Calling all interested parties: Exciting opportunity to participate in market sounding for the ACT Government’s first tranche of 90 battery electric buses

⁠⁠⁠The ACT Government has committed to an ambitious plan to transition its bus fleet to
zero-emissions by 2040. The procurement of a first tranche of 90 battery electric buses kick-starts this transition while learning, upskilling and de-risking the future steps.

Transport Canberra has now commenced market sounding with interested parties invited to register their interest

The market sounding is a genuine opportunity to receive input from all industry sectors to inform the upcoming procurement of our first tranche of 90 zero-emission buses.

The market sounding is focussed on engaging a wide range of industry representatives and participants including the bus manufacturing, battery technology, energy generation and distribution, skills and service industries.

The market sounding is exploring key delivery concepts and assumptions including market capacity, potential packaging, risk allocation and project specific issues such as technology, timing and scale.

Transport Canberra is looking for innovative solutions that respond to the infrastructure, power, training and technology opportunities of a zero-emission fleet, and can deliver on the objectives of a sustainable, compact and efficient city. Buses may be housed and charged in a mixture of either existing depots, off-site locations or at the new Woden bus depot.

The market sounding program includes a series of industry forums, interactive discussions and an information sharing platform to allow Transport Canberra to develop procurement documentation that encourages innovation and responds to industry capability. This process will conclude with interviews with relevant stakeholders.

Subject to the findings of the market soundings, the procurement process will progress through either the release of a Request for Expression of Interest or direct progression to Request for Proposal depending on which is deemed the most efficient and appropriate for this procurement activity.

The first of the 90 buses are expected to commence operation in 2021-22 financial year with the final of the 90 buses to be delivered no later than 2024.