Tender for Catenary Poles and Brackets by the Swiss Federal Railways Infrastructure Technology Department

Project Title: 25-043 Catenary Poles and Brackets

Project Overview: This project aims to procure materials for the electrification infrastructure of Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) over the next three years. The tender covers the manufacturing and supply of new catenary poles and brackets, as well as renovation services for old poles. The procurement follows an open tender procedure, which is non-accelerated.

Tender Reference: 8420fc7d-92af-4ac8-8362-6cb2123e947e

Procurement Type: Supply of Goods

Main CPV Code: 44000000 - Construction structures and materials; auxiliary products to construction (except electric apparatus)

Type of Procurement Procedure: Open Tender

Contract Structure: The project is divided into three independent lots (LOT). Bidders may submit bids for one, several, or all lots, with a maximum of one bid document per lot.

Place of Performance: Any location within Switzerland. Goods must be delivered directly to SBB construction sites across Switzerland ("Streckengeschäft" model).

Estimated Contract Duration: The base contract period is 3 years, from January 1, 2027, to December 31, 2029. The contract includes two options for extension, each for 1 year (2x1 year). If the contract start date is delayed, the end date will be adjusted accordingly.

Bid Language: Bid documents may be submitted in German, French, or Italian.

Submission Method: Only electronic bids submitted via the designated e-procurement platform are accepted. Paper bids or submissions via email are not accepted.

Bid Validity: Bids must remain valid for 365 days from the submission deadline.

Award Criteria: The contract will be awarded to the "most economically advantageous tender." The specific award criteria (quality, etc.) and their weighting are defined in the tender documents.

Lot Details:

Lot LOT-0001: Catenary Poles, covering the manufacturing, supply of new catenary poles, and renovation of old poles.

Lot LOT-0002: Anchor Brackets, covering the manufacturing and supply of new anchor brackets.

Lot LOT-0003: Support Brackets, covering the manufacturing and supply of new support brackets.

The main classification (CPV) for each lot is 44000000, with additional classifications including 14622000 (Steel) and 44212220 (Towers, lattice masts and pylons).

Manufacturing Process and Material Standards:

All steel structural components must be made of high-quality steel conforming to EN 10025.

The manufacturing process must meet the certification requirements of EN 1090-2 (Execution Class for steel structures EXC3 or higher).

Detailed Welding Procedure Qualification Reports must be provided. All welding operations must be supervised by personnel qualified as International Welding Engineers.

Surface Treatment and Corrosion Protection Requirements:

All components must undergo hot-dip galvanizing. The coating thickness and adhesion must meet ISO 1461 standards, and third-party inspection reports must be provided.

For special environments (e.g., inside tunnels, highly corrosive areas), alternative heavy-duty coating systems may be required, with justification of their durability verification.

"Line Delivery" Service Model: The winning supplier must establish a logistics system capable of responding to "on-demand delivery." Products must be precisely, timely, and batch-delivered directly to designated railway construction sites across Switzerland according to SBB's construction schedule, with responsibility for on-site handover.

Old Pole Renovation Service:

Provide comprehensive services for the assessment, dismantling, transportation, renovation (including straightening, rewelding, re-galvanizing), inspection, and storage management of old poles.

Establish clear quality acceptance criteria for renovation. The performance of renovated poles shall not be inferior to the technical requirements for newly manufactured poles.

Design and Engineering Support:

The supplier must have the capability to perform detailed structural design, calculations, and drawing production for poles and brackets based on line parameters, load conditions, and clearance requirements provided by SBB.

Provide 3D models, installation drawings, and calculation reports for all products for SBB review.

Quality Control and Testing:

A comprehensive quality management system must be established, with ISO 9001 certification.

Key products (e.g., first batch, new models) must undergo type testing, including static load tests, fatigue tests, etc., with qualified reports issued by independent laboratories.

All batch products must be accompanied by material certificates, Factory Production Control certificates, and factory inspection reports.

Project Management and Schedule Control:

The supplier must appoint a dedicated project manager responsible for all coordination throughout the contract lifecycle and submit regular project progress reports.

A detailed master production and delivery plan must be developed to ensure the ability to respond to potential schedule changes by SBB.

Spare Parts Supply and Lifecycle Commitment: For the contract period and at least 10 years thereafter, the winning bidder must commit to supplying spare parts for all product models at reasonable prices.

Training and Technical Support: Provide technical training for SBB's engineering and maintenance personnel on product characteristics, installation key points, and routine inspection. Provide a technical support hotline within Switzerland in German, French, and Italian.

Sustainability and Environmental Requirements:

The use of steel with a high recycled content is encouraged, and the recyclability of products should be explained.

The production process must comply with environmental regulations. Possession of environmental management certification (e.g., ISO 14001) will be considered an advantage.

A product carbon footprint assessment report or similar environmental impact statement must be submitted.

Depth Requirements for Bid Documents: The technical proposal must detail company qualifications, project team experience, proposed production and quality control processes, logistics solutions, risk management plans, and innovation proposals.

Localization and Supply Chain: Encouraged to describe cooperation plans with local subcontractors in Switzerland or Europe, and the project's impact on local employment and the economy. The ability to establish after-sales service points or warehousing facilities in Switzerland or neighboring countries will be considered advantageous.

Electronic Process Requirements: Electronic invoicing is required. Electronic payment will be used, but electronic ordering will not be used.

Legal Framework: This project is subject to EU Directive 2014/25/EU and governed by the Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA). It is not funded by EU funds.

Appeal Body: Relevant legal appeals must be filed with the Swiss Federal Administrative Court within 20 days of the announcement of the result.