Result selection
The tendering procedure starts with the PCP Contract Notice, which describes the nature, scope, estimated value of the contracts and how economic operators can apply to participate in the procedure. The PCP is organized and executed in 3 phases: 1) solution exploration and design, 2) prototyping, and 3) field testing.
During Phase 1, Solution exploration and design, all valid tender submissions will be evaluated by the Smart.Met Technical Assessment Committee (Smart.Met-TAC) against the criteria stated in the Call for Tender. After the selection of 8-10 bidders, the providers will be requested to describe in detail their foreseen solution, how it fits with the user’s needs, and to demonstrate the credibility of their approach. At the end of Phase 1, the six most-rated solutions, plus a reserve list of two solutions will be selected to participate in Phase 2.
On 26 October 2018, the SMART.MET consortium announced the four companies* to be awarded a Phase 1 contract for the ‘solution exploration and design’ stage of the pre-commercial procurement (PCP), which will officially kick-off on 20 December and last until the end of March 2019.
*the effectiveness of the award is subject to the positive verification of the requirements declared during the tender.
During Phase 2, Prototyping, the selected six providers will develop an operational prototype of their solution, to demonstrate its capacity to answer the users’ needs. By the end of Phase 2, The Smart.Met-TAC will issue a list of the three most-rated prototypes, plus an additional one as reserve.
During Phase 3, Field testing, the three selected prototypes will be implemented simultaneously in each of the three testing sites (urban, rural, mixed sites), to test their robustness in different contexts, as well as their interoperability.
Start of the first phase of the project
The SMART.MET consortium announced the start of the first phase of the project, awarding four European economic operators a contract for the ‘solution exploration and design’ stage of the pre-commercial procurement (PCP), which will last until the end of March 2019.
The economic operators are asked to conduct research to elaborate the solution design and determine the approach to be taken to develop the new solutions as well as demonstrate the technical, financial and commercial feasibility of the proposed concepts and approach.
Following the tendering process (see here), opened on 29 June, the consortium has selected four economic operators, based on both a technical and an economic evaluation of their offers:
- Dynamic Consulting, Abering Contadores de Agu, Gomez Group Metering (Spain)
- Telereading (Italy)
- Hydroko, Ng (Belgium)
- Fast S.P.A (Italy)
Carried out under Italian law between 2018 and 2021, the PCP will include a total of three phases: solution exploration and design, prototyping and field-testing.
Read the economic operators’ abstracts here.
- Dynamic Consulting, Abering Contadores de Agu, Gomez Group Metering (Spain)
- Telereading (Italy)
- Hydroko, Ng (Belgium)
- Fast S.P.A (Italy)
Start of the second phase of the project
The SMART.MET consortium announced the start of the second phase of the project, awarding four European economic operators a contract a contract for the ‘solution exploration and design’ stage of the pre-commercial procurement (PCP), which will last until 03 April 2020
Following the tendering process (see here), opened on April 2019, the consortium has selected four economic operators, based on both a technical and an economic evaluation of their offers:
- Dynamic Consulting, Abering Contadores de Agu, Gomez Group Metering (Spain)
- TelHydroko, Ng (Belgium)
- Telereading (Italy)
- Fast S.P.A (Italy)
The aim of the Phase 2 of the pre-commercial procurement (PCP) is the following : Develop, demonstrate and validate prototypes in lab conditions. A working prototype solution to submit a test bench in laboratory for verification against Phase 1 specifications and expected costs
Phase 2 details
- Evaluation of submissions and contracts award: all valid tender submissions will be evaluated against the criteria stated in the Invitation to Tender. The best scoring Phase 2 offers are awarded a Phase 2 contract. Each contract will state the terms and conditions of the work, including the deliverables, milestones and financial payment schedule. The winning providers will develop a prototype and will test this in lab condition;
- Assessment of successful completion: an End of Phase 2 Report shall be submitted by the suppliers, which shall contain the description of the prototype developed in Phase 2, with the additional details and deliverables set forth in the Phase Contract.
R&D providers who successfully completed Phase 2 are invited to bid Phase 3
Carried out under Italian law between 2018 and 2021, the PCP will include a total of three phases: solution exploration and design, prototyping and field-testing.
Read the economic operators’ abstracts here.
- Dynamic Consulting, Abering Contadores de Agu, Gomez Group Metering (Spain)
- Telereading (Italy)
- Hydroko, Ng (Belgium)
- Fast S.P.A (Italy)
Successful contractors selected to participate in the testing phase of their innovative smart metering solutions
On March 27, 2020, the smart.met consortium announced the three companies that had successfully and satisfactorily completed the Phase 2 execution and were thus considered eligible to compete for the Phase 3 contract awarding involving the ‘testing’ stage of smart metering solutions. The consortium launched the call for tenders of Phase 3 on June 10, 2020, with an updated calendar adapted to the COVID-19 context.
Following the completion of Phase 1 and 2 – involving the submission of a proof of concept and subsequent development of a prototype – three out of the four initial contractors succeeded in demonstrating the functionality of their innovative technological solutions for water smart metering, as well as the validity of the prototypes in all their components: meter, communication infrastructure and control systems. The three economic operators invited to bid are:
- Dynamic Consulting, Abering Contadores de Agua, Gomez Group Metering (Spain)
- Hydroko, Ng (Belgium)
- Telereading (Italy)
More information:
SMART.MET WILL TEST NEW SMART METERING SOLUTIONS IN FIVE EUROPEAN SITES
On 30 November 2020, the smart.met consortium announced the two companies that have passed the selection procedure for Phase 3 of the pre-commercial procurement (PCP) that will involve the ‘development of a test series and field testing’ of innovative smart-metering solutions.
Following the conclusion of Phase II that focused on ‘developing an operational prototype of the solution’, and after a thorough assessment, these two companies have been admitted to participate in Phase 3 and awarded contracts for the implementation and ground testing of smart meter prototypes.
- Telereading (Italy)
- Hydroko, Ng (Belgium)
The companies will now have the opportunity to test their solutions in five European sites. 1500 prototypes will be tested in five different countries: the region of Sélestat (France), Vicenza (Italy), Zafra (Spain), Liége and Herstal (Belgium), and Budapest (Hungary). The test sites represent a diversity of urban, rural or mixed sites. Through the field testing the companies will demonstrate the validity of their proposed prototypes in all their components: meter, communication infrastructure, and control systems.
More information:
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 731996.