Traffic and Parking Services

This preliminary market engagement notice provides a clear overview of the intended comprehensive traffic and parking services tender for two London boroughs. While it offers good initial information, significant concerns arise from the highly restrictive 'all or nothing' requirement for a single service provider, which severely limits competition and impacts fairness.

The tender is in a 'planning' status as an Expression of Interest (EOI), which explains the absence of a defined procedure type and liable person. The EOI deadline is reasonable. CPV codes are appropriately assigned. However, the 'all or nothing' requirement for a single provider for such a broad and high-value contract could raise proportionality and competition concerns under public procurement regulations if not robustly justified in the subsequent formal tender.

The description clearly outlines the purpose of the EOI and the comprehensive scope of services required. The 'all or nothing' requirement for service providers is unambiguously stated. A minor ambiguity exists regarding the client's relationship with sub-contractors, though it likely implies the prime contractor's sole responsibility. Evaluation criteria are not specified, which is typical for an EOI.

Basic information such as title, reference, organization, estimated value, duration, and location are provided. However, the tender is missing the procedure type, liable person, and one of the four listed documents failed to download, impacting the overall completeness. Evaluation criteria are not present, which is expected for an EOI but would be a critical omission for a formal tender.

The requirement for a single service provider to deliver *all* listed services across *two* boroughs for a 10-year, €48M contract is highly restrictive. This 'all or nothing' approach significantly limits market access and competition, potentially favoring a very small number of large, integrated providers and disadvantaging smaller or specialized firms. The absence of e-submission also presents a barrier to equal access.

The lack of electronic submission support is a significant practical drawback, potentially increasing administrative burden for interested parties. The failure of one document to download also poses a practical inconvenience. However, key practical details like contract start date, duration, and estimated value are clearly specified.

There is a direct contradiction between the 'Characteristics: Divided into Parts' and the description's explicit statement of 'one contract across both boroughs' and 'a single contract will be awarded.' Additionally, key fields such as 'Type' and 'Procedure' are marked as 'None,' and 'Liable Person' is empty, indicating incomplete data population. Dates provided are logical.

The tender does not explicitly mention green procurement or social criteria. However, 'Innovation and Service Enhancement' is listed as one of the service elements, indicating a positive, albeit general, focus on innovation within the service delivery. It is not EU funded.