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Forty Three (43) New Transit Buses RFP,Deliveries to start 11/2015 or Before....


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Purchase of Heavy-Duty 40 Foot CNG Low Floor Transit Buses
Invitation for Bids (IFB)
Category: Purchase
Organization: Veolia Transportation Services, Inc. d/b/a NICE Bus
Location: 700 Commercial Avenue, Garden City, New York 11530
IFB Due Date: October 30, 2014, 10:00AM EST
Veolia Transportation Services, Inc., doing business as NICE Bus, is soliciting bids from qualified bidders to provide firm, fixed pricing for the purchase of forty-three (43) heavy-duty 40 foot CNG low floor transit buses for use in suburban transit service. There is No DBE Participation Goal for this procurement. A firm fixed price contract will be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, and prices shall remain firm throughout the contract term. Bus deliveries shall commence by or before November 2015.

 

Please note this is what Veolia is calling an "Invitation for Bids," please don't ask WHO the manufacturer will be.  Veolia doesn't even know this yet, this is them asking manufacturers for bids...

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It's more than likely that New Flyer will get this, considering that they also own the Orion parts division. Though it would be very interesting to see Gillig and Nova in the mix.

 

I feel (and have felt) the same way about New Flyer,and Gillig being the wild card, it might just comedown to price!  Let's also take into account delivery times...  As you probably know Nova is about a year behind delivering Artics to SEPTA, hurting septa in a bad way (article for those that don't know: http://articles.philly.com/2014-07-04/).  Can NICE really afford to wait an extra year for new buses if put in the same situation?  43 buses next summer is really pushing it as it is, but waiting 'til summer of is just ridiculous!  

 

This is going to be a very interesting bid for new buses. There is only three bus builders that we know are going to be bidding on this contract. 

 

There are other manufacturers out there that build transit buses...  Look out for the wild card with NICE, I had money on a couple of manufacturers that i thought would be a shoe in to build NICE's Para transit buses, and they went with Dodge mini vans!  I and don't think anyone else here expected that!  With NICE I think it's going to boil down to who can offer them more for less ($$$). 

 

Like Cait Smith said New Flyer has Orion parts, but that is really apples and oranges NICE can order buses from another manufacturer and order parts from New Flyer.  New Flyer could offer a deal for discount Orion parts, which would be offering more for less.

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It's more than likely that New Flyer will get this, considering that they also own the Orion parts division. Though it would be very interesting to see Gillig and Nova in the mix.

 

 

Not really since NFTA and HSR are getting LFS CNG's next year.

I feel (and have felt) the same way about New Flyer,and Gillig being the wild card, it might just comedown to price!  Let's also take into account delivery times...  As you probably know Nova is about a year behind delivering Artics to SEPTA, hurting septa in a bad way (article for those that don't know: http://articles.philly.com/2014-07-04/).  Can NICE really afford to wait an extra year for new buses if put in the same situation?  43 buses next summer is really pushing it as it is, but waiting 'til summer of is just ridiculous!  

 

 

There are other manufacturers out there that build transit buses...  Look out for the wild card with NICE, I had money on a couple of manufacturers that i thought would be a shoe in to build NICE's Para transit buses, and they went with Dodge mini vans!  I and don't think anyone else here expected that!  With NICE I think it's going to boil down to who can offer them more for less ($$$). 

 

Like Cait Smith said New Flyer has Orion parts, but that is really apples and oranges NICE can order buses from another manufacturer and order parts from New Flyer.  New Flyer could offer a deal for discount Orion parts, which would be offering more for less.

 

SEPTA's LFS problems were their own problems and not Nova's .

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SEPTA's LFS problems were their own problems and not Nova's .

 

How so?  Not that I don't believe you (I'm always up for learning) but on the "the bus expert websites" (here, buschat, etc.) the problem was/is SEPTA but the news states NOVA with workforce and production problems....   I mean SEPTA is in a world of hurt for these buses, what are they doing to delay them?

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How so?  Not that I don't believe you (I'm always up for learning) but on the "the bus expert websites" (here, buschat, etc.) the problem was/is SEPTA but the news states NOVA with workforce and production problems....   I mean SEPTA is in a world of hurt for these buses, what are they doing to delay them?

 

Look at every order SEPTA has done for the past 20 years on rail or bus. They ordered 62 foot LFS artic when the state of PA only legally let artics be 60 feet long in PA. PA has since changed the law letting the artics run in the state without a waiver.

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Look at every order SEPTA has done for the past 20 years on rail or bus. They ordered 62 foot LFS artic when the state of PA only legally let artics be 60 feet long in PA. PA has since changed the law letting the artics run in the state without a waiver.

