Subject: Re: CAF - HNTB Meeting 10/21
From: "Michael Muldoon" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>, "Eric Schwerin" <[email-masked]>, "Lorenzo Roccia" <[email-masked]>, "Abel Navarro Homet" <[email-masked]>, "Pio Mortera Nales" <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 19 Nov 2010 15:38:43 -0500

Hey Guys,

Eric and I took another look at the draft RFQ and the language actually
reads as follows:

-----

In addition, FDOT *desires* the team members to have, respectively, the
levels of experience set forth in this

Section 6.3.1(b).
*

Lead Rolling Stock Manufacturer
*A Rolling Stock Manufacturer that has design, manufacturing,

testing and delivery experience within the past 5 years
, having supplied at least one project, with electric

steel-wheel-on-steel-track passenger trains capable of minimum operating
speeds of at least 186

mph/300kph with a proven and demonstrable passenger service history
.

-----

The obvious key word being "desires." The way this reads is that CAF could
participate, but may lose some points as a result of not having proven
experience at 186mph. This seems to be in contrast to the presentation we
saw in Orlando so we'll wait to see what the final language is on the RFQ
(expected to be released at the end of this month).

Mike
On Tue, Oct 26, 2010 at 10:19 AM, Michael Muldoon <
[email-masked]> wrote:
>
> Note that FL (Tampa-Orlando) received $800 million in the latest round of
federal funding.
>
>
>
> Feds give Fla. $800 million more for high-speed
>
>
>
> The Associated Press
>
> TAMPA, Fla. -- The federal government has given Florida another $800
million for a high-speed rail line between Tampa and Orlando.
>
> The grant announced Monday brings total federal funding to $2 billion.
>
> President Barack Obama came to Tampa in January to announce $8 billion in
stimulus awards for rail projects nationally including $1.25 billion for
Florida.
>
> The new money is not stimulus but comes from $2.5 billion Congress put in
the transportation budget for high-speed rail.
>
> Sen. Bill Nelson, a Florida Democrat, said he expects the state to get the
remaining $300 million in federal money it needs next year. The project will
total $2.6 billion including about the state's contribution.
>
> Florida also is getting $8 million to plan an Orlando-Miami leg.
>
> Read more:
http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/10/25/1890349/feds-give-fla-800-million-more.html#ixzz13TDFT0Vv
>
>
>
> On Fri, Oct 22, 2010 at 10:49 AM, Michael Muldoon <
[email-masked]> wrote:
>>
>> Good Morning Guys,
>>
>>
>>
>> Our meeting with CAF and HNTB went well yesterday. CAF outlined their
company/HSR expertise and were able to openly question the HNTB project
management team on aspects of their plan for the Tampa-Orlando corridor. A
couple of key points that came out of the discourse are below:
>>
>>
>>
>> 1)      Speed: When asked about the specs. that will be included in the
RFQ, Adrian Share (Program Director for Florida Rail Enterprise – THE guy)
responded that it would be “performance based” and would more than likely
require a proven-speed of 186 mph. As you know, CAF doesn’t currently have a
train in operation that goes that speed (developing a prototype that can go
220 mph and will begin testing soon). We need to determine who (HNTB/FL Rail
Enterprise or FRA) is pushing for the speed threshold and ensure that it
doesn’t prevent CAF from submitting a bid. Adrian repeatedly said that it
was the FRA that was pushing for this requirement, but
Virginia/Tomar disagreed.
>>
>>
>>
>> 2)      Timeline: Adrian and his team largely reinforced the timeline as
we knew it. Below are key dates:
>>
>> -Week of 10/25: FL Rail Enterprise hears about additional $1.12bn in
federal funding (in addition to the $1.25 awarded through ARRA, will
largely complete funding for the Tampa-Orlando
>>
>> Route)
>>
>> -November 8-9: HSR Conference. Critical for CAF. Is essentially a
matchmaking opportunity.
>>
>> -Late November: RFQ released with a one month turnaround time (teams will
need to be formed by then)
>>
>> -March 2011: RFP issued to shortlist (3-4 consortia)
>>
>> -Late 2011: Selection of winning team
>>
>> -2012: Begin construction
>>
>>
>>
>> 3)      Consortia: Adrian largely reinforced the list of consortia that
he gave Eric last time they spoke. It was evident that we should focus on
the SNCF/Bechtel and Fluor Daniel/Balfour Beatty teams as they are still
looking for a rolling stock manufacturer. I'd suggest we reach out to Fluor
Daniel ASAP. Their Board of Directors are here:
http://www.fluor.com/about_fluor/leadership/board_of_directors/Pages/default.aspx
if
you guys want to see if we have any connections at that level.
>>
>>
>>
>> There were some additional points made that we can discuss on our call
next Tuesday. Let me know if you have any questions and Lorenzo please add
anything I missed!
>>
>>
>>
>> Best,
>>
>>
>>
>> Mike
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Mike Muldoon
>>
>> Rosemont Seneca Partners, LLC
>>
>> 1010 Wisconsin Ave., NW
>>
>> Suite 705
>>
>> Washington, DC 20007
>>
>> (202) 333-1880
>>
>> [email-masked]
>>
>> P Consider the environment before printing this email.
>>
>>
>
>
> --
> Mike Muldoon
> Rosemont Seneca Partners, LLC
> 1010 Wisconsin Ave., NW
> Suite 705
> Washington, DC 20007
> (202) 333-1880
> [email-masked]
>

--
Mike Muldoon
Rosemont Seneca Partners, LLC
1010 Wisconsin Ave., NW
Suite 705
Washington, DC 20007
(202) 333-1880
[email-masked]