Qatar Petroleum (QP) has delayed the deadline for bids to build an office at its Ras Laffan industrial project complex 18 October.

The state-run oil company has extended the deadline from the previous closing date of 4 October to give bidders more time to prepare prices (MEED 28:8:09).

QP will use the buildings as the headquarters for its operations at Ras Laffan, home to most of Qatar’s oil and gas projects.

The client first tendered the project in late 2008. Local firms Construction Development Company (CDC) and Midmac General Contracting, and Austria’s Strabag submitted bids.

However, QP decided to retender the project to benefit from lower labour and materials prices caused by the economic downturn.

The energy giant also expects more contractors to bid for the contract in 2009 because of the lack of construction work in the region.

Under the original contract, the winning bidder would build two or three office buildings. QP has yet to say whether the retendered contract covers the same number of buildings.