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NorTMS External Audit Services
AI Summary
Transport for the North is seeking external audit services for its Northern Transport Modelling System (NorTMS), a Cube-based VDM focused on intercity rail in the northern region of England. The engagement will be contractual on a call‑off basis whenever a stable model release is available, with an anticipated one‑year renewal cycle. The supplier will be required to conduct a thorough audit of each NorTMS version following updates, assessing the model’s inputs, outputs, and overall fitness for use in evaluating Northern Powerhouse Rail schemes.
The audit must establish confidence in NorTMS for modelling works and supporting business cases. It will involve a comprehensive review of all model elements, producing a RAG‑rated audit report. The report will include both a plain‑English summary of any identified issues for a general audience and a detailed technical analysis tailored to modelling specialists, outlining best practices in CUBE and recommendations for improvement. Prior to implementation on programme, the model will be scrutinised to ensure it meets the required standards for decision‑making.
The contract requires a specialist in CUBE model review with competent Python skills, as portions of NorTMS are coded in Python. The selected provider must have no prior direct involvement with NorTMS or any related Transport for the North framework, unless the work previously delivered pertains specifically to the audit of NorTMS. Compliance with CUBE model review standards and Python programming proficiency must be demonstrated.
Description
TfN requires a supplier who is an expert CUBE model reviewer with competent Python skills as some elements of NorTMS are coded in Python, and who has not worked with NorTMS or related to any TfN framework directly involved in NorTMS, unless the work that was delivered relates to the audit of NorTMS.
The scope of work required for each NorTMS audit underpins the following objectives:
•Provision of a full audit of all NorTMS inputs and outputs with the aim of instilling confidence in NorTMS for its use in modelling works and supporting business cases.
•A review of each version of NorTMS following model updates and improvements prior to implementation on programme.
•To understand the fitness for purpose of NorTMS in its use for assessing schemes for Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR).
•Production of a comprehensive audit report giving a RAG rating of all the model elements reviewed.
•A final report comprising of a plain English summary of issues identified (for a general audience) and a detailed technical report (for a modelling audience) with potential recommendations for areas requiring improvement, an outline of best practices in CUBE and the application of CUBE as a modelling tool.
For more information about this opportunity, please visit the eSourcing portal at:
https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Manchester:-Technical-analysis-or-consultancy-services./37Z364B3KV
To respond to this opportunity, please click here:
https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/37Z364B3KV
Contract location: UKC
Engagement process description
Transport for the North (TfN) invites suppliers to attend an upcoming engagement session to explore future opportunities within our procurement pipeline. This will be focussed on expected upcoming modelling and visualisation activity expected from early 2027. This session will provide an opportunity to gain insight into our requirements, anticipated timescales, and overall procurement approach.
Event Details:
•Date: 22 June 2025
•Time: 1:05pm
•Location/Format: Online (Microsoft Teams)
Registration:
Please confirm your attendance by 5:00pm on 19 June by emailing Emily Molden at emily.molden@transportforthenorth.com.
We look forward to your response and hope you are able to join us for this session.
Lot: 1
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted: En