THE STAGE has been set for the auction on May 18 of a P4-billion deal to build, transfer and operate an integrated transport hub near Food Terminal, Inc. grounds in Taguig City, with the government moving it three weeks earlier than initially planned in a bid to start construction sooner.
The Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) last month looked to put the Integrated Transport System (ITS)-South Terminal Project under the public-private partnership (PPP) scheme on the auction block on June 1, but announced in a pre-bid conference yesterday the date has been moved to May 18.
“We’ll issue a general bid bulletin within the week -- moving the bid submission date on May 18 -- so we can speed up the procurement process and start of construction” DoTC Undersecretary for Administration and Procurement Catherine P. Gonzales said during the pre-bid conference.
The pre-bid conference was also attended by members of the department’s Special Bids and Awards Committee and representatives of all four qualified groups, namely: Ayala Land, Inc.; Datem, Inc.; Filinvest Land, Inc.; as well as MWM Terminals of Megawide Construction Corp. and WM Property Management, Inc.
The four investor groups made it to the short list of those qualified to bid for the contract, which will include the design, construction and operation for 35 years of a terminal servicing Manila-bound commuters coming from Laguna and Batangas.
During the pre-bid conference, concern over revisions in project timeline was raised by representatives of Ayala Land and Filinvest, but Ms. Gonzales assured prospective bidders that her department “will issue a general bid bulletin stating the final timeline.” Otherwise, no major concern was raised.
Ms. Gonzales said a first round of one-on-one meetings will be held Feb. 16-17, while a second pre-bid conference will be on March 11. “After that, second round of one-on-one meetings will be from March 16 to 20,” she added.
The government set a two-stage bidding process for the contract, which means qualification documents are opened separately from financial and technical proposals.
After submission of technical and financial proposals and opening of technical offers on May 18, “the department will notify within 20 calendar days from the bidding which groups have passed the technical round,” Ms. Gonzales said.
Opening of financial proposals will be within 15 days from completion of evaluation of technical offers.
“Once we announce which company has the best financial offer, we will issue the notice of award within five days from submission of post-qualification requirements,” Ms. Gonzales said.
The contract for the P2.5-billion ITS-Southwest Terminal project, involving another terminal serving commuters from the Cavite area, was awarded to MWM Terminals last month.
source: Businessworld
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