Open Electric Vehicle (EV) chargepoint data

Description

Summary of the work Public EV chargepoint data is not openly available to enable the consumer to locate chargepoints. We need to understand what the best way is to make the data available to meet all stakeholder needs. We need to confirm the feasibility and application of data standards to support the outcomes. Expected Contract Length 6-10 weeks for discovery 10-14 weeks for alpha Latest start date Monday 30 August 2021 Budget Range £100 - £150k for discovery £200 - £300k for alpha Why the Work is Being Done DfT have recently consulted to improve the consumer experience at public chargepoints, which included four core sections to ensure the roll out of EVs to meet our 2030 and net zero targets. A core element included open data to support the transition to EVs and enable innovators to present the data in a useful way back to the consumer. We are undertaking the discovery to understand the consumer and industry needs, and to identify whether existing approaches in the transport, energy and other utilities sectors could meet those needs. If we do not complete a discovery, we risk being locked into an expensive technical solution that is not future proofed or aligned with other industry data initiatives. Problem to Be Solved Public EV chargepoint data is not openly available apart from a few commercial companies. In order to easily locate chargepoints that are suitable for their needs, open data is essential to supporting innovation in the sector and providing services back to the EV consumer. There are a variety of stakeholders, so we need to understand what the best way is to make the data available to meet all of their needs. We need to confirm the feasibility and application of data standards to support the outcomes. Who Are the Users EV consumers – who drive and EV and have different requirements based on their routines, reasons for using the EV and those who have accessibility needs Data providers / aggregators – who need the data to present the data back through innovative solutions to the consumer Energy, transport and utilities sectors – who need the data to balance the energy system and develop future solutions such as Mobility as a Service Chargepoint operators – organisations who hold the data and we will need to engage with to develop the solution for open data Work Already Done We have conducted user research and this will be ongoing to understand the end user. We have consulted with industry on open data through our improving the consumer experience at public chargepoints consultation and have over 2000 responses. We have consulted and worked with industry, including the developers, on the use of the Open Chargepoint Interface Protocol (OCPI) as a data standard. We have worked with a number of stakeholders to gather research and are also working with Modernising Energy Data Access, Applications and the Electric Vehicle Energy Taskforce. Existing Team We have a small policy team (approx. 3.) in OZEV and we have a data and digital team in DfT who will provide oversight and central governance. Current Phase Discovery Skills & Experience • Provide demonstratable evidence of a data driven project that you have taken through discovery phase according to GDS guidelines for a government department • Provide demonstratable evidence of how you’ve developed a data solution that didn’t require the use of proprietary software, not creating a data monopoly that could be used by multiple sectors • Experience, understanding, analysis, describe and provide options/recommendations for: Evaluating data standards for stakeholder needs. Different data sharing approaches to make data available. Technical and operating model requirements • Describe the specific innovative technical approach or solution you are proposing that would align with the Modernising Energy Data workstreams and the EV energy taskforce • Provide demonstratable evidence that you have worked across different sectors, including opening data that has been re-used across industries • Provide demonstratable evidence of experience of gathering evidence where stakeholders may have commercial concerns with being fully open in their responses Nice to Haves • Provide demonstratable evidence of previous experience in conducting a data discovery for central government at an industry level Work Location Mainly remote working, with minimal potential of visits for presentations or meetings at the DfT London office. Working Arrangments Full time Security Clearance Basic Additional T&Cs There will be a break clause between Discovery and Alpha should the needs of the project or the department change. No. of Suppliers to Evaluate 5 Proposal Criteria • Demonstrable evidence of the approach and methodology to the discovery project planning and delivery, identifying the main stages and activities proposed at each stage (20%) • Clear demonstration of how the approach or solution meets user needs (20%) • Describe how risks and dependencies have been identified and what approaches have been offered to manage and mitigate them (20%) • Estimated timeframes for the work (10%) Cultural Fit Criteria • Describe how you will be transparent and collaborative when making decisions, being open with industry (3%) • Describe how you propose to work with our team and suppliers (3%) • What provisions are undertaken to support and encourage in work progression/ development to acquire new skills relevant to the contract? (2%) • What actions have you taken to improve your workforce wellbeing i.e. implementing the Mental Health at Work commitment. What do you have planned which is measurable throughout the contract? (2%) Payment Approach Fixed price Assessment Method • Case study • Work history • Presentation Evaluation Weighting Technical competence 70% Cultural fit 10% Price 20% Questions from Suppliers 1. Have you considered mandating openchargemap.org?It is free, open-source and publicly maintained. It is global, which makes it much easier to develop API protocols for applications. Many private platforms just pull in data from here. The discovery is expected to map out existing tools that can be utilised to support open public electric vehicle chargepoint data. We expect the discovery to be driven by the user needs, including consumers, public and private bodies. 2. Does the survey data has associated location data? The Open Chargepoint Interface Protocol includes location data. 3. How frequently is source refreshed? The discovery is expected to understand the different stakeholder needs for public electric vehicle chargepoint data. This includes the frequency of the data being refreshed. 4. What is format of the data collected? The majority of chargepoint operators use the Open Chargepoint Interface Protocol. 5. Do you have information on vehicle type and make pertaining to a location? We do not have this information or expect to collect this. 6. Do you consider similar experience for projects delivered overseas? Yes, please include similar experience for projects delivered overseas. 7. Do you prefer open source GIS applications for this analysis? We expect any analysis to be conducted using open-source software / applications. 8. Please could the Department clarify to what extent it is looking for the supplier to provide wireframes for the Alpha versus a functioning technical solution? This is for discovery only, we are not considering the technical solution for alpha yet and will re-tender for the alpha phase. 9. Dependent on the outcome of the Discovery exercise the Alpha solution could take different forms, and therefore have different costs. With this in mind, please could the Department clarify how it wishes suppliers to price the Alpha component of this tender? We will re-tender for alpha. 10. As this is a discovery why are you asking for a technical approach/solution in your essential experience criteria? We expect at the end of the discovery to have a proposed way forward into alpha which considers the existing industry technical solutions. 11. Can consortiums bid for this opportunity, if the consortium lead party is on the framework? Yes we welcome bids from consortiums. 12. Would you accept more than one example, within 100 words, for the Essential and Nice to Have questions? Yes we will accept more than one example. 13. How will price be evaluated? Total price, rate card or a combination? Total price. 14. Will the scores from the evidencing round be taken through to final evaluation? Or will they only be used for the purposes of shortlisting suppliers? The scores will not be carried forward and will only be used for shortlisting suppliers. 15. Has any other supplier been engaged with this project so far? No, a technical data discovery has not been commenced yet. 16. Do you have any expectations on roles you are expecting suppliers to provide? This is up to the supplier to propose the roles to carry out a successful data discovery. 17. In regard to clarification question 10, we agree with your response suggesting that a technical approach/solution would be formed at the end of Discovery. With that in mind, how would you like suppliers to answer question 4, which is asking suppliers to describe a technical approach/solution at tender stage, not at the conclusion of Discovery? Would we not first need to deliver Discovery to propose a technical approach or solution? Please describe your approach to developing this in the discovery, rather than describing the solution – please give an example when you have done this before. 18. In regard to clarification question 9, the contract notice suggests this procurement is for a Discovery and Alpha, confirming timeframes, budget and that there is a break clause between Discovery and Alpha in case project needs change. However, the answer to question 9 suggests Alpha would be re-tendered. Will Alpha definitely be re-tendered and this clarification question should be seen as an update? Or will it only be retendered if necessary? Alpha will definitely be re-tendered for. 19. For the first evaluation round (evidence), what would you expect to see from an answer for it to be deemed ‘exceeding’ and score 3 marks? The supplier should answer the question with the best evidence of a quality nature that can be presented. The evaluators will decide if the answer given if sufficient to warrant an exceed. 