cEMV Project Consultancy Support

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) through Transport for West Midlands ('TfWM'), and in partnership with Project Coral (a Bus operators' group), are aiming to progress and introduce a contactless ticketing system for public transport users on Bus and Tram across England. Project Coral was formed in 2019 and is a collaborative private sector led Steering Board comprising of FirstGroup PLC, Arriva UK Bus Ltd, Stagecoach Services Ltd, The Go-Ahead Group Ltd, National Express Ltd and Rotala PLC.

Originally and up until 2020, both TfWM and Project Coral had been independently working on developing a Specification to meet the requirements discussed above. The Department for Transport (DfT) put both parties together in 2021 and since then they have worked collaboratively to develop a cEMV technical Specification. Both original Specifications were amalgamated into one version in 2021 by PA Consulting, a professional consultancy services firm. PA Consulting were chosen due to the previous work they helped deliver for TfWM, including the development of an Outline Business Case (OBC) for Swift pay-as-you-go capping using INIT in 2018, and a report on "Contactless Ticketing and Best Value Capping" in 2019.

Since 2021 and following PA's role in drafting an amalgamated Specification, PA has continued to support TfWM and Coral Project team with further workstreams that have naturally derived from this initial work related to multi-operator/ multi-model capping project. These workstreams include undertaking commercial modelling analysis, delivering a supplier engagement session, testing key Technical (Quality) questions that will be assessed during the main cEMV tender and hosting a risk workshop.

The project has now reached a critical stage where further support from PA Consulting is required prior to and during tender publication. This support is essential towards informing the Procurement Strategy, making necessary final amendments to the technical Specification, as well as the Commercial elements associated with the main tender opportunity. The Project Team is unanimous in their belief that PA with their IPR and involvement in Spec development is best equipped to deliver the necessary support and ensure the project can proceed.

The required support and upcoming workstreams includes developing a Full Business Case, Commercial Strategy and Financing Papers.