A clearer indication of prospective bidders for the terminal package is expected to come on 11 July when the client, the NDIA Steering Committee, and its engineering procurement and construction management (EPCM) contractor, US-based Bechtel, hold a pre-tender meeting and site visit.

The terminal package covers construction of the passenger complex and the design and build of special systems on the facility. The main elements of the contract are the construction of:

A five-level passenger terminal complex with a built-up area of more than 140,000 square metres, two three-level concourses, 26 aircraft contact gates, 12 remote gates, a 100-room hotel and administrative offices;

A 380-metre-long elevated road, 10 metres above ground;

A two-level vertical circulation node with two travelators and four elevators;

Two 90-metre-long passenger bridges.

The special systems works include baggage handling, passenger loading bridges and flight information. Completion of the terminal building is scheduled for 2008.

The foundations package for the passenger terminal complex is being carried out by Belgium's Six Construct under a $27 million contract placed in April (MEED 15:4:05).

Bids have recently been submitted for several other packages on the NDIA project. Prices were opened on 16 June for the airfield paving /road tunnel package, with the joint venture of the UK's Balfour Beattyand Athens-based Consolidated Contractors International Companysubmitting the low bid of QR 1,339 million ($368 million - MEED 17:6:05).

The fuel systems is the next package expected to go for tender, with the invitation to bid (ITB) likely to be issued to the seven prequalifiers in July. It will be followed by the emiri flight complex later in the summer.