Enabling sustainable transport technology solutions for the blue light sector

In recent years the blue light sector has come under increasing pressure to deliver effective and efficient services that guarantee public safety. One of the ways it has been tackling this is by improving service delivery through innovative and emerging technology. A new agreement for transport management technology, available through Crown Commercial Service (CCS), will enable the sector to continue this transformation sustainably.

The re-branded Transport Technology and Associated Services [RM6099] framework, launched in October 2021, builds and expands on the success of Traffic Management Technology 2, which expired last year.

The new framework will continue to deliver core services and products for the sector, such as cameras including Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), CCTV, speed cameras, and transport signage and pedestrian management and control systems, but there will be a much stronger focus on sustainable technology.

Blue light customers can now procure sustainable solutions to help them on their carbon net zero journey, including energy efficient light emitting diode (LED) pedestrian street lighting, electric vehicle charging solutions and hydrogen transportation systems, through a dedicated sustainable transport technologies lot. It is just one of a range of solutions from CCS designed to help customers with decarbonisation across their procurement portfolio.

Transport Technology and Associated Services went live on 26 October 2021 and will run for four years. Call-off contract durations can be from two to seven years depending on which Lot is used.

Innovations

The transport technology landscape has evolved, with new product and service offerings becoming available since the launch of Traffic Management Technology 2. The scope of the new agreement, over seven lots, will include the following products and services that will specifically benefit the blue light sector:

Real-time care – Through enabling 5G network capabilities under Lot 4 of the agreement, clinicians and paramedics will be able to collaborate from ambulances even when they are miles apart, enabling crucial efficiencies and reducing the need for some patients to visit A&E.

Responding to emergencies – In the UK, location data is relied upon every minute of the day to support blue light services when they respond to emergency incidents. Every minute counts once an emergency call has been received. The new framework will include the latest geographic information systems (GIS) technology to enable emergency responders to find an address or location quickly.

Monitoring solutions – The new framework will feature the latest available monitoring and enforcement solutions technology, including facial recognition CCTV, real-time body-worn and thermal imaging cameras, which can be used by police officers in a range of scenarios at crowded locations or by fire crews in low visibility areas.

Safer street lighting  – LED technology has been added under Lot 5 of the new agreement to support the Government’s Safer Streets initiative, which aims to provide brighter street lighting to help cut crime and make women and girls feel safer walking the streets at night.

Further innovations

The lots have been simplified and reduced down from 15 to seven. The new structure reduces the need for customers to separate their requirements across multiple lots.

All suppliers are automatically added to Lot 7 (catalogue), making it quicker and easier for them to upload products and for customers to purchase low value items. A move to public sector contracting terms and conditions to create an easier, more flexible route to market and tailored for the customer specific operational needs.

Lotting structure

The lots will comprise:

Lot 1 – Transport Professional Services

Lot 2 – Transport & Pedestrian Control

Lot 3 – Transport Signage & Lighting

Lot 4 – Transport Data Services

Lot 5 – Sustainable Transport Technologies

Lot 6 – Major Transport Solutions

Lot 7 – Catalogue

Customer webinars

To support the launch of Transport Technology and Associated Services, an on-demand webinar is now available here: https://www.crowncommercial.gov.uk/webinar/request/38240/transport-technology-and-associated-services-technology-ccs.

You can find a full list of all the commercial agreements offered by Crown Commercial Service (CCS), alongside details of how CCS can help you build policy considerations into your procurement, in the service’s interactive digital brochure.

To find out more about Transport Technology & Associated Services visit the agreement webpage or contact the CCS Service Desk at info@crowncommercial.gov.uk or 0345 410 2222.