Sydney Trains & NSW Trains / EOI for Electrical Isolations Improvement Project through replacement or retrofitting current three-position switches or identify any other solutions - WS249458

The Principal is seeking responses to this EOI - WS249458 to find a solution to remote control the isolation and rail-connection of the OHW on the Sydney Trains 1500V DC network.  Currently Direct Current Circuit Breakers (DCCBs) are remotely operated to de-energise the OHW and field switches connected in series are manually operated to rail-connect the OHW to make it safe for workers to work on or around the OHW.  The current isolation and rail-connection process is time and labour intensive and usually results in a decreased window for productive work to take place on track. 

Sydney Trains are envisaging replacing existing DCCBs with metal-clad integrated units with ability to de-energise and rail-connect the OHW.  Ideally Sydney Trains would like to type-test at least two examples of metal-clad switchgear.  The existing switches shall be upgraded to have the ability to rail-connect the OHW remotely.  This could be achieved by the following: 

a.  Replace existing 1500V DC field switches with a new integrated unit, capable of isolating and rail-connecting the OHW remotely  

b. Retrofit existing three-position Isolation and Rail-Connection Switch (IRCS) with technology that shall allow the OHW to be isolated and rail-connected remotely  

The purpose of this EOI is to facilitate the identification of potential solutions, selection of the most appropriate Value for Money solutions as well as shortlisting and ranking of potential suppliers. 

Note: Type-approval of the potential solution(s) is not in the scope of this EOI. 

The current isolation and rail-connection process of the Sydney Trains 1500V DC network is very time consuming (up to 4 hours to implement at each end of the outage), labour intensive and negatively impacts on the amount of time specialist resources can devote to technical maintenance tasks.

The frequency of track possessions and associated power outages is likely to decrease because of the forecast in the increase in patronage of rail transport services. Remote isolation and rail-connection provides the opportunity to automate the isolation and rail-connection process by decreasing current inefficiencies and allowing technical staff to perform maintenance duties. 

Existing DCCBs do not provide an integrated facility to rail-connect each substation feeder for rail possession works and as such, three-position manually operated IRCS are installed to rail-connect the OHW.  Alternatively two position switches with portable rail connection leads are used in the isolation and rail-connection process. These are normally located outside the substation. These occupy valuable rail corridor real estate and require additional security (fencing, guarding etc.) to be installed. The units are exposed to environmental elements and add to the long list of periodic maintenance inspection by the maintenance staff. 

The purpose of this EOI is to facilitate the identification of solutions and the shortlisting & ranking of potential suppliers for subsequent  (post-EOI) deeper technical evaluation and type-approval;  

Suppliers are encouraged to put forward suitable solutions that would meet Sydney Trains requirements.  Tenderers will be encouraged to propose their alternative products for consideration by the Technical evaluation committee. Sydney Trains will review all proposed solutions (retrofitted and brand new) to ensure all risks associated with construction, testing, maintenance and reliability associated with the network are mitigated. The specification in draft as well as drawing pack are the key reference and shall provide all the necessary information for suppliers to understand Sydney Trains technical & safety requirements. As a mandatory requirement of the EOI, respondents will be asked to inform of technical, commercial and legal key non-conformances. 

Sydney Trains maintain the right to exclude or include the non-compliant responses in the evaluation process 

Depending upon the outcomes of the EOI process, a decision will be made to take an open, select or direct negotiation approach to select and award supply and install agreement(s) for the construction phase (Phase 2).  

The EOI will contain Sydney Trains’ contractual terms and conditions relating to a future supply agreement to inform respondents of their likely obligations for Phase 2  

NSW Regions: Far North Coast, Mid North Coast, New England, Central Coast, Hunter, Cumberland/Prospect, Nepean, Northern Sydney, Inner West, South East Sydney, South West Sydney, Central West, Orana/Far West, Riverina/Murray, Illawarra, Southern Highlands

Open Tenders - An invitation to tender by public advertisement with no restriction placed on who may tender. Tenderers will normally be required to demonstrate in their tender that they have the necessary skills, resources, experience, financial capacity, and in some cases licences, accreditations, etc., to fulfil the tender requirements.

 

In order to gain access to the Request For Tender documents, Tenderers are required to register their interest by sending an email tenderinfo@transport.nsw.gov.au and include the following: 

1) Event Title, 

2) RFT ID, 

3) Organisation Name, 

4) ACN/ ABN, 

5) Contact Name, 

6) Organisation/Contact Postal Address, 

7) Contact Email Address, 

8) Contact Phone No. 

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