Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry has extended the bid deadline for the construction package on the estimated SR15bn ($4bn)fourth phase of its security compounds programme.

Contractors now have until 21 May to submit bids for the project, also known as CAP 4. The deadline has now been extended several times from the original submission date of 19 February. The work involves the construction of security headquarters buildings for the Interior Ministry at 13 locations in the kingdom.

The project is the fourth contract to be tendered by the ministry to build a network of security compounds throughout Saudi Arabia. The contract will cover the construction, operation and maintenance of 28 types of facilities at more than 50 locations. In total, the ministry is expected to spend more than $13bn across the four phases of the scheme.

In July 2011, the Interior Ministry received 11 bids for the third phase of the security compounds network. Contractors are still waiting for the project to be awarded.

The security compounds will be used to house, educate and train members of Saudi Arabia’s public security, civil defence service, police force, passports division and special security and investigative forces. The facilities have been designed to include schools, mosques, theatres, civilian dormitories, military barracks, administration buildings, training facilities and buildings for recreation and entertainment.

Most of the security premises will be constructed in and around Riyadh, but facilities will also be built in the provinces of Qassim, Hail