Bids are due by 5 November for the contract to provide management services to state-owned Oman Wastewater Services Company (OWSC)on the Muscat wastewater project. The duration of the contract is five years, with an optional extension of three years.

The shortlisted firms are Saur International, Suez Environmentand Generale des Eaux, all of France, and Severn Trent Internationaland Biwater International, both of the UK. The selected firm will not take any equity stake in the project company. However, the government intends that after the expiry of the management agreement, the project company will be ready for privatisation.

OWSC had originally planned to appoint a project management consultant (PMC) to oversee construction on the $1,000 million scheme, but has now dropped the plan. The next construction package to be tendered on the scheme, due in early 2006, will be the catchment collection and treated water redistribution networks and sewage treatment plants covering the Seef area. The US' Parsons Internationalis drawing up the designs (MEED 14:1:05).