transport for London (TfL) is issuing a Market Sounding Questionnaire (MSQ) to obtain market feedback in relation to the availability of a sounder which can meet the specification requirements for our AVAS bus sounder.

The overarching objective of this MSQ is to identify and test sounders that can meet the specification requirements for TfL’s AVAS bus sounder.

PLEASE NOTE: This exercise does not form part of any formal procurement process. All responses will be carefully considered but will not bind TfL to any particular approach to any procurement, nor will responses be treated as conveying any promise or commitment on the part of the respondent. Any feedback that we receive will be reviewed, analysed, and explored further either to help inform our future bus vehicle specification for AVAS solutions or as part of the TfL AVAS retrofit project.