The deadline to submit technical and commercial proposals for the main construction contract of Kuwait University’s College of Engineering & Petroleum (Coep) has been extended to 11 July.  

The contract to build the college was first tendered in mid-March and had an original submission deadline of 9 May. It is believed the extension was given to allow contractors more time to prepare bids. The contract was the first tender issued on the $3bn Sabah al-Salem University campus (MEED 21:3:10).  

Designed by the local Gulf Consult and US-based Cambridge Seven Associates, the new Coep facility will include eight engineering departments as well as the university’s department of architecture.

At least nine contracting groups have prequalified. They include:

• Hyundai Engineering & Construction Company (South Korea) and Copri Construction Projects (local)
• Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC) (Athens-based)
• SNC Lavalin (Canada) and Alamiah Building Company (local)
• Bouygues Batiment International (France) and Al-Ahmadiah Contracting & Trading Company (local)
• Arab Contractors (Egypt) and Kuwait Arab Contractors Company (local)
• Construction China Gezhouba Group Corporation (CGGC) (China) and Mohammed Abdulmohsin al-Kharafi &  Sons General Trading & Contracting (local)
• China State Construction Engineering Corporation (China) and Kharafi Construction Company (local)
• Posco Engineering & Construction (South Korea) and Sayed Hamid Behbehani & Sons (SHBC) (local)
• Sinohydro Corporation (China) and Al-Hani Construction & Trading (local)

Scheduled for completion in 2014, Coep will be divided into two buildings – one for male students, the other for female students.

The two buildings will contain separate laboratories, lecture halls, auditoriums, conference rooms, exhibition space, prayer rooms and faculty offices while sharing a central library.