Metrolinx Transit Procurement Initiative Current Joint Procurements

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Current Joint Procurements

18m Transit Bus

TPI facilitated the procurement of eighteen-metre articulated low floor urban transit buses for the first time in 2014. This procurement allows the participating transit agencies to select clean diesel or hybrid propulsion system. The vehicle specifications are performance-based; however, stakeholders have access to an option list to meet their specific local needs. All vehicles procured through TPI comply with MTO’s Canadian Content for Transit Vehicle Procurement Policy 2010 (amended). The specifications also comply with Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act 2005 (AODA) standards and the Highway Traffic Act (HTA) Reg. 629.

In our most recent procurement, TPI awarded the 2017-2020 contract for eighteen-metre articulated buses to Nova Bus of Quebec, a division of the Volvo Group.

Please contact TPI to learn about purchasing opportunities for this bus model.

Added Value

The TPI office provides important value-added benefits to participating transit systems. These include:

Enhanced quality control through in-plant inspection of buses
Fairness commissioner services to oversee the procurement process
Industry experienced TPI staff to develop detailed technical specifications, develop the RFP and manage the contract
Evaluation Committee made up of transit participants
Economies of scale and reduced unit cost

Partners

Currently active Transit partners for 18-metre buses are:

St. Catharines | Niagara Falls

12m Transit Bus

TPI has facilitated the procurement of twelve-metre low floor diesel and diesel electric hybrid urban transit buses on behalf of municipalities across Ontario since 2006. The vehicle design and specifications are performance-based; however, stakeholders have access to an option list to meet their specific local needs. All vehicles procured through TPI comply with MTO’s Canadian Content for Transit Vehicle Procurement Policy 2010 (amended). The specifications comply with Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act 2005 (AODA) standards and the Highway Traffic Act (HTA) Reg. 629.

In June of 2017, TPI awarded its most recent contract for twelve-metre diesel, hybrid and CNG buses to Nova Bus of Quebec, a division of the Volvo Group. The contract period is for 3 years (including two additional one year periods). There are 14 municipalities participating in this joint bus procurement.

Background

Prior joint procurement contracts for twelve-metre transit buses have been awarded to both Nova Bus and to New Flyer Industries of Winnipeg which delivered over 600 diesel and diesel electric hybrid buses to municipalities across Ontario.

Added Value

The TPI office provides important value-added benefits to participating transit systems. These include:

Enhanced quality control through in-plant inspection of buses
Fairness commissioner services to oversee the procurement process
Industry experienced TPI staff to develop detailed technical specifications, develop the RFP and manage the contract
Evaluation Committee made up of transit participants
Economies of scale and reduced unit cost

Partners

Current active Transit partners for 12-metre buses are:

We are always looking to serve more local transit providers. Please contact TPI to learn about purchasing this bus for your transit system through our award winning program.

9m Transit Bus

TPI facilitated the procurement of nine-metre low floor diesel transit buses from 2008 to 2013. After that period the level of interest for this model of bus did not warrant a joint procurement project. The interest level has now grown and during the first half of calendar 2018 TPI has posted an RFP and expects to award a contact on behalf of 6 municipal transit agencies.

Partners

Current active Transit partners for 9-metre buses are:

We are always looking to serve more local transit providers. Please contact TPI to learn about purchasing this bus for your transit system through our program.

8m Transit Bus

TPI has facilitated the procurement of eight-metre low or high floor specialized diesel transit buses on the behalf of municipalities and non-profits across Ontario. The vehicle design and specifications are performance-based; however, stakeholders have access to an option list to meet their specific local needs. The specifications also comply with current and upcoming Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act 2005 (AODA) standards and the Highway Traffic Act (HTA) Reg. 629.

In early 2015, TPI awarded two new contracts for eight-metre specialized buses both of which expired on December 31, 2017. TPI is currently developing new RFP’s for a low floor design and for a high floor design. These RFP’s will be posted and awarded during the first half of calendar 2018.

Please contact TPI to learn about purchasing these buses for your transit system through our program.

Background

TPI’s first contract in 2010 for eight-metre low floor specialized transit buses was awarded to Creative Carriage in St. George, Ontario and the eight-metre high floor specialized transit bus contract was awarded to Crestline Ltd. in Saskatoon. In 2012, new contracts were awarded to Creative Carriage in St.George, Ontario for low floor buses and to Overland Custom Coach in Thorndale, Ontario for high floor buses. As of the end of December 2017 a total of 238 vehicles with either the low floor or the high floor configuration have been ordered by TPI Partners.

Added Value

The TPI office provides important value-added benefits to participating transit systems. These include:

Enhanced quality control through in-plant inspection of buses
Fairness commissioner services to oversee the procurement process
Industry experienced TPI staff to develop detailed technical specifications, develop the RFP and manage the contract
Evaluation Committee made up of transit participants
Economies of scale and reduced unit cost

Partners

Metrolinx’s TPI office partnered with 23 municipal transit systems and agencies on the most recent 8-meter contracts.

Mini bus

In December 2016 TPI awarded a Mini bus contract to Creative Carriage an on behalf of 10 transit partners and that number has now grown to 15 municipal transit agencies. These buses are smaller, lighter, fuel efficient “full size van conversion” vehicles (less than 8-meters in length) that can accommodate up to three (3) wheelchairs and five (5) to seven (7) passengers. This is a two year contract with estimated quantities expected to exceed 100 buses. The photo below is the first mini bus delivered under this contract to Toronto Transit Commission.

Partners

The following municipal partners are currently active in the TPI Minibus contract and we are always looking to serve more local transit partners and non-governmental organizations (NGO’s).

Intelligent Transportation System-Automatic Vehicle Location (ITS-AVL) System

In response to a client survey, TPI coordinated a webinar, a workshop and site visits for interested municipal transit agencies to learn more about the benefits, opportunities and challenges of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) for small transit agencies. Six municipalities subsequently agreed to work together on a joint procurement for ITS-AVL technology to meet the 2017 automated announcement requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and to improve operating efficiencies in general.

In May 2015 TPI awarded a contract to a Consultant (Norda Stelo) with subject matter expertise to support the development of an ITS-AVL system on behalf of the participating municipalities. In September of 2015, Roche completed individual Needs Assessments for the six participating municipalities.

In October 2015, we began the development of technical specifications phase that has framed a subsequent joint procurement of the system to be installed.

This Request for Proposal was issued in January 2016 and subsequently awarded to Consat Canada Inc. in April 2016. Installations for the original six participating municipalities have been completed and three additional municipalities joined this contract during 2017.