​The Authority for the Reform of Railways (ARF) reports that on Friday it sent a notice of participation to the project for the purchase of 12 hydrogen fuel cell electric traction vehicles for publication on the national public procurement platform SICAP. The cost of the purchase is from 2.48 billion to 4.29 billion lei without VAT, depending on the duration of the services related to the contract – 15, respectively, 30 years.

All 12 trains should arrive in the country by March 2026.

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With this investment project, funded by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, ARF wants to purchase 12 hydrogen fuel cell electric traction vehicles, as well as the maintenance and repair services required to operate them, as well as hydrogen fueling services.

The term of service provision – both maintenance and repair, as well as hydrogen supply – is stipulated in the contract for 15 years, with the possibility of extending the term of service for another 15 years by concluding an additional act.

These vehicles will be used on public contract routes on non-electrified lines (Bucharest – Pitesti with extension to Slatina and Craiova, Bucharest – Henri Coanda Airport, Bucharest – Tirgovishte, Pitesti – Curtia de Arges) assigned to operators. rail transport, in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 1370/2007/CE as amended and in accordance with Romanian legislation.

The purchase price ranges from 2,487,210,561 lei without VAT to 4,249,858,243 lei without VAT, depending on the duration of the services related to the contract – 15 and 30 years, respectively.

The duration of the contract is 213 months, of which the delivery of all 12 trains ends by March 2026, the remainder of the period is required for the performance of repair, maintenance and hydrogen supply services.

The award criterion is the best price-quality ratio. Evaluation factors and their weights:

· 70% – Financial component;

· 30% – quality component, of which:

• 10% – availability of electric traction vehicles on hydrogen fuel cells during the warranty period and maintenance period;
• 12% – delivery schedule;
• 8% – Value Added – Proposals that include additional seats beyond the minimum requirement of 160 seats will be evaluated.

The award procedure is an open tender and the procedure is online, on the website 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 December 5, 2022. A request for clarification can be received 20 days before the deadline for submitting proposals.

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