202301010 - Notice of Market Consultation-Long Distance Regional and Remote

VIA RAIL CANADA INC.
LONG DISTANCE REGIONAL AND REMOTE FLEET RENEWAL PROJECT
NOTICE OF MARKET CONSULTATION

January 27, 2023

Background

1. Since 1977, VIA Rail operates Canada’s national passenger rail services on behalf of the Government of Canada. The rail network offers intercity passenger rail services that are safe, reliable, and accessible. VIA Rail ensures that it operates an efficient and sustainable rail network, while contributing to the reduction of its environmental footprint and that of the country. VIA Rail operates over 500 trains per week over 12,500 km of rail infrastructure, serving more than 400 communities across Canada. VIA Rail’s long distance regional and remote operation consists of 9 long distance, regional and remote routes for a total of 21 trains per week, mainly providing basic transportation between cities and communities, many of them in remote areas.
2. VIA Rail intends to renew its existing long distance regional and remote fleet by selecting a supplier to design, manufacture, test, supply, deliver and commission cars and motive power and ancillary equipment (on-board and offboard) with a prescribed capacity of car types (seated coaches, sleeper, diners, multi-purpose, baggage) through an open competitive procurement process (the “Long Distance Regional and Remote Fleet Renewal Project”).
3. VIA Rail will proceed with pre-procurement activities regarding its Long Distance Regional and Remote Fleet Renewal Project. As part of these pre-procurement activities, VIA Rail intends to engage in consultations with motive power and rolling stock manufacturers to solicit feedback on VIA Rail’s proposed technical specifications, maintenance’s scope of work as well as commercial & contractual related terms (collectively the “Technical and Commercial Documents”).
4. Through this consultation, VIA Rail’s objective is to reduce the eventual in-market time ensure requirements clarity by continuing to work with motive power and rolling stock manufacturers through this consultative pre-procurement process to consider market input on both technical and commercial &contractual questions prior to the commencement of a formal procurement process.

6. Participation in the Market Consultation for the Long Distance Regional and Remote Fleet Renewal Project is open to all manufacturers that can demonstrate to VIA Rail, in its sole discretion, that they can design, manufacture and supply complete intercity passenger seated cars and/or motive power as well as all ancillary equipment, either solely or in formal partnership.
7. Only those motive power and car manufacturers that are determined to be eligible and that have executed a non-disclosure agreement in the form attached to this notice, will be eligible to participate in Market Consultation and to receive the draft Technical and Commercial Documents. The non-disclosure agreement must be signed and sent to the VIA Rail Contact email address before the end of February 17th 2023. VIA Rail reserves the right to request documentation demonstrating a manufacturer’s qualifications during such market consultation. 

7. VIA Rail is interested in receiving written comments from each Market Consultation Participant on the draft Technical and Commercial Documents.
8. VIA Rail requests that Market Consultation Participants provide any input or comments on the draft Technical and Commercial Documents in chart form with columns for document name, relevant document references (for example, document name and section reference), proposed wording changes (in blackline format) and rationale for proposed wording changes.

9. VIA Rail intends to invite the Market Consultation Participants to participate in a general information meeting with all other Market Consultation Participants, either in person or by teleconference in March 2023. 
10. VIA Rail intends to invite the Market Consultation Participants to participate in commercial confidential meetings with VIA Rail to review their comments on the Technical and Commercial Documents draft in May 2023 or later.
11. P1 Consulting Inc. will act as a fairness monitor for the Market Consultation and will attend all meetings with Market Consultation Participants.

12. The VIA Rail contact person for the Market Consultation is Mr. Marc James who can be reached at fleetrenewalprocurement@viarail.ca. All communications relating to this Market Consultation should be directed to Mr. James.