Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has received the lowest bid to build the USD 300-million expansion of Al Jawf domestic airport in the kingdom's northern region, a source with knowledge of the matter told Zawya Projects in an exclusive.
"[Riyadh-based] Al Jabreen Trading & Contracting emerged as the lowest bidder for the project and is expected to win the contract," said the source, who did not wish to be named.
According to the source, aside from Al Jabreen, the prequalified bidders are Al Ayuni Trading and Contracting Company, Mapa Construction and Trade Company, Almabani General Contractors, First Kuwaiti General Trading & Contracting Company, Al Muhaidib Contracting Company, Saudi Binladin Group and Arab Supply & Trading Corporation.
He said GACA is expected to award the main construction contract by the third week of October this year and the civil work is expected to start by the second week of November.
"The tender for the project was released on January 15, 2014 and submission date was on March 27. The submission date was then extended to June 17," the source added.
Saudi Consulting Services (Saudconsult) was appointed the project's supervision consultant, while Zuhair Fayez Partnership Consultants was named design consultant, tasked to work on expanding the existing passenger terminal.
Once completed, the improved airport terminal will dramatically increase Al Jawf domestic airport's capacity to 1 million passengers per year from the current 175,000.
The project will also include the construction of a VIP terminal and related facilities. It will also increase the airport's floor space to 13,000 square meters (sqm) from the existing area of 2,900 sqm.
The airport expansion is expected to be completed by the end of 2016 and operational in the first quarter of 2017.
© Zawya Projects News 2014
