NSW government rail infrastructure department RailCorp is calling for resources to assist with the development and implementation of an enterprise ICT solution for its $3.6 billion "Rollingstock" public-private partnership (PPP) to replace some 500 ageing train carriages.

The new solution will consisting of an integrated contract management system (CMS) and fleet management system (FMS).

RailCorp anticipates the new solution will serve as a risk mitigation strategy for the overall contract management of the Rollingstock project, and enable it to meet its commercial and fleet management obligations for information sharing.

Other objectives for the new software include keeping stock maintained in a single asset management system, support internal reporting requirements, provide monthly analytical reports, and support future fleet management requirements.

The chosen contractor must provide RailCorp with specifications for both hardware and software, and perform all integration and training services.

Initial acceptance of the CMS/FMS solution is targeted for August 2009, full acceptance will not be finalized until April 2010, according to RailCorp.

In conjunction with the contractor, RailCorp will assemble a core team of ICT and business professionals to assist with project governance, solution design verification, interaction with the respective RailCorp groups, and the testing of the solution.

The RailCorp core team will be transitioned in from January 2008 at the scheduled completion of the design stage of the PPP ICT program.

"All staff within the PPP ICT program report to the PPP ICT program delivery manager - with the total size of the team varying over the life of the program," according to RailCorp. "As at January 2008, the team is expected to comprise approximately 20 resources."

The contract is scheduled to be awarded in May and RailCorp has slapped a strict "no media" clause on prospective contractors, which will be unable to release any information about the project to the public.