DOTC rejects LRT 2 bidder’s plan to take in more partners

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has thumbed down the plan of a shortlisted bidder of the P350-million consultancy service contract for the civil works of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) line 2 east extension project to take in a new partners.

DOTC undersecretary Jose Perpetuo Lotilla issued General Bid Bulletin 11-2013 to answer the questions and clarifications of the five shortlisted bidders for the consultancy services contract of the P9.7-billion extension project to Masinag in Pasig City.

Lotilla, who chairs the agency’s Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) said the agency has denied the request of the consortium of Schema Konsult Inc., Pertconsult International, KE Asia Inc., DCCD Engineering Corp., Key Engineers Co., and Proconsult Inc. to take in new partners.

“This will not be allowed because shortlisting and pre-qualification process has already been completed,” he said in the bulletin.

Last June 6, the consortium asked the BAC whether it could take in international partners including Katahira & Engineers International as well as Tonichi Engineering Consultants Inc. after noticing that other shortlisted groups involved international partners.

“In view of this, may we be allowed to strengthen or enhance our joint venture by adding international firms to our group,” the group stated in its letter dated June 6.

However, Lotilla added in the bulletin that the group could take in the international partners as sub consultants.

“You may add the international firms as sub consultants,” he said.

Other prequalified bidders include the tandem of Systra Philippines and Philipps Technical Consultants Corp.; the joint venture between Science and Vision for Technology Inc. and Yooshin Engineering Corp.; the consortium of Foresight Development and Surveying Co., Soosung Engineering Co. Ltd., and Korea Rail Network Authority Consortium; and the group of J.F. Cancio & Associates, in association with Development Engineering & Management Corp., Engineering & Development Corp. of the Philippines, Filipinas Dravo Corp., TCGI Engineers, Urban Integrated Consultants Inc., and Oriental Consultants Co. Ltd.

The project was originally offered earlier this year, but the DOTC declared a failed bidding last February when only one of the interested parties was able to meet the eligibility requirements of Republic Act No. 9184, or the Procurement Law.

The BAC also rejected the request of the FDCS-KRNA-Soosung consortium to extend the deadline for the submission and opening of bids by another three weeks to enable the bidders to prepare well studied and highly responsive technical and financial proposals.

“The request for time extension is denied. The provided time period is deemed sufficient under present circumstances so the opening and submission of bids is on July 5,” the committee added.

The project was approved by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) last July. It would make travel from Rizal province to Manila easier and faster.

The LRT-2 east extension plan entails the extension of the existing 13.8-kilometer LRT-2 from Recto to Santolan. The proponent would put up a 4.14-kilometer extension eastward from the existing Santolan Station at Marcos Highway, terminating at the intersection of Marcos Highway and Sumulong Highway.

Two additional stations will be constructed including the Emerald Station in front of Robinson’s Place Metro East in Cainta Rizal and the Masinag Station at the Masinag Junction in Antipolo City.

The proposed for financing for the project is through government appropriation and official development assistance (ODA) loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The project would increase the capacity of the LRT-2 to 240,000 passengers per day from about 130,000 passengers.