The Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has invited selected international consultants to submit proposals by 19 September for the project management services contract on its air space upgrade and expansion programme, known as the Kuwait Airspace System Plan (KASP).

Prospective bidders for the five-year contract are understood to include Beirut-based Dar al-Handasah (Shair & Partners), WilburSmith&Associatesand the US' ParsonsInternational, both of the US.

The KASP covers several packages including the installation of control systems, a meteorology centre and a command centre. The other major components of the scheme are the supply and installation of a new MSSR approach radar system, an airport data integration network and a low-level windshear alert system. Germany's Lahmeyer International hascarried out the study (MEED 8:2:02).

The upgrade is necessary if Kuwait is to go ahead with plans to increase its air space capacity. In late June, a team of Germany's Dorsch Consultand the local Salem al-Marzouk & Sabah Abi-Hanna (SSH)signed a contract to update a masterplan and feasibility study for the upgrade and expansion of Kuwait International Airport (MEED 25:6:04).