By Denise A. Valdez, May 19 2019; Business World
https://www.bworldonline.com/invitations-issued-to-bid-for-last-rail-deals-in-malolos-clark-line/
Image Credit to Business World
THE Department of Transportation (DoTr) is seeking bidders for the remaining components of the Malolos-Clark railway, which makes up part of the P777.55-billion North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) project.
The DoTr posted two invitations to bid in a newspaper Sunday: two contracts to build an underground station and a depot for the Malolos-Clark railway; and one contract to build a station for the train line’s 1.9-kilometer extension to Blumentritt.
The auction for the two remaining contracts of the 51.2-kilometer Malolos-Clark railway cover Package CP N-04, or the construction of the railway viaduct, a steel bridge and underground station at the Clark International Airport; and Package CP N-05, or the construction of its depot.
“The Bidding Documents have been prepared separately for each and shall be bid as separate contracts. However, if the bidder wishes to propose a multi-package discount, he may propose/offer a discount for the combination of the two packages,” the DoTr said in the invitation.
A pre-bid conference will be held for this auction on May 30, and the deadline of submission of bids is scheduled on Aug. 13.
For the Blumentritt extension auction, the contract is for Package CP S-01, or the construction of 1.12-kilometer railway viaduct and elevated station at Blumentritt. The pre-bid conference will be on June 3, and the deadline for submission of bids on Aug. 8.
The Malolos-Clark railway is a $2.75-billion project funded by a loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The bidding for the first three contracts of the main line was started early this year, with 21 companies from seven ADB member countries were reported to have shown interest in the project.
The Malolos-Clark railway, alternatively referred to as the Philippine National Railway (PNR) Clark Phase 2, forms part of the 147-kilometer NSCR project, the other segments being the 56-kilometer line from Calamba to Tutuban; and the 38-kilometer line from Tutuban to Malolos, or PNR Clark Phase 1.
The whole NSCR project is to be financed by loans from the ADB and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Construction of a portion of the Tutuban-Malolos railway will start today, after the signing of contract to the tandem of DMCI Holdings, Inc. and Japanese firm Taisei Corp.
The other portion of the Tutuban-Malolos train line started construction in February, having been awarded to Sumitomo Mitsui Construction Co., Ltd. — Denise A. Valdez