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01 Prior Information Notice (PIN)

Repowering Buses Market Engagement

  • First published: 04 November 2024
  • Last modified: 04 November 2024

Contents

Summary

OCID:
ocds-kuma6s-145751
Published by:
Transport for Wales
Authority ID:
AA50685
Publication date:
04 November 2024
Deadline date:
-
Notice type:
01 Prior Information Notice (PIN)
Has documents:
Yes
Has SPD:
No
Has Carbon Reduction Plan:
No

Abstract

Call for interested parties to express interest in participating in market engagement activities relating to Repowered Buses. Please refer to separate summary document. CPV: 50113200, 50113200.

Full notice text

Prior information notice

This notice is for prior information only

Section I: Contracting authority

I.1) Name and addresses

Transport for Wales

3 Llys Cadwyn, Taff Street

Pontypridd

CF37 4TH

UK

Contact person: Rebecca Phillips

Telephone: +44 2921673434

E-mail: rebecca.phillips214@tfwrail.wales

NUTS: UKL

Internet address(es)

Main address: https://tfw.wales/

Address of the buyer profile: https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA50685

I.2) Joint procurement

The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body

I.3) Communication

Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address


I.4) Type of the contracting authority

Body governed by public law

I.5) Main activity

General public services

Section II: Object

II.1) Scope of the procurement

II.1.1) Title

Repowering Buses Market Engagement

Reference number: PRT0762

II.1.2) Main CPV code

50113200

 

II.1.3) Type of contract

Services

II.1.4) Short description

Call for interested parties to express interest in participating in market engagement activities relating to Repowered Buses. Please refer to separate summary document.

II.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

II.2) Description

II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

50113200

II.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS code:

UKL


Main site or place of performance:

Wales

II.2.4) Description of the procurement

This is not a procurement. This is a call to market for interested parties to express interest in participating in market engagement activities relating to the broad scope of repowered buses.

TfW are exploring the opportunity to introduce repowered buses into the Welsh bus network. This will consist of two separate trials, to gain the knowledge on the compatibility of repowered buses in Wales.

Bus Repowering is a process of converting a traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) bus into a zero-emission bus (ZEB). Currently, this is predominantly to a battery electric powertrain, although there is the potential to include Hydrogen powertrains in the future. This project would offer resilience in being able to be agile with the introduction of future fuel technology as it develops and becomes available.

TfW have purchased two 2012 Optare Versa V1110 hybrid buses (40 seats). These buses are currently with two different suppliers being converted to battery electric vehicles. The separate suppliers will allow TfW to test different repowering methodologies. It is expected that the buses will have circa 200kWh traction battery to power the vehicle. With an approximate range of 150 miles and a recharge time on the provided portable chargers of 5/6 hours. The buses are compatible with CCS type 2 chargers.

TfW are looking to engage with an operator to help facilitate the testing and potentially the implementation of repowered vehicles into operation within the bus fleet in Wales. The purpose of this market engagement exercise is to understand the capability of the market to support TfW in the testing of the repowered vehicles.

The testing plan has been set out in phases below. This is to ensure all information on the capabilities of both repowering methodologies are captured. This is to gather sufficient data on the vehicles capabilities and make an informed decision on future trials and implementation into service.

P0 Commissioning – This covers the initial repowering of the vehicle itself; the focus of responsibility is on the suppliers for the repowering and certification as a road worthy vehicle. This will include transportation to and from the manufacturing facility.

P1 Not in Service (NiS) – Beginning on the completion of P0, the aim of P1 is to evaluate the capabilities of the vehicles in a controlled manner. TfW will engage an operator to conduct the testing of the vehicles. This will be done with no passengers, not in relation to a service and over multiple different routes to test both the real-world range and the reliability of the vehicles before the project moves onto the next phase.

On completion of P1, we potentially may look to move the repowered buses into a service fleet to evaluate the vehicle under operational conditions (P3) before eventually moving it into full time service to allow a full operational test, under real life conditions (P4).

The vehicles are currently in Phase 0 – commissioning and are held at the repowering suppliers' sites. From Phase 1 the vehicles will be held with the operator, with TfW providing portable charging equipment for each bus. Both buses will come with after-market maintenance care for the repower system, but daily running maintenance is to be done by the operator. TfW expects that testing of the vehicles is to last no longer than 12 months, with TfW leasing the vehicles to the operator for the trial period. TfW are looking to start the testing process in December, subject to supplier completion of P0. The aim of the testing is to gather the required data on the buses performance and have feedback from drivers on their drivability, aiding in decision making for future repowering trials. TfW will want to work closely with the operator to monitor progress of the trial through physical visits, remote data access and route planning.

II.2.14) Additional information

To express an interest in this market engagement opportunity, please contact supplychain@tfw.wales, and copy in Procurement Manager Rebecca.phillips214@tfwrail.wales

The deadline to express an interest in this opportunity is 22/11/2024.

II.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice:

01/03/2025

Section IV: Procedure

IV.1) Description

IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No

Section VI: Complementary information

VI.3) Additional information

This PIN is intended to facilitate the gathering of information to inform future procurement decisions relating to the above requirements.

Any market engagement activities resulting from the PIN shall not constitute a commitment to procure by TfW. As such, any responses to the PIN will not be considered as legally binding offers, and no contractual relationships will be formed between TfW and any potential supplier based on responses received.

TfW shall not be held liable for costs or losses incurred by potential suppliers as a result of their participation in market engagement activities associated with this PIN.

Suppliers must specify whether any information submitted to TfW, in associated with this PIN, is commercial sensitive or confidential. Otherwise, all information received by TfW will be subject to Freedom of Information Act 2000.

NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Sell2Wales Web Site at http://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=145751.

(WA Ref:145751)

VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice

04/11/2024

Coding

Commodity categories

ID Title Parent category
50113200 Bus maintenance services Repair and maintenance services of buses

Delivery locations

ID Description
1017 Bridgend and Neath Port Talbot
1022 Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan
1015 Central Valleys (Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taf)
1013 Conwy and Denbighshire
1020 East Wales
1023 Flintshire and Wrexham
1016 Gwent Valleys (Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly)
1012 Gwynedd
1011 Isle of Anglesey
1021 Monmouthshire and Newport
1024 Powys
1014 South West Wales (Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion)
1018 Swansea
1000 WALES
1010 West Wales and The Valleys

Alert region restrictions

The buyer has restricted the alert for this notice to suppliers based in the following regions.

ID Description
There are no alert restrictions for this notice.

About the buyer

Main contact:
rebecca.phillips214@tfwrail.wales
Admin contact:
N/a
Technical contact:
N/a
Other contact:
N/a

Further information

Date Details
No further information has been uploaded.

Additional Documents

The following additional documents have been attached to this notice. To obtain these documents please select the individual file names below.

Current documents

docx
docx32.28 KB
This file may not be accessible.

Replaced documents

There are no previous versions of these documents.


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