December 20, 2010
Read the classifieds in this issue to learn about 7 bids & proposals and 7 transit job opportunities!
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New Standard Bus Procurement Final Guidelines Available
For the first time, APTA is making available all of its Standard Bus Procurement Guidelines standards in a single volume, which can be accessed online.
This document represents all bus lengths, from 30-foot to 60-foot articulated models, and the dominant propulsion types. A broad range of people worked together for the past three years to create this document, including representatives from public transit agencies of all sizes, OEMs, and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).
APTA and FTA announced the final, expanded, and comprehensively updated bus procurement guidelines during the 2010 APTA Annual Meeting in San Antonio, TX. It is anticipated that the use of these guidelines, first produced in 1997, will not only save money, but will also result in standardized implementation of quality.
During the past few months, the industry reviewed and tested the guidelines for use. Feedback and comments were received and incorporated into the final document.
The document is a radical change from previous “White Books.” Changes in the Commercial Terms and Conditions (T’s and C’s) include opportunities to choose warranty extensions, the addition of excusable delays for manufacturers because of problems with third-party suppliers and contractors, and changes to fleet defect parameters. The Technical Section incorporates the latest available technologies and alternatives for all agency sizes and climates. In addition, the guidelines provide new and detailed definitions for both the T’s and C’s and the Technical section. The goal is to provide a better profile so manufacturers could build a “better” bus while minimizing waste and misunderstandings.
Questions may be addressed to Jeff Hiott.
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