28 September 2010
MUSCAT: The much-awaited terminal contracts linked to the expansion of Muscat and Salalah airports are expected to be awarded within a short period, with the Tender Board now seeking information from short-listed consortiums.
For Muscat International Airport terminal development (package three), the Tender Board has already sought additional information and technical details from three short-listed firms -- Joannou & Paraskeevaides (Overseas) Ltd, Consolidated Contracting with TAV and Bechtel -- which are also the lowest bidders.
The consortium that wins the project will design and build a large terminal for Muscat International Airport, highly placed sources in contracting firms told Times of Oman. This is against an earlier plan to get it designed by the project consultants Cowi Larsen joint venture.
"It is a design and built contract. Each consortium will come with their own design within the parameters stipulated by the government. Therefore, it is not that easy for the authorities to take a decision," said an official, citing the complexities involved in comparing different designs for evaluating capital expenditure.
The terminal building package is the second major package, after a joint venture of Turkey's TAV and Athens-based Consolidated Contractors Co (CCC) won a RO450 million contract to build a runway, taxiway system, aprons, roads and utility buildings for Muscat airport last year. The new Muscat airport terminal will be designed for another 20 years.
Lowest bidder
Joannou & Paraskeevaides (Overseas) Ltd, a Cyprus-based construction major with operations in several Middle East countries and Pakistan, with its RO746.15 million bid, is the lowest bidder for Muscat International airport terminal project.
Other two lowest bidders - Consolidated Contracting with TAV and Bechtel - have submitted bids for RO748.82 million and RO805.73 million, respectively.
In the case of Salalah airport expansion, the winning consortium will have to design and build a terminal, besides constructing a new runway. The lowest and short-listed bidder for Salalah is a consortium consisting Turkey's Alsim Alarko Sanayi Tesisleri Ve Ticaret AS with Nagarjuna Construction Company, which submitted the lowest bid of RO273.71 million.
"The Tender Board has asked certain clarification from us. The design is for handling one million passengers per year, which can be scaled up to 2 million per annum later," said an official of Nagarjuna Construction Company, on condition of anonymity.
Other two bidders are Galfar Engineering & Contracting with Larsen & Toubro and Joannou & Paraskeevaides (Overseas) Ltd, which have submitted bids worth RO325.47 million and RO353 million, respectively.
"It takes at least three years to complete the expansion of both airports."
Salalah airport currently handles only domestic and regional flights. Oman wants to expand it and turn it into an international terminal.
Both the new airports will be able to play host to the very latest aircraft in the world, including the world's largest passenger aircraft, the A380. The aim is to design state-of-the-art airports offering passengers a high degree of comfort and safety.
MUSCAT: The much-awaited terminal contracts linked to the expansion of Muscat and Salalah airports are expected to be awarded within a short period, with the Tender Board now seeking information from short-listed consortiums.
For Muscat International Airport terminal development (package three), the Tender Board has already sought additional information and technical details from three short-listed firms -- Joannou & Paraskeevaides (Overseas) Ltd, Consolidated Contracting with TAV and Bechtel -- which are also the lowest bidders.
The consortium that wins the project will design and build a large terminal for Muscat International Airport, highly placed sources in contracting firms told Times of Oman. This is against an earlier plan to get it designed by the project consultants Cowi Larsen joint venture.
"It is a design and built contract. Each consortium will come with their own design within the parameters stipulated by the government. Therefore, it is not that easy for the authorities to take a decision," said an official, citing the complexities involved in comparing different designs for evaluating capital expenditure.
The terminal building package is the second major package, after a joint venture of Turkey's TAV and Athens-based Consolidated Contractors Co (CCC) won a RO450 million contract to build a runway, taxiway system, aprons, roads and utility buildings for Muscat airport last year. The new Muscat airport terminal will be designed for another 20 years.
Lowest bidder
Joannou & Paraskeevaides (Overseas) Ltd, a Cyprus-based construction major with operations in several Middle East countries and Pakistan, with its RO746.15 million bid, is the lowest bidder for Muscat International airport terminal project.
Other two lowest bidders - Consolidated Contracting with TAV and Bechtel - have submitted bids for RO748.82 million and RO805.73 million, respectively.
In the case of Salalah airport expansion, the winning consortium will have to design and build a terminal, besides constructing a new runway. The lowest and short-listed bidder for Salalah is a consortium consisting Turkey's Alsim Alarko Sanayi Tesisleri Ve Ticaret AS with Nagarjuna Construction Company, which submitted the lowest bid of RO273.71 million.
"The Tender Board has asked certain clarification from us. The design is for handling one million passengers per year, which can be scaled up to 2 million per annum later," said an official of Nagarjuna Construction Company, on condition of anonymity.
Other two bidders are Galfar Engineering & Contracting with Larsen & Toubro and Joannou & Paraskeevaides (Overseas) Ltd, which have submitted bids worth RO325.47 million and RO353 million, respectively.
"It takes at least three years to complete the expansion of both airports."
Salalah airport currently handles only domestic and regional flights. Oman wants to expand it and turn it into an international terminal.
Both the new airports will be able to play host to the very latest aircraft in the world, including the world's largest passenger aircraft, the A380. The aim is to design state-of-the-art airports offering passengers a high degree of comfort and safety.
By A E James
© Times of Oman 2010