20. As per DOS guidelines ‘You should only provide one example for each essential or nice-to-have requirement’, are you only requesting one example per skills and experience question? As per DOS guidelines, you are recommended to only provide one example for each requirement but we will accept more than one example. Please be mindful that you only have 100 words to reply with. 21. How would you like suppliers to present expenses (separate rechargeable or included in fixed price)? Please include within your fixed price. 22. Are you able to supply (or signpost to) further information on the Modernising Energy Data workstreams and the EV energy taskforce so suppliers are considering their response to question 4 from a consistent set of baseline information thus enabling you to compare suppliers like for like? More information on MED can be found through this link https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/modernising-energy-data 23. Do you envisage that you would follow DfT’s architectural standards and have the proposed solution appraised by the DfT architecture board? Yes, we would expect engagement with our data architects and to understand the alignment with other DfT ongoing data projects. 24. For question 4, are you looking for a previous example of an innovative approach or solution, or are you looking for us to describe technical approaches that you may take? Please describe the technical approach you would suggest. 25. Will this discovery go through the formal GDS Assessment (with Assessors from GDS)? Our reading of this tender is that the service is not transactional at this point, so a self-assessment is sufficient. Please could you provide guidance. Self assessment is sufficient for the discovery. 26. Will this service be subject to GDS spend controls and service assessments? Self assessment is sufficient for the discovery. We will work with GDS for Alpha and Beta. 27. With reference to question 3, are you asking us to describe the options that we would do rather than our experience of where we have done this, which is the usual approach with stage 1 questions where there is a 100 word limit. Please provide any relevant experience where you have done this before. 28. With reference to question 2, is the intention to drive Open Source selection criteria, excluding hosting? Yes. 29. You have indicated that this procurement is for Discovery only, although budget and timings for Alpha have also been included in the DOS advert. You have also stated “There will be a break clause between Discovery and Alpha should the needs of the project or the department change.” which suggests Alpha will be part of the contract with the winning supplier. Is there an option for the supplier who delivers discovery to also deliver alpha without going through an additional tender process? No, we will be retendering for Alpha. 30. Regarding Question 4 (“Describe the specific innovative technical approach or solution …”), can you clarify the nature of the response being sought – i.e. are you looking for suppliers to propose a technical approach/solution to be progressed in the Discovery, or the use of a previous evidence/example conducted by the supplier? Please describe the technical approach you would suggest. 31. Please could the Department clarify whether it is looking for bidders to provide an experience statement or a summary methodology statement for this project in response to Essential Experience requirement “Describe the specific innovative technical approach or solution you are proposing that would align with the Modernising Energy Data workstreams and the EV energy taskforce? Please describe the technical approach you would suggest. 32. In the ‘work that’s already been done’ section you reference that user research was conducted. Can you clarify who did the user research, and can the outputs be provided to applicants? This was conducted by KPMG and this was fed into the consultation that closed in April. The outputs will be available to the consultancy who wins the tender. 33. Can you please advise us on the timelines of the procurement i.e Short listing of companies, notifying, presentation, anticipated contract award and Start of work. We need this information for internal planning.Please can you inform us what the data format is e.g csv, xml, json or in paper format. Publish requirements on 09 JulyStage 1 Clarification period ends on 11:59 AM on 16 JulyStage 1 Bids received by 11:59 PM on 23 JulyStage 1 Moderation/Consensus Completed by 30 JulyInvite suppliers to 2nd Stage (Max 5) 02 August Stage 2 clarification ends on 11:59 PM on 04 AugustStage 2 Bids received by 11:59 AM on 06 AugustStage 2 Moderation/Consensus 16/17 AugustContract Award 20 AugustContract Start 30 AugustWe have some data in json, however we expect to work with industry to understand the existing data formats. 34. Which of the proposals in https://esc-non-prod.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/2020/10/EVET_moving-from-proposals-to-actions.pdf is this project expected to address? Recommendation 12. 