New Flyer LFR artics are also over 60' and they've been running for a few years in Pittsburgh. As Burrstone and the article stated the issue has to do on Nova's end, other systems have also ran into issues with production and delivery. (CyRide in Iowa comes to mind). Nova has hired an outside contractor and that contractor will assemble a workforce near Plattsburg over the next 3-6 months to help speed up some of the production delays which were mostly caused by parts shortages and engineering re-work requested by customers. I'll also add it's the manufacturer's responsibility to ensure they comply with the specifications of the tender they're bidding on. 

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Nova has hired an outside contractor and that contractor will assemble a workforce near Plattsburg over the next 3-6 months to help speed up some of the production delays which were mostly caused by parts shortages and engineering re-work requested by customers

 

I've always been interested in shift work and falls into place as well as how factories in small towns work.  Sometimes people are beating the doors down to get in because there are not many decent paying jobs in town.  Years ago I remember reading about a factory in a small town outside of a small city having such high turnover they and the employment agency started advertising the job as "what would you do with a half of month off?"  They showed pictures and videos of people spending time with family, hanging out with friends, riding 4 wheelers, dirt bikes, etc...   Nothing about the job, just having half a month off....  It broke down to something like 2 pay periods a month with one week working four twelve hour days and the other week working three twelve hour days.

 

I have also read that employees are more effective after the longer there "off time is from work.

 

So after I read about the problems Nova was having with production because the workforce I came up with a solution (I figured they tapped out of employees in a small town).  Why not get creative with the shifts?  Why not offer 7 day on 7 day off shifts?  This way workers can have a great work life balance and  NOVA can attract workers from beyond the"normal" commuting area.  This would be a great thing for the entire state including NYC and Long Island, anywhere within a half days drive really.  There is even an amtrak line that runs from  NYC up to Plattsburgh so you don't even have to drive, just sleep!  Let's say an apartment costs $400-$500, I can split it with someone whoworks the opposite shift and we'd never see each other.

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Rumor on the street is the main company Nice is in talks with is New Flyer. However they have entertained talks with Nova and Gillig from what I understand. My money is definitely on the XN40, but Gillig could shoot a better deal. Not expecting Nova to get in on this one.

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Rumor on the street is the main company Nice is in talks with is New Flyer. However they have entertained talks with Nova and Gillig from what I understand. My money is definitely on the XN40, but Gillig could shoot a better deal. Not expecting Nova to get in on this one.

Goddamnit lol
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Rumor on the street is the main company Nice is in talks with is New Flyer. However they have entertained talks with Nova and Gillig from what I understand. My money is definitely on the XN40, but Gillig could shoot a better deal. Not expecting Nova to get in on this one.

Great -_-
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Rumor on the street is the main company Nice is in talks with is New Flyer. However they have entertained talks with Nova and Gillig from what I understand. My money is definitely on the XN40, but Gillig could shoot a better deal. Not expecting Nova to get in on this one.

 

You never know Nova just landed two CNG contracts

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There goes the suspense I was holding....

 

 

Suspense?  People have been thinking "New Flyer" for years (granted people assume New Flyer in this forum always anyway way)...  lol  What next?  Are you gonna tell us Santa Clause isn't real?  Or hold the suspense on that one 'til christmas?   :D

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Suspense? People have been thinking "New Flyer" for years (granted people assume New Flyer in this forum always anyway way)... lol What next? Are you gonna tell us Santa Clause isn't real? Or hold the suspense on that one 'til christmas? :D

Plus I did mention that they are going to most likely get it lol
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Rumor on the street is the main company Nice is in talks with is New Flyer. However they have entertained talks with Nova and Gillig from what I understand. My money is definitely on the XN40, but Gillig could shoot a better deal. Not expecting Nova to get in on this one.

 

I'd rather see C40LFR's instead

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The posting on the website describing the bid was posted way after the bid went out. NICE has already been in talks with bus manufacturers for some time now. Speculation here will only get you so far, but insider information from those I know at NICE have already told me there's one particular that is in consistent talks with NICE and is very likely to get the bid.

Why don't you enlighten us with your insider information than?

There goes the suspense I was holding....

Suspense?  People have been thinking "New Flyer" for years (granted people assume New Flyer in this forum always anyway way)...  lol  What next?  Are you gonna tell us Santa Clause isn't real?  Or hold the suspense on that one 'til christmas?   :D

Good, then don't ask me things you must know the answer to.

 

It was more of me being a dick than asking you for information, I was trying to not be that big of a dick so I left it at that.  It's all part of me trying to be a better person. 

Sorry for the confusion but I figured I should clear that up.  

 

I'd rather see C40LFR's instead

 

I would take a job with NICE if that happened!

 

Maybe the (MTA) will lease some to NICE!  (Hey a guy can dream can't he!?!  B-)  )

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It was discontinued....3 years ago.

 

During BHA in the Twin Cities last month, we visited the New Flyer plant, NFI person there said they would still offer the LFR if the customer signed an order for 300-500 buses. This amount does rule out most if not all LFR customers.

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