The call for tenders launched by Île-de-France Mobilités (IDFM) to find operators responsible for transporting the 200,000 people accredited during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games did not attract any candidates because of the excessively heavy penalties announced in the event of dysfunction, indicates the Canard enchaîné to be published on Wednesday.
The regional transport authority must take buses and coaches - electric and biogas - from its Ile-de-France fleet and designate operators who will run them during the summer of 2024 between the Olympic village, accommodation, press rooms, training places and stadiums, to transport athletes, members of sports federations and organisers.
The call for tenders launched on July 28, divided into three lots and for a total amount of 36.7 million euros, was declared unsuccessful.
IDFM consequently relaunched another call for tenders on December 21, for a lesser amount of 33.9 million.
The organizing committee (Cojo) must reimburse IDFM - authority chaired by Valérie Pécresse - for the establishment of this ephemeral network, presented in June as having to be the size of that of Lyon.
The general manager of IDFM Laurent Probst then stressed that the operators chosen should have "
an obligation of regularity and punctuality
".
According to Le Canard enchaîné, quoting an RATP executive, the first call for tenders "
was a ton
" on the penalties, which are very heavy in the event of a malfunction.
“
It was unmanageable.
How can we know today what the traffic conditions will be at the time of the Olympic Games as long as Valérie Pécresse does not indicate what the level of
“, he asks.
A relaunched call for tenders
The penalties provided for are significantly lower in the new tender, according to the satirical weekly.
Interested companies have until January 20 to respond.
“
One of the contracts launched by IDFM to organize the transport of accredited members of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games was unsuccessful, as happens in other public contracts in the current situation
,” said a spokesperson for the regional authority of the transport to AFP.
“
We relaunched it, in accordance with the procedure, for a period of 30 days.
The schedule will be respected.
We are on schedule
,” he added, without further comment.