Abu Dhabi’s Urban Planning Council (UPC) has received bids for the contract to provide design and construction supervision services for the infrastructure work on its Capital City District development.

According to sources involved with the tender, there are at least four firms that have submitted bids for the consultancy deal. These include:

•          The UK’s Atkins
•          The UK’s Halcrow
•          The UK’s Mott Macdonald
•          US’ Parsons International

The infrastructure includes metro lines, highways and local roads. The other infrastructure work includes the wastewater network, district cooling systems and gas lines.

US-based Aecom was awarded the contract to provide project management services for the project in December 2009.

The 49-kilometre Capital City District will be built close to Khalifa City, which is between Abu Dhabi International Airport and Mohammed bin Zayed City.

The development will include government and commercial office buildings, residential tower blocks and low-density neighbourhoods for UAE nationals.

A Federal Precinct will be at the centre of the project and will be the national seat of government for the UAE.

Seven major boulevards are planned to lead into the precinct.

The UPC wants to line the boulevards with public monuments, parks and other landmark buildings. One of the largest buildings will be a new football stadium, which is being built by government-owned investment vehicle Mubadala Development Company. Contractors have been invited to bid by 24 May for the estimated $1bn design and construction contract (MEED 9:2:10).