THE Transportation department has started seeking bidders for the first package of the World Bank-funded Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (Cebu BRT) project.
The P1.05-billion contract covers sidewalk improvement and construction of trunk lines, stations, and other appurtenances from “Capitol to Cebu South Bus Terminal, including urban realm enhancement (link to the port) along Osmeña Boulevard,” the department said in an announcement on its website.
The contractor should complete the project within 240 days, it also said.
The department will conduct the bidding through the World Bank’s international competitive bidding procedures.
A firm participating in a procurement process under a World Bank-financed project should not have a conflict of interest, according to its policy.
“Any firm found to have a conflict of interest shall be ineligible for award of a contract,” the World Bank said.
A firm is considered to have a conflict of interest in a procurement process if it is “providing goods, works, or non-consulting services resulting from or directly related to consulting services for the preparation or implementation of a project that it provided or were provided by any affiliate that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with that firm.”
Also considered to have a conflict of interest is a firm with close business or family relationship with a professional staff of the borrower or of the project implementing agency, or of a recipient of a part of the loan, and when a firm “submits more than one bid, either individually or as a joint venture partner in another bid, except for permitted alternative bids.”
The department said the bidding documents may be downloaded from its website or from the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System website from Feb. 8 to March 23. Firms should pay the non-refundable fee of $250 for the bidding documents not later than the submission of their bids.
A pre-bid conference will be conducted on March 2.
The department expects to receive bids through the Special Bids and Awards Committee for the project until March 23.
“All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in the amount and form indicated in the bidding documents,” it said.
The government is eyeing the partial operability of the Cebu BRT this year, Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade said in a recent statement.
“The 13.2-kilometer bus rapid transit lane will traverse the South Road Properties (SRP) through Mambaling, up to IT Park, with 17 stations, two terminals, and one depot. Along with the BRT, there will be a 20.2-kilometer bus feeder system to run with mixed traffic, complemented with sidewalk bus stops/shelters along the following routes: Cebu IT Park-Talamban, Mambaling-Bulacao, and Talisay-SRP,” the department said.
The Cebu BRT, once fully operational, is expected to serve around 60,000 passengers a day. — Arjay L. Balinbin
