The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has announced a market sounding to develop the Bishkek automated fare collection (AFC) system in the Kyrgyz Republic.

Bishkek, with a population of around 1.2 million, is the capital and the largest city in the Kyrgyz Republic. The public transport services are being rendered by municipally owned trolleybus and bus companies (around 300 vehicles) and a large number of privately owned minibus operators rendering services with over 3000 vehicles.

Municipal midi buses and trolleybuses are used by around 60 million passengers each year. Privately operated mini buses are used by around 220 million passengers each year.

The city of Bishkek has decided to introduce an electronic ticketing system, which will be based on smartcards and allow to identify concessionary passengers. Therefore the city of Bishkek wishes to engage with parties which are interested in the following packages:

• Package 1: to realize and operate the AFC system under a public service contract according to a design, build, finance, operate, and transfer (DBFOT) model. 

• Package 2: to supply, install and maintain an AFC system and assist the city by operate it for a start-up period of 2 /3 years.

The expression of interest shall further provide a general budget information based on the data to the project as follows:

• For package 1: price range per year assuming 230 million passengers / year  for a contract period of eight years
• For package 2: range for system price including installation, two years warranty and five years second level maintenance; price range per year for system operation during start-up period of 2/3 years; including ticket distribution, fare collection, customer service, ticket inspection and first level maintenance assuming 230 million passengers / year.

Interested suppliers and contractors shall express their interest and explain their capabilities by electronic mail in English or Russian languages to the Consultant engaged by the City of Bishkek (asc@blic.de) on or before 23 October 20015.