SCTEX price challengers given till Jan 30 to submit proposals

MANILA, Philippines - Firms interested in the management, operation and maintenance of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) have until Jan. 30, 2015 to submit proposals to match Manila North Tollways Corp.’s (MNTC) offer, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) said.

The Terms of Reference (TOR) for the price challenge of the management, operation and maintenance of the 94-kilometer SCTEX posted on the BCDA website showed the deadline of submission of eligibility documents, technical and financial proposals for the price challenge is on Jan. 30.

The proposals would be opened on the same day.

In 2011, the MNTC signed a business and operating agreement with BCDA for the 94-kilometer SCTEX which traverses the provinces of Bataan, Pampanga and Tarlac.

Under the agreement, MNTC would operate and manage SCTEX for 33 years, while BCDA would be relieved of payment of the P34-billion debt to the Japan International Cooperation Agency for the construction of the tollway.

A price challenge is set to be conducted for the management, operation and maintenance of the SCTEX following directions from the Office of the President in the interest of transparency and fair competition.

Interested proponents have to submit proposals higher than MNTC’s offer of an upfront cash payment of P3.5 billion, inclusive of 12-percent value-added tax to the BCDA in addition to the 50-50 sharing of gross revenues.

Interested firms should also accept other commercial terms for the price challenge such as assumption of operation and maintenance costs and responsibilities over SCTEX and the ongoing integration agreement for the toll collection system of the NLEX and the SCTEX.

While interested firms are invited to submit their offer, MNTC has the right to match the upfront cash proposal of the highest rated and responsive proponent (HRRP).

If MNTC fails to match the upfront cash offer of the HRRP, then the latter would be given the contract.

Interested firms may start purchasing the TOR, which contains the details of the price challenge, beginning Dec. 11, for a non-refundable fee of P500,000.

A pre-selection conference to discuss the TOR, meanwhile, is scheduled on Jan. 6, 2015 at the BCDA Corporate Center in Bonifacio Global City.

The MNTC has warned though that it would be forced to take legal action if the BCDA fails to work out a common understanding on the terms of reference based on the business operating agreement of the “price challenge” for the country’s longest toll road.– With Edu Punay