LRTA defers deadline for P1.33-B maintenance contract for LRT2 to Sept

MANILA, Philippines - The Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) has deferred anew the submission and opening of bids for the P1.33-billion maintenance contract for the Light Rail Transit line 2 (LRT-2) due to the changes in the terms of the bidding.

Jose Jobel Belarmino, chairman of the LRTA Bids and Awards Committee – Rail, said the deadline of submission and opening of bids was deferred to Sept. 24 instead of Aug. 29 this year.

Belarmino said under Supplemental Bid Bulletin R11-C that the deadline would have to be postponed after the LRTA Board of Directors approved further revisions in the Terms of Reference on the procurement of the contract for maintenance of the LRT-2 system last July 13.

This is the second time that the deadline was extended. The original deadline for the submission of bids for the three-year maintenance contract was July 16 but was moved to Aug. 29 to enable and afford the newly designated BAC-Rail the necessary time to evaluate and study all bidding documents.

A total of eight foreign and local companies have expressed interest in the maintenance contract for the 13.8-kilometer LRT-2 system running from CM Recto Avenue to the Depot Santolan Street along Marcos Highway.

Interested companies include construction giant DM Consunji Inc., Marubeni Corp. of Japan, Autre Porte Technique Global Inc., Global Epcom Services Inc., Busan Transportation Corp. of Korea, Comm Builders & Technology Phils. Corp., Telefonika Inc. as well as the tandem of Multi-Scan Corp. and Hyundai Rotem Corp. of Korea.

Winning bidder would replace the TSPA consortium consisting of Telefonika, STIV, Pacific, and APT Global.

The DOTC has tapped the consortium of Foresight Development and Surveying Company, Soosung Engineering Co. Ltd., and Korea Rail Network Authority for a P240.78-million consulting/engineering services for civil works for the P9.7-billion LRT-2 east extension project.

Earlier, the LRTA also deferred the deadline for the submission of bids for the P423.3-million maintenance contract for LRT-1 to Oct. 1 instead of Sept. 12 “to enable and afford prospective bidders to thoroughly study the bidding documents and to give them enough time to prepare reasonable bids.”

The LRTA is looking for a maintenance contractor for the 20.7-kilometer LRT-1 from Baclaran in Pasay City to Roosevelt in Quezon City that is currently being maintained by the group of ComBuilders and Technology (CB&T), PMP Inc., and Gras Sabrocai.

LRT-1 is considered to be the first LRT system in Southeast Asia as it started operations in December of 1983. It now has 21 stations from Baclaran in Pasay City to Roosevelt in Quezon City.