DOTC rebids P2.4-B MRT-3 contract

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is giving interested companies until Jan. 20 to submit their bids for a P2.4-billion contract to maintain the Metro Rail Transit line 3 (MRT-3) along EDSA.

To qualify, DOTC Undersecretary Jose Perpetuo Lotilla said that prospective bidders should have completed a contract similar to the project and worth at least 50 percent of the approved budget for the contract over the last 15 years.

Lotilla said the government would adopt an open competitive bidding process using non-discretionary “pass/fail” criteria.

Last Oct. 29, the DOTC declared a failure of bidding for the P2.2-billion maintenance contract for MRT-3 after no bidders showed up despite deadline extensions granted by the agency to allow companies to prepare their documents.

The 16.9-kilometer mass transit system along EDSA was constructed as part of an integrated strategy to alleviate traffic congestion along EDSA. The rail system had a fleet of 73 modern and air-conditioned rail cars built by CKD Doprovni System of Prague in the Czech Republic.