Big turnout for Al-Udeid expansion

11 July 2003
Nearly 80 contractors have registered interest in the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) contract to design and build the $60 million-95 million Millennium Village barracks at the Al-Udeid airbase (MEED 4:7:03). USACE was due to issue on 9 July request for proposal documents to 78 firms for the airbase expansion. The bid closing date has been tentatively set for 20 August (MEED 4:7:03).

The majority of the firms registered are from the US, although the list includes three contractors each from Saudi Arabia and Turkey and two from Kuwait. Sixteen local firms have also registered their interest.

Among the US companies that have registered and previously bid for US agency work in the Middle East are ABB SUSA, American International Contractors, Bill Harbert International, CH2M Hill, Contrack International, Hensel Phelps International, JA Jones Construction, Kellogg Brown & Root, Morganti Group, Perini Corporationand The Washington Group. The list also contains Italy's Rizzani de Eccher, which is carrying out a major expansion of the airbase under a contract placed by the Doha government.

Construction of the Millennium Village is part of a major expansion of the Al-Udeid airbase to accommodate US military forces relocating from Saudi Arabia. The 24-36-month contract includes construction of new barracks, a shopping mall and a fire station. A site visit will take place on 14 July. Bids from non-US firms will be evaluated by adding 20 per cent to the value of the bid, in accordance with US military procurement rules in the Gulf (MEED 6:6:03; 9:5:03).

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