It is the responsibility of the contracting authority for the bus acquisition project to draft the technical specifications in accordance with the needs it will have identified (state of the fleet and the network, agglomeration and mobility development prospects, configuration and state of the roads, strategies of the public authorities with regard to the improvement of urban mobility and the modernisation of the transport offer, climatic context, etc.). Beforehand, it will also have taken note of the bus manufacturers’ offer, for an initial assessment of the vehicles whose structural and technical characteristics could fulfil its needs (the price level will also form part of this initial assessment).
The technical specifications will form the basis of the invitation to tender and the contractual commitment of the selected manufacturer.
Related questions:
- Have the draft technical specifications been drawn up? Has it been checked to make sure that it includes all the sections the manufacturers will need to configure the vehicle, including:
- Structure: dimensions, weight, floor (structure and height above ground and interface with existing or future bus stops);
- Chassis and bodywork: material, type of construction, number and location of doors, openings (windows, etc.),
- Engine specification (power, maximum speed, type of fuel and adoptable EURO standard, matter of electric motor, tank capacity), drive train, cooling components, lubrication system, type of gearbox, etc.,
- Suspension, and braking and retarder systems;
- Tyres (type, supply, etc.), and hydraulic and pneumatic circuits;
- Electrical systems: battery, alternator, exterior and interior lighting;
- Facilities in the “passenger” area: seats, standing areas, coverings, etc.;
- Thermal elements: ventilation, vents, air conditioning, demisting, etc.;
- Readiness (or on-board equipment) for ticketing systems, passenger information, operating and driving assistance, etc.;
- Other elements dealing with safety, environmental protection, etc.
- Has this project been submitted to the main institutional stakeholders and the urban transport profession concerned? Is it validated?
