Kuwait’s Central Tenders Committee (CTC) has selected a local contractor to build a KD72m ($248.7m) new administrative building for the Public Authority for Applied Education & Training.

The local Real Estate Construction & Fabrication Company (Recafco) will build and maintain the administrative building and some smaller service buildings for the authority at Shuwaikh. The work will involve all civil, structural and electrical work for the development.

The CTC selected Recafco for the work at a meeting on the 28 June.

The contract was originally tendered in 2008. In August 2009, the CTC approved the award of a KD71m to the low bidder, the local First Kuwaiti General Trading & Contracting Company, for the construction of the administrative building (MEED 6:8:09).

CTC approval is the final step needed by the government before a formal contract award can be made. However, for unknown reasons the CTC removed its approval of the award to First Kuwaiti and has now approved the award of the contract to Recafco, the second lowest bidder.

The administrative building project is one of a number of projects that the authority has tendered in recent months.

The local Combined Group Contracting Company was awarded a KD29.49m ($102m) contract to expand laboratories at the Shuwaikh university campus in April.

The contract covers the construction, completion, operation and maintenance of laboratories, workshops and associated infrastructure for students and faculty of the university’s technology course.

The project comprises three buildings: one for women, one for men and a central building that will contain additional laboratories and a library (MEED 22:4:10).