The bidders for the package, which also covers the drawing up of tender documents, are understood to include the Halcrow Groupand Hyder Consulting, both of the UK, Denmark's COWI & Partnersand the UK/Dutch Posford Haskoning. The project is expected to entail the reclamation of a 300,000-cubic-metre site close to the Seef commercial district (Construction, MEED Special Report, 4:4:03, page 28).

Consultants have also been invited to submit proposals by late April for the contract to provide detailed designs for the construction of a temporary dhow harbour and small fishing harbour, with space for up to 115 vessels, adjacent to the proposed site.

BFH, which is intended to provide a centre for Manama's financial services industry, will incorporate a marina, two 50-storey towers, a financial mall and various residential developments.

Four international companies have been invited to submit proposals in mid-May for the contract to provide project management services for the scheme. They are Turner Internationaland Hill International, both of the US, MACEof the UK and an unidentified South African firm.

Gulf Finance House(GFH)is drawing together local and GCC investors to fund the project, which is estimated to cost $1,000 million. The local ReMoon, assisted by Ahmed Abubaker Janahi Architects, also local, is handling the project on behalf of the client, GFH.