The Railway Reform Authority (ARF) reports that an announcement for participation in the auction for the purchase of 16 electric locomotives capable of developing a maximum speed of 160 to 200 km/h has been published in the electronic system of public procurement (SICAP). The current fleet of locomotives has an average age of more than 40 years, and some of them break down frequently.

Over the past 15 years, Romania has been very inefficient in purchasing new locomotives for passenger trains, unlike countries such as Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary.

• Why does Romania want to buy trains and locomotives that can reach 200 km/h when the maximum speed here is 160 km/h?

These new locomotives will be able to pull trains of up to 16 cars. The estimated value ranges from 702 million lei without VAT to 1.03 billion lei.

What the Railway Reform Authority says

Authority of Railway Reforms (ARF) informs that advertisement no. CN1048061, after verification by the National Agency for Public Procurement (ANAP).

In this sense, we note that through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) – Component 4. Sustainable Transport, an award procedure has been launched for the purchase of a number of 16 new 4-axle electric locomotives with ERTMS systems, capable of moving at a maximum speed in the range of 160 km/ h-200 km/h and pull up to 16 passenger cars.

The term of maintenance and repair is 20 years, which includes services necessary for the operation of the relevant electric locomotives, namely: training of personnel in operation, operation and software, transportation, insurance, commissioning, technical assistance during the warranty period. , according to the Terms of Reference.

There is a review clause in the purchase agreement, that is, the possibility of extending the service term for another 20 years, without conducting a tender procedure, by concluding an additional act.

The purchased locomotives will be used on the routes according to the public service contracts (CSP) awarded by tender to railway passenger transport operators, in accordance with the provisions of Regulation (EC) No. 1370/2007 and the provisions of Romanian legislation.

The estimated value ranges from 702,453,762.18 lei without VAT to 1,036,568,887.80 lei without VAT.

Funding for the project is provided through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, “Component 4 – Sustainable Transport” and from the state budget, through the budget of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, within the amounts approved annually for this purpose. , in accordance with state investment programs approved by law.

The duration of the contract(s) relating to the designated lots will be 275 months. The award criterion is the best ratio of quality and cost. Evaluation factors and their weights:

• 70% – Financial component;

• 30% is a quality component, of which:

(12% – Availability of electric locomotives during the warranty period and during maintenance;

15% – Delivery schedule;

3% – The ability of electric locomotives to move at a maximum speed from 160 km/h to 200 km/h during the warranty period and during the maintenance period)

The award procedure is an open tender and the procedure is online at www.e-licitatie.ro. Any business entity has the right to participate in the winner’s procedure as an individual participant or jointly with other business entities, including in the form of a temporary association created for the purpose of participating in the auction procedure.

The deadline for submitting proposals is 11/21/2022 3:00 p.m. A request for clarification can be submitted a maximum of 20 days before the deadline for submitting proposals.