Bid documents for new Demerara River bridge launched

-nine companies invited to tender

The bid documents for the new bridge over the Demerara River were launched yesterday at 4 pm and nine pre-qualified companies have been invited to tender.

A release from the Ministry of Public Works said that the contractors were each sent a copy of the bid documents. This process requires that the bidders present proposals for a Design, Build and Finance (DBF) option or a Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Maintain (DBFOM) option.

A pre-bid meeting will be held within the next few weeks and bids will be closed on August 3, 2021, the release said.

The firms that were prequalified are:

1. China State Construction Eng. Corp (China)

2. Ballast Needam Infra Suriname B.V.

3. China Geizhouba Group Co. Ltd (China)

4. JV-China Railway International Group Co. Ltd, China Railway Major Bridge Eng. Group Co. Ltd, Reconnaissance & Design Inst. Co. Ltd (China)

5. JV-China Road & Bridge Corp. Peutes y Calzadas Infrastructuras SLU (China and Spain)

6. JV-OECI S.A. and Odebrecht Engenharia E. Construcao S. A. OEC

7. JV-China Railway Construction Corporation (International) Ltd., China Railway Construction (Caribbean a) Co. Ltd, and China Railway Construction Bridge Engineering Bureau Group Co. Ltd (China & Trinidad and Tobago)

8. Boskalis Guyana Inc Eiffage Genie Civil (Guyana & Netherlands)

9. JV-Rizzani de Eccher S. p. A & Preconco Ltd (Italy and Barbados)

A contract with the preferred bidder is expected to be executed within the fourth quarter of this year, the ministry said.

The bridge is expected to be finished in two years from the date of the commencement order.

The release said that the New Demerara Harbour Bridge will feature four lanes and a fixed span which requires no opening for marine traffic.

The project saw 21 Expressions of Interests (EoIs) in the first round.

The ministry said that the project will see:

- Reduced travel time

- Greater economic activity

- Greater accessibility for new housing opportunities

- Expansion of the manufacturing sectors, since they will be able to operate freely on the West side, and not be limited to the Georgetown and East Bank Demerara areas swifter Unhindered marine traffic and movement of cargo and Waterfront, The expansion of the Demerara since marine traffic will not be encumbered in any way.

The ministry added that the project is tied to key road networks to be developed on the East Bank and West Bank of the Demerara River.

Last September, the government had advertised for EoIs for the prequalification process with available financing options. The notice for the EoIs explained that the Ministry wished to embark on the construction of a new four-lane, high-span fixed bridge in the vicinity of the current location and which terminates at Nandy Park on the East Bank of Demerara. “The new design of the Demerara Harbour Bridge will not require opening or retraction to allow for maritime traffic and will be built with a life span of at least 50 years,” it noted.

President Irfaan Ali had said that the new bridge would be a very high one standing at a minimum 50 meters or as high as or higher than the Marriott Hotel to facilitate the clearance for vessels.