The client is planning to award the contract, valued in the region of $1,000 million, in March.The terminal package covers construction of the passenger complex and the design and build of special systems on the facility.

The terminal package is the latest design and build contract to be tendered on phase 1 of the NDIA project. Others out to bid or under evaluation include:

Fuel systems. Bids are under evaluation from four groups: Qatar Kentz, in joint venture with South Africa's Murray & Roberts Contractors (Middle East); Qatar Engineering & Construction Company; India's Punj Lloyd; and Saudi Arabia's Nesma. An award is expected in January;

Airline support facilities. The client is re-evaluating the tender after changes in the original scope of works. A revised tender will be issued to the four original bidders soon (MEED 15:7:05);

Air traffic control and support facilities. The award of the estimated $80 million contract is expected in January following the opening of bids in October. The low bidder is Athens-based Consolidated Contractors International Company (CCC - MEED 16:9:05);

Utilities. An award is also expected in early 2006 after revised prices were submitted by three international contractors: Greece's Aktor, with the UAE's Emirates Trading Agency (ETA); Marubeni Corporationof Japan; and Saudi Arabia's Arabian Bemco Contracting;

Airport operations. An award is imminent for the package for which Saudi Arabia's El-Seif Engineering Constructionis the low bidder at $95 million;

Airline engineering offices and airline operations facility. Six local and international contractors are prequalified to bid by 9 January;

Emiri terminal package. Bids are now due to be submitted on 31 January. Fourteen groups are prequalified;

Catering facility - 11 companies have been invited to prequalify.