The JV was low bidder for the work at KD 115.7 million ($399 million) when bids were submitted in May, some 20 per cent below the second best price of KD 140.3 million ($484 million), offered by a group of Greeces Aktor, Geneva-registered Archirodon Construction (Overseas) and the local Mushrif Trading & Contracting (MEED 12:5:06).

The scope of works on the first-phase contract calls for the construction of a 34-kilometre-long road from the planned ports location on the east side of Bubiyan to Khor Subiya in the west. The scheme also includes the construction of a 1.4-kilometre-long, three-lane road bridge from Subiya to Bubiyan, about 4 million cubic metres of landfill, soil improvement works and a railway embankment. The UKs Mouchel Parkman carried out the projects conceptual design (MEED 29:4:05).

Terms of reference are being prepared for two project management consultancy (PMC) contracts covering the first phase, and the second and third phases covering the dredging and port construction and operations contracts. Both tenders are due to be issued by the end of September.

Eight international consultants have been prequalified for the PMC contracts. They are Arup and WSP, both of the UK, Frances BCEOM, Germanys Decon, Louis Berger and Stanley Consultants, both of the US, the Netherlands Royal Haskoning and Spains TYPSA. The local/US team of Hill International and System Development & Project Management (SDPM) is the overall programme manager on the Bubiyan island development (MEED 16:9:05).

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