AGENDA ITEM 11-B
ACTION ITEM
TO:
CHAIRMAN BULOVA AND THE VRE OPERATIONS BOARD
FROM:
DALE ZEHNER
DATE:
FEBRUARY 18, 2011
RE:
AUTHORIZATION TO PURCHASE THREE LOW VOLTAGE POWER
SUPPLY & BATTERY CHARGER (LVPS/BC) UNITS FOR GALLERY IV
CARS
_____________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION:
The VRE Operations Board is being asked to authorize the Chief Executive Officer to
purchase three Low Voltage Power Supply and Battery Charger (LVPS/BC) system
units from Transtechnik Corporation USA for the new Gallery IV cars.
This
authorization is being requested in an amount not to exceed $150,000, plus a
contingency of $15,000, for a total amount not to exceed $165,000.
BACKGROUND:
Since 2005, VRE has purchased and is operating 71 new Gallery IV cars as part of its
general fleet. Each of the Gallery IV cars contains a Low Voltage Power Supply and
Battery Charger unit that provides two separate and independent low voltage DC power
modules. The LVPS module supplies auxiliary loads on the train’s low voltage network
as a load management system and the battery charger module charges the 32 volt
vehicle battery which is used to supply power to the car’s systems, including the
emergency lighting in the cars.
The warranty period has ended for the base and option order cars (50 cars) and by next
year all 71 cars will be out of warranty. As such, VRE will be responsible for 100% of
the repair and maintenance of the LVPS/BC system. VRE currently has one spare unit
as part of its capital spare inventory. VRE needs to purchase three additional LVPS/BC
units in order to ensure an adequate spare ratio and to maintain its maintenance and
repair service schedule. If sufficient spares are not available, cars must be taken out of
service until the LVPS/BC unit is repaired.
The LVPS/BC system was designed and manufactured by Transtechnik specifically for
use in the VRE Gallery IV cars manufactured for VRE by Sumitomo/Nippon Sharyo.
There is no commercially available, off-the-shelf unit that could be purchased from
another supplier as a direct replacement for the existing unit. Another supplier would
have to reverse-engineer the existing LVPS/BC system in order to manufacture a
comparable unit, the cost of which would be borne by VRE. Additionally, VRE would
have to provide the supplier with the existing spare unit as part of the engineering
process, which would leave VRE without a spare in its inventory. Should a LVPS/BC
unit in one of the Gallery IV cars require repair or replacement while the spare parts are
being manufactured, VRE would not have any replacement spares in its inventory and
would have to take the car with the faulty LVPS/BS unit out of service.
Therefore, VRE staff is recommending approval of a sole source contract with
Transtechnik for the manufacture and purchase of the spare LVPS/BC units. The
supplier is able to provide the LVPS/BC system and any necessary product support.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funding is available in the FY 2011 Operating Budget.
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
RE:
CHAIRMAN BULOVA AND THE VRE OPERATIONS BOARD
DALE ZEHNER
FEBRUARY 18, 2011
AUTHORIZATION TO PURCHASE THREE LOW VOLTAGE POWER
SUPPLY & BATTERY CHARGER (LVPS/BC) UNITS FOR GALLERY
CARS
RESOLUTION
11b-02-2011
OF THE
VIRGINIA RAILWAY EXPRESS
OPERATIONS BOARD
WHEREAS, VRE operates 71 new Gallery IV cars which have reached the end of their
warranty period; and,
WHEREAS, additional spare LVPS/BC units are needed to ensure an adequate spare
ratio and to maintain the Gallery IV maintenance and repair service schedule; and,
WHEREAS, the LVPS/BC was designed and manufactured specifically for use in the
VRE Gallery IV cars and there is no commercially available, off-the-shelf unit that could
be purchased from another supplier as a direct replacement for the existing unit; and,
WHEREAS, another supplier would have to custom-engineer, at VRE expense, a
comparable unit; and
WHEREAS, the only existing spare LVPS/BC unit would need to be provided to the
alternative supplier during the engineering and manufacturing process, which would
leave VRE with no spare LVPS/BC units until the additional spares were received; and,
WHEREAS, VRE staff is, therefore, recommending approval of a sole source purchase
of the LVPS/BC system units from the Transtechnik Corporation USA.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the VRE Operations Board authorizes
the Chief Executive Officer to purchase three Low Voltage Power Supply and Battery
Charger (LVPS/BC) units from Transtechnik Corporation USA in an amount not to
exceed $150,000, plus a contingency of $15,000, for a total amount not to exceed
$165,000.