DENMARK: Stadler has lodged an objection to DSB’s selection of Alstom for a contract to supply around 150 electric multiple-units as part of its Future Train rolling stock renewal strategy.
The national passenger operator had named Alstom as preferred bidder on April 12 for its largest-ever contract, which is expected to cover around 150 Coradia Stream trainsets and is potentially worth more than DKr20bn including maintenance.
DSB confirmed on May 12 that Stadler had lodged a complaint, alleging that Alstom’s bid did not meet all the requirements. Stadler confirmed it had lodged an objection, but told Railway Gazette it was unable to comment further because of the ongoing proceedings.
DSB expects the Complaints Board for Public Procurement to decide within 30 days whether to suspend the contract award process.
‘It is not uncommon for the losing party in a tender of this size to appeal the decision’, said Jürgen Müller, DSB’s Executive Vice-President, Strategy & Rolling Stock. ‘We are aware, for example, of two current cases in Austria and Switzerland where Alstom has lodged a complaint about allocations to Stadler.
‘I would like to emphasise that in the assessment of the bids DSB chose the offer which met the technical requirements and was at the same time the most attractive from an economic point of view. In other words, it is the offer where DSB got the most quality for the money.’
Müller said DSB ‘could not have awarded the contract differently based on the tender. We have run a professional and transparent tendering process, and this is also the feedback we have received from the market. I therefore hope that we can settle the matter as soon as possible, so that we can move forward with the purchase.’
