Work on new RUC system

The government is inviting input on developing retail services for a revamped system for road-user charges (RUC) to include light petrol vehicles.

A request for information (RFI) issued by the Ministry of Transport (MoT), which closes on December 12, follows the coalition announcing it wants to shift all road transport to RUC.

The MoT is interested in the development of retail services that would “provide a modern, easy-to-use way for people to pay” as an alternative to the current, largely manual payment system.

It states: “Retail services include any service that supports the purchase, measurement or management of RUC.

“Through this RFI, the MoT is seeking to understand respondents’ interest in providing, or continuing to provide, some RUC retail services once the transition starts and, if so, what type of services respondents would be interested in providing.

“This RFI will inform the development of policy for a reformed RUC system and, ultimately, policy, legislative and regulatory changes.

“This is not a tender process. Government procurement rules prevent direct contracting with a potential supplier based off an RFI response.”