Astad, the project management arm of Qatar Petroleum (QP), has received bids for the contract to build the estimated QR1bn ($275m) headquarters building for Qatar Foundation at Education City, on the outskirts of Doha.

The project will involve the construction of a 12-storey headquarters building and a three-four-storey study centre.

Astad received bids from at least seven contractors on 24 October.

The bidders include:

• Aktor (Greece)
• Carillion (UK)
• Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC) (Athens-based)/Multiplex (Australia)
• Darwish Engineering (local)
• Midmac Contracting Company (local)
• Strabag (Austria)
• 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 project consultant is the UK’s Arup.

Astad 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 Education City. It recently received bids for the contract to build the estimated QR850m Faculty of Islamic Studies.

Astad received bids from at least eight contractors on 19 September.

The Faculty of Islamic Studies will be located in the southern zone of Education City. It will include classrooms, auditorium, exhibition space, faculty offices, a mosque and an underground car park.

The project is expected to cover an area of 55,980 square metres. The faculty building is scheduled for completion by August 2012.

In August, Astad received bids from at least nine companies for the contract to build the estimated QR1bn new Central Library in Education City (MEED 24:9:10).