Source:  Manila Times

TWELVE firms, including three of the Philippines’ biggest conglomerates, are vying for the multibillion-peso contract to operate and maintain the two mass rail systems in Metro Manila, according to the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).

The DOTC identified the bidders as Metro Pacific Light Rail Corp., Ayala Corp., San Miguel Corp.’s Optimal Infrastructure Development Inc.; Jorgman Planning & Development Corp. the Romero group’s Ecorail Transport Services Inc., APT Global Inc., Kempal United Corp. and Abratique & Asso. Phil. Inc.

Foreign companies that purchased the bid documents were Marubeni Corp., Sumitomo Corp. Serco and Finmeccanica.

The bid documents cost P500,000.

The pre-bid conference is scheduled on May 16, while the opening of the bids is on July 11.

“We expect the notice of award in July . . . We want the winning bidder to be on board for a six-month transition. By January 2012, we hope it can start the operation,” Ruben Reinoso, chairman of the DOTC-Special Bids and Awards Committee said.

Reinoso said that the eligible bidders should have completed at least one project worth at least P7 billion.

Those entities with pending issues with DOTC or any of its attached agencies would be disqualified from bidding, he said.

“We will also require the bidders to issue an undertaking that they will accept the results of the bidding and they will not make any legal action against the DOTC,” Reinoso said.
He said firms with experience in running monorails and other non-rail systems will not qualify.

“Only electrified mass rail systems will qualify. That’s why we expect international companies . . . we want you to have foreign partners,” the official said.