Infrastructure Malta issued more than €8 million worth of direct orders in six-month period

• IM also awarded €70m tender for phase 2 of road rebuilding pledge

Between July and December of last year, Infrastructure Malta issued almost 100 Direct Orders (DO) worth over €5,000, most of which were described as ‘urgent’ or ‘emergency’ works, and which have a combined value of over €8 million.

Data published in the Government Gazette also shows that, between January and December 2019, IM issued 13 tenders, the largest of which was worth €70 million and relates to the second part of the government’s €700 million/seven-year road reconstruction pledge.

In a 2017 circular, the Finance Ministry had urged the government to limit the use of the Direct Order procedure to the barest minimum; however, exceptions may be made in cases of emergency or urgent works.

The most expensive Direct Order was worth €1.63 million, for urgent underwater and quay edge repairs at Berth 1 in Ċirkewwa. The DO was awarded to Ballut Blocks Services Ltd.

The second most expensive DO was worth

€1.5 million. It was awarded to RM Construction Ltd for “urgent additional works in conjunction with new services and other ancillary works at Triq Bormla, in Żejtun.

Several Direct Orders worth over €100,000 were issued, with most of them related to emergency road and port infrastructure works.

These included an €837,000 DO awarded to Elbros Construction for emergency repairs at the Marsascala Bay North Quays, a €440,000 DO, awarded to Josef Borg, for dredging at Marsaxlokk, and a €484,000 DO, awarded to CTP, for engineering and project management services for the construction of Pinto 4/5 and Lascaris.

Some of the Direct Orders were related to the Marsa junction and Santa Luċija underpass projects.

Not all Direct Orders were of an urgent matter, however. Among the list, one finds a €14,000 DO for PBS TV and Radio slots, a €25,000 DO for the “supply and installation of CCTV equipment at Marsa Junction Project for Live Streaming on Website,” and one for €35,000 for a “dome tent” and other items for the Marsa flyovers opening ceremony.

Of note are two Direct Orders for a feasibility study into the provision of a shoreside electricity supply for vessels berthed at the Grand Harbour. This move seems to be aimed at addressing concerns over the pollution generated by cruise liners berthed in Valletta, something which has been highlighted in recent months.

Tenders

In 2019, Infrastructure Malta awarded 13 tenders worth a combined €93 million. The biggest – worth €69.3 million – was a tender for the second call of the construction and resurfacing of residential roads in Malta. The project is part of the government’s pledge to rebuild all of Malta’s roads in seven years. The project, split into six lots, was awarded to two companies; Building Energy Technologies Ltd and Excel Sis Enerji Uretim Consortium.

IM also awarded a €15 million tender for the negotiated procedure for the proposed underpass at the Santa Luċija/Ħal

Tarxien roundabout, including the widening of the road. It was awarded to RM Construction Ltd.

Other tenders included a €1.2 million contract for resurfacing works on various rural roads and a €682,000 tender – to Sicilville Landscaping Malta – for the procurement, planting and maintenance of of indigenous trees.