Qatar Petroleum (QP) has extended the tender closing date to 17 October for the contract to build its estimated QR1bn ($275m) headquarters building for Qatar foundation at Education City, on the outskirts of Doha.

The previous submission date was 26 September. The work will involve construction of a 12-storey headquarters building and a three to four-storey study centre. The extension of the bid deadline is understood to have been granted to give contractors more time to finalise their submissions.

The prospective bidders include:

• Aktor (Greece)
• Darwish Engineering (local)
• Carillion (UK)
• Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC) (Athens-based)
• Midmac Contracting Company (local)
• Strabag (Austria)
• Taisei Corporation (Japan)
• Yuksel Insaat (Turkey)

The winning contractor will also be in charge of carrying out landscaping works, earthworks, substructure work and provision of utilities works. The utilities works will include the installation of water services, drainage, air conditioning systems and security systems.

The headquarters project is expected to take 24 months to complete.

The buildings were designed by the Dutch architectural firm Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) and the consultant for the project is the UK’s Arup.

QP is managing the projects on behalf of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Social Development (QF).

QF is currently tendering a number of public building contracts in Doha. It recently received bids for the contract to build the estimated QR1bn new Qatar Central Library.

The library will also be located at Education City.

The 24-month project involves the construction of the library, excavation, piling, superstructure and exterior and interior work. This will include all of the mechanical electrical and plumbing (MEP) work and the provision of furniture (MEED 5:8:10).