SOLARIS WITH AIR-CONDITIONING ARRIVES IN WARSAW

Yesterday officials from the City Bus Transport Company (MZA) of Warsaw signed a contract with Solaris Bus & Coach for the delivery of 80 Solaris Urbino 18 articulated low floor city buses. Thus, the tender procedure for the supply

of modern articulated buses to the Polish capital has come to an end.

Originally the deadline for the submissions to the tender announced by Warsaw‘s City Bus Transport Company (MZA) of Warsaw was set for the beginning of October last year. In the event, the deadline had been extended until 14 December 2004. The delay was mainly due to very strict conditions imposed by MZA upon the tendering suppliers. They included, among other things, providing service back-up for the next eight years. Hence more time was needed to prepare tender submissions.

Finally, there were five tenderers altogether, including a bid from Solaris Bus & Coach company based in Bolechowo near Poznań.

"We had to analyse very carefully every single point of the tender specification, paying attention to the most minute details. Initially, due to a very demanding specification, we were in two minds whether to take part in the tender at all. In the event we did submit our offer, which turned out to be the winning package. Thus, our entry has confirmed that winning by Solaris of the prestigious "Bidder of the Year" title awarded by the "Zamówienia Publiczne Doradca" [Public Contracts Adviser] monthly, for "the excellent professional standard of tender preparation", was no accident," said Krzysztof Olszewski, Solaris Bus & Coach chairman and chief executive, in his comment on the successful tender.

The most important piece of news for the MZA passengers is surely the fact that all Solaris Urbino 18 articulated buses destined for Warsaw will be fitted with air-conditioning, both in the driver‘s cabin and in the passenger compartment. This will help to greatly improve travelling comfort, especially on hot days.

The contract stipulates that first batch of the new Solaris Urbino 18 buses are to be delivered in the 17th week from the date of signing the agreement. The final batch of the 80 units are due to arrive in Warsaw after 49 weeks. The new Solaris buses will be based in the MZA garages in Woronicza and Ostrobramska Streets.

This recent deal to supply 80 buses takes the total number of Solaris Urbino buses in Warsaw, operated both by the city transport company and private operators, to nearly 500 units.