EPC Bidding Invitation- Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)

Proposed BRT running ways down middle of road with median stations

Bidding for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system for Cebu has moved forward with the Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) seeking proposals on Friday for project design and construction supervision.

The agency said in an invitation published in newspapers that the Cebu BRT, which is eyed to operate by 2015 with an estimated capacity of 330,000 passengers, "is a transport system with around 176 buses that will run through the dedicated and exclusive bus-ways from Bulacao to Talamban in Cebu, with a link to Cebu's South Road Property."

Business districts, residential areas, shopping centers and noted tourist locations will mark the bus routes, according to the invitation, with "33 stations along the corridor and a bus will be made available at each station every 2-5 minutes."

The DoTC said international and local consultancy firms may submit proposals for the project, which will have two phases.

The engineering, structural, civil and mechanical design will form the first phase, while the second phase 2 will comprise the "supervision of the transit way and the supporting infrastructure during the construction."

The DoTC media relations department, meanwhile, said the contract to build "will be [auctioned off through] another bidding," while the BRT system will be operated by the agency and the local government of Cebu.

Interested groups should have the following qualifications, according to the announcement:

"Should have been in the construction design and supervision business for a minimum of 10 years prior to the issuance of this request for expression on interest,"

"Have completed at least two similar contracts in combination of phase 1 and phase 2 within the last five years"; and

"Must also comply with the World Bank's policy on conflict of interest" as the agency intends to apply for financing from the Washington-based lender to finance, in part, the cost of the system and consulting services.

DISASTER RESPONSE EQUIPMENT

In a separate notice also published on Friday, the DoTC is soliciting bids for ₱152 million worth of disaster response equipment for the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), in addition to the ₱521 million worth of equipment procurement for the same agency that it rolled out last month.

"This procurement will ensure that the national headquarters of PCG will have an additional 40 rubber boats and three M35 6x6 trucks while each of the 12 PGC district offices will also have one M35 6x6 truck," the bidding notice read, adding that the equipment "will be used to facilitate timely response to disaster situations."

The DoTC has pegged its budget for the 15 units M35 6x6 truck at ₱120 million. Pre-bid conference has been set for Sept. 6 while submission of bidding documents, which may be acquired at ₱20,000 apiece, will be on Sept. 18 at the PCG office in Port Area in Manila.

The agency, meanwhile, has allotted ₱32 million for the 40 units of rubber boats. Bidding has been set for Aug. 24 also in the port area, with bidding documents worth ₱30,000 apiece.

The DoTC last month invited bidders for the ₱521-million procurement of "300 units of aluminum, V-shaped hull boats, 81 units of rigid hull inflatable boats, 50 units of rubber boats, six units of jet skis, 2,586 units of common life vests, 1,724 units of flares, 862 units of VHF handheld marine radios, 862 units of life vests, and 431 units of megaphones."

Bidding was initially set for Aug. 8 but was cancelled due to the torrential rains that battered the capital early this month.

Business World Online