Solent Transport - Future Transport Zone Dynamic Purchasing System Lot 7 - Drones - Supply & Operation, Operating Infrastructure & Associated Equipment, Goods & Services

Portsmouth City Council (the council) on behalf of Solent Transport has established a multi Lot multi-supplier Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) to support the delivery of a Future Transport Zone (FTZ) within the Solent area. The establishment of the DPS was detailed in contract notice 2021/S 000-004302.

The purpose of this further notice is to announce the opening of an additional Lot to the DPS for applicants: Solent Transport - Future Transport Zone Dynamic Purchasing System - Lot 7: Drones - Supply & Operation, Operating Infrastructure & Associated Equipment, Goods & Services.

Lot 7 is being opened for the procurement of drones supply & operation, operating infrastructure & associated equipment, goods & services to enable Solent Transport to deliver a Drones for Medical Logistics Project which forms part of the Solent Transport Future Transport Zone bid.

The project has initially focused on the transportation of medical cargo from the UK mainland to the Isle of Wight. The aim is to expand this to the wider Solent area and to demonstrate the viability of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) in this environment.

The project is designed to deliver an operational Uncrewed Traffic Management (UTM) system for drone flights across the Solent area and surrounding region, focusing on medical use applications.

In order to provide for all aspects of the requirements, the Lot will be split into three sub-lots:

(Suppliers can apply for any or all lots)

Full details of the activities to be delivered via Lot 7 Drones - Supply & Operation, Operating Infrastructure & Associated Equipment, Goods & Services are captured in Section II.2.4.

The entirety of the call off processes, contracting options and access set out within the original DPS contract notice will apply to the operation of Lot 7.

For completeness, a corrigenda notice to 2021/S 000-004302 will also be published.

The target date for operational commencement of Lot 7 is 1st September 2022. The initial term of Lot 7 will mirror the duration of the FTZ programme, which is due to end on 30th June 2024.

However, as per the operation of the overarching DPS, the operation of Lot 7 may be extended beyond this term on a rolling basis in increments to be determined without limitation in respect of number and length of extension periods applied.

The total value of the services that could be let via Lot 7 of the DPS is estimated to be between £1.7 million and £4.5million. The range varies as the specification is to be confirmed following completion of phase 2 of the project.

The value will be divided between the sublots:

● Lot 7A UTM- approx £1 million to £2.5 million

● Lot 7B UAS - approximately £500,000 to £1.5 million

● Lot 7C Additional associated equipment, goods & services - approximately £200,000 - £500,000

Lot 7 will be established in accordance with the following programme:

• Issue of Supplemental FTS Contract Notice & Lot 7 Document Pack - 28.06.2022
• Deadline for Applications for Lots 7 - 12:00 on 29.07.2022
• Lot 7 Commencement - 01.09.2022

Candidates can apply to be a member of any number of the newly opened lot 7 sublots or existing Lots on the DPS as long as they meet the stated minimum criteria.

Application is by way of completed SRQ and associated documents via the Council's e-sourcing solution Intend by the deadline stated above. The SRQ and associated documentation can be accessed via InTend.