Public procurement notice: Voluntary Ex Ante Transparency Notice
Published: 2023-11-08
Buyer: Iarnród Éireann- Irish Rail
Country: IE
Contract type: Services
Procedure: Negotiated without a prior call for competition
CPV classification: 72700000
Award criteria: The most economic tender

Technical requirements: Iarnród Éireann – Irish Rail (IÉ) proposes to enter into a framework agreement with Kontron Transportation France SAS (Kontron) for the continued supply of equipment and provision of technical support in respect of IE’s digital train radio system.
Following a competitive tender process under ref. 2010/S 251-386809, IÉ entered into a framework agreement with Kapsch Carrier Com (now Kontron) for the design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of a digital train radio system based on Global System for Mobile
Communications – Railway (GSM-R) system infrastructure. The GSM-R network, as deployed, is proprietary to Kontron. IÉ’s proposal to enter into a framework agreement with Kontron is to ensure the continued availability and operability of the existing digital train radio system, the continued deployment of the GSM-R on the IÉ network and to support the operational railway until replacement technology is available and approved for use on the IÉ network.
IÉ proposes to enter into a framework agreement with Kontron for the continued supply of equipment and provision of technical support in respect of IE’s digital train radio system.
Following a competitive tender process under ref. 2010/S 251-386809, IÉ entered into a framework agreement with Kapsch Carrier Com (now Kontron) for the design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of a digital train radio system based on Global System for Mobile Communications – Railway (GSM-R) system infrastructure. The GSM-R system infrastructure has been implemented across the IÉ network and significant development and integration has been undertaken with other systems across the IÉ network. The GSM-R network, as deployed, is proprietary to Kontron, and migration to an alternative GSM-R solution would necessitate the replacement of the entire GSM-R network. The current infrastructure is based on 2.5G technology which will be phased out over the next 10 to 15 years, to be replaced with new approved EIRENE technology, which is still in development. Alternative technologies that IÉ might consider migrating to in advance of the deployment of the new approved EIRENE technology are also based on 2.5G and would also become obsolete over the next 10 to 15 years.
IÉ’s proposal to enter into a framework agreement with Kontron is to ensure the continued availability and operability of the existing digital train radio system, the continued deployment of the GSM-R on the IÉ network and to support the operational railway until the replacement technology is available and approved for use on the IÉ network,  When a new solution has been selected and approved, IÉ will require the continued support of the incumbent supplier to ensure the availability of the existing system until such time as it has been fully replaced across the entire IÉ network. The proposed framework agreement will have provision to run up to 2040.
IÉ proposes to enter into a framework agreement with Kontron for the continued supply of equipment and provision of technical support in respect of IE’s digital train radio system.
Following a competitive tender process under ref. 2010/S 251-386809, IÉ entered into a framework agreement with Kapsch Carrier Com (now Kontron) for the design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of a digital train radio system based on Global System for Mobile Communications – Railway (GSM-R) system infrastructure. The GSM-R system infrastructure has been implemented across the IÉ network and significant development and integration has been undertaken with other systems across the IÉ network.
The GSM-R network, as deployed, is proprietary to Kontron, and migration to an alternative GSM-R solution would necessitate the replacement of the entire GSM-R network. The current infrastructure is based on 2.5G technology which will be phased out over the next 10 to 15 years, to be replaced with new EIRENE approved technology, which is still in development. Alternative technologies that IÉ might consider migrating to in advance of the deployment of the new approved EIRENE technology are also based on 2.5G and would also become obsolete over the next 10 to 15 years.
IÉ’s proposal to enter into a framework agreement with Kontron is to ensure the continued availability and operability of the existing digital train radio system, the continued deployment of the GSM-R on the IÉ network and to support the operational railway until the replacement technology is available and approved for use on the IÉ network.
When a new solution has been selected and approved, IÉ will require the continued support of the incumbent supplier to ensure the availability of the existing system until such time as it has been fully replaced across the entire IÉ network. The proposed framework agreement will have provision to run up to 2040.


Winner: Kontron Transportation France SAS