State-owned company Majis Industrial Services has received bids for the operation, maintenance and management of water utilities in the Port of Sohar in Oman.

Bids were submitted by the four companies with prices as follows:

• Veolia Water (France)/Mubadala (UAE) – OR8m
• United Utilities (UK)/WorleyParsons (Australia) – OR27m
• Metito Berlinwasser (UAE/Germany)/Atkins (UK)/The Zubair Corporation (Oman) – OR14m
• Suez Environnement (France) – OR19m

The submissions will be assessed on a scoring system that prioritises the technical aspects of each bid – 70 per cent technical; 30 per cent financial.

However, the offer submitted by Veolia and Mubadala is highly financially competitive and puts it in a very strong position for the contract.

The tender was launched in October 2009 and bids were submitted by 17 May.