SNCF Réseau Subsidiary Tender for Track Maintenance Tools

Project Title: Outillages maintenance Voie 2026 (2026 Track Maintenance Tools)

Project Overview: SNCF Réseau is undertaking a program for the modernization and renewal of railway infrastructure. To ensure operational continuity, traffic safety, and compliance with current technical standards, the procurement of track materials is required. The needs cover multiple tool categories, including but not limited to track laying tools, track processing tools, track guiding tools, descaling tools, drilling tools, welding tools, grinding tools, bolt fastening tools, fastener installation tools, ballast tamping tools, gauge adjustment tools, lifting tools, handling tools, safety tools, measurement and control tools, and transport tools.

Detailed Tool Classification and Technical Specifications:

Track Laying and Alignment Tools: Including but not limited to hydraulic rail pullers for continuous welded rail laying and stress relief, roller-type rail straighteners, rail gap adjusters, as well as high-precision track geometry measurement and alignment systems.

Track Processing and Treatment Equipment: Covering CNC rail drilling machines, efficient CNC profile grinding machines, complete sets of thermite welding and flash butt welding equipment, and fine grinding equipment for weld seams and rail surface treatment.

Specialized Tools for Fasteners and Fastening Systems: Providing electric or hydraulic wrenches suitable for various fastener systems (e.g., Nabla, Vossloh), automatic clip installation/removal machines, bolt torque setting tools, and spike pulling equipment.

Ballast Maintenance Machinery: Including efficient ballast cleaning machines, ballast tampers (single or multiple tamping tines), ballast profiling machines, and compacted shoulder compactors.

Track Geometry Maintenance Tools: Involving hydraulic track lifting and lining machines, track gauges (mechanical and digital), track alignment and level laser measuring instruments, and specialized adjustment tools for ballasted and ballastless tracks.

Material Handling and On-site Support Equipment: Including track-specific lifting equipment (e.g., road-rail cranes), lightweight rail trolleys, hydraulic handling carts, and modular tool transport systems suitable for confined spaces.

Safety and Inspection Equipment: Mandatory provision of personal protective equipment compliant with the latest European safety standards, track circuit protection devices, clearance gauges, portable ultrasonic flaw detector workstations, and eddy current testing equipment for rail surface cracks.

Tender Reference Number: 9c1a44b8-e1d4-45b1-afdc-7b5f764b3e4a

Internal Reference Number: 2021DOS1136110

Procurement Type: Supply

Main CPV Code: 34940000-Railway equipment

Procurement Procedure Type: Competitive dialogue (with prior call for competition)

Place of Performance: Any location in France

Estimated Contract Start Date: July 1, 2026

Initial Contract Duration: 4 years

Possible Extension Period: Option to extend twice, each for a maximum of 12 months.

Bid Submission Method: Must submit bids online via the designated e-procurement portal. Email submissions are not accepted.

Language Requirement: All bid documents and communication must be in French.

Bid Evaluation Criteria: The contract award will be based on the "most economically advantageous tender." Specific scoring criteria and weights are detailed in the external tender regulation document.

Technical Standards and Certification: All tools must fully comply with the EU Machinery Directive (2006/42/EC), relevant EN standards, and SNCF RÉSEAU internal technical specifications (e.g., REFERENTIEL TECHNOLOGIQUE). Key equipment must provide CE certification, safety risk assessment reports, and operation and maintenance manuals in French.

Digitalization and Smart Requirements: Encouragement to provide smart tools with IoT connectivity, automatic data recording and export (e.g., operational parameters, workload), capable of integration into SNCF's maintenance management platform to support predictive maintenance.

Delivery and Logistics Requirements: The winning bidder must develop a detailed phased delivery plan to ensure timely delivery to multiple specified warehouses or maintenance depots across France after contract effectiveness. A complete packaging, transportation, and insurance plan must be provided.

Training and Technical Support: Must provide on-site operational training and advanced fault diagnosis training for SNCF maintenance personnel, and establish a technical support hotline and spare parts warehouse within France, committing to rapid response times for critical equipment failures (e.g., on-site support within 24 hours).

After-sales Service and Lifecycle Management: The contract must include comprehensive warranty terms (recommended minimum of 2 years), long-term spare parts supply commitment (minimum 10 years after equipment end-of-production), and options for equipment refurbishment and upgrade services.

Sustainability and Environmental Requirements: The bid proposal must evaluate the energy efficiency of tools (e.g., electric preferred over internal combustion), noise and vibration levels, proportion of recyclable materials used, and describe the recycling/disposal plan for end-of-life equipment, supporting SNCF's environmental goals.

Subject Matter Details: This tender involves a total of 88 different types of tools, each considered an independent "item." Suppliers must select the specific tool types they wish to bid for from the provided list document. Unselected types are considered not participating. The estimated maximum total procurement quantity is approximately 5,000 tools. Please refer to the relevant technical documents for detailed specifications.

Participation Requirements: Bidders must meet specific economic, financial, technical, and professional capability standards and provide corresponding proof at the time of bidding (e.g., forms DC1, DC2, etc.). A declaration of honor regarding grounds for exclusion (e.g., regarding greenhouse gas emission reporting obligations) must be submitted. Additionally, the names and professional qualifications of the personnel responsible for contract execution must be specified.

Bid Proposal Depth: In addition to price, bid documents must provide detailed explanations of the technical solution for the tools, compatibility with existing SNCF workflows, lifecycle cost analysis, implementation schedule, and risk management plan.

Localization and Economic Contribution: Bidders are encouraged to describe their industrial footprint in France or the EU, the project's potential contribution to local employment and technology transfer, and subcontracting cooperation plans with French SMEs.

Legal and Compliance: The contract is governed by French public procurement regulations and applies to the Agreement on Government Procurement (AMP). The project is not funded by EU funds.

Confidentiality Agreement: Requires signing a confidentiality agreement (attached to the tender documents).

Financial Terms: Quotations must be in Euros. Prices are revisable. Payment terms are payment within 60 days from receipt of the payment request, executed via bank transfer as stipulated in the contract documents.

Electronic Process: Requires the use of electronic invoicing and online ordering.

Framework Agreement: This procurement will establish a framework agreement, which will be subject to re-competition.

Maximum Number of Participants: A maximum of 2 bidders will be selected under the framework agreement.

Dispute Resolution Body: Relevant legal appeals should be filed with the Montreuil Administrative Court. Specific deadlines are stipulated for filing pre-contractual emergency procedures, contractual emergency procedures, and disputes regarding contract validity.