35. On question “Provide demonstratable evidence of a data driven project that you have taken through discovery phase according to GDS guidelines for a government department”, are you specifically seeking experience with a government department or would an agency/public body as listed at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations be equally relevant? We are seeking experience with a government department but would accept experience at a relevant public body. 36. For Question 4, “Describe the specific innovative technical approach or solution you are proposing that would align with the Modernising Energy Data workstreams and the EV energy taskforce”, do you want us to give evidence of something we have done before that aligns? Please could you also explain the ways in which you expect it to align? We would expect the response to include an understanding how open EV chargepoint data could be integrated with the Modernising Energy Data work and the approach taken to ensure engagement. This is about the approach and consideration of work happening across other sectors which will support our outcome. Relevant examples are welcome. We also expect consideration to be given to EVET recommendation 12 of open EV chargepoint data and how we can support the outcome highlighted in the report https://esc-non-prod.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/2020/10/EVET_moving-from-proposals-to-actions.pdf. 37. **** Please note the Clarification Questions period has closed at 11:59 **** There are 5 questions yet to be answered which will be added shortly but questions asked after 11:59 will not be answered. 38. Q&A response 33 suggests that suppliers will only be given 4 days in which to respond to Stage 2. This seems like an unusually short response time for a Stage 2 bid. Would you consider extending the deadline? 4 days should be sufficient however, I will endeavour to Invite suppliers to 2nd Stage before 2nd August. 39. Are suppliers permitted to use multiple examples within a single answer? See answer 20. 40. Please could you confirm if Stage 1 scores will be used in the final evaluation at the end of Stage 2? See answer 14 41. Are we able to get access the results of the consultation? Yes, the awarded party will be able to see the relevant results of the consultation. 42. Is there an incumbent supplier who has undertook the research? KPMG undertook the policy alpha in 2020. We also have the consultation responses and additional research conducted by a number of parties in the last year. 43. Could you clarify whether commercial models and data governance is in scope in addition to technical aspects? Data governance will be included. Commercial models will need to be considered in a discussion with DfT policy teams. 44. For ‘Provide demonstratable evidence that you have worked across different sectors, including opening data that has been re-used across industries’ does this relate to open data or opening data? This relates to experience opening data. 45. *** Sorry all, I have created a confusion here. The deadline for Clarification Questions is 11:59pm tonight*** *** All questions submitted by 11:59pm will be answered *** 46. Are there any mandatory requirements on chargepoint operators to provide chargepoint data and if so what data? We are developing legislation to make data openly available. Our government response with our final policy decisions will be published in September and provide more information on which data we will make openly available. 47. Does this requirement include or exclude a review of changes to the national chargepoint registry as part of the solution to the problems described? This will be excluded. 48. User research is explained as ‘ongoing’ but is not detailed as part of the current team, is a user researcher going to be provided by DfT or is that expected to be included within the proposed team for discovery? User research is continuously conducted within DfT. We expect the winning tender to work with our researchers. 49. Do DfT have relationships in place that can be leveraged for the discovery with all the user types listed eg. EV consumers, Data Providers, Energy, transport and utilities and chargepoint operators Yes, we have contacts with a wide range of stakeholders who can be contacted through the discovery phase. 50. With reference to Q2 – Please can you clarify that you are looking for an Open-source approach that meets Government directives? Yes, we expect that the supplier will propose an open source approach where applicable to meet the outcomes of the discovery phase. 51. Has a decision already been made for the solution to use the Open Chargepoint Interface Protocol (OCPI) or is this up for review as part of the discovery? We are currently developing our government response to finalise the policy steps. We will discuss this with the winning supplier. 52. Is the proposed going to be free and open for all. (Including commercial users.) We expect this to be resolved during the discovery and alpha phases. 53. Are you planning to implement commercial applications using this data or just provide API service We expect this to be resolved during the discovery and alpha phases. 54. Is data procurement already in place or is it going to be done during discovery. We have some data already, however we expect to understand the requirement for additional data or information in the discovery. 55. Who will be the stakeholders during the discovery phase? Outlined in the tender we have included local authorities, innovators, utilities sectors and DfT as key stakeholders however we would expect this list to be reviewed in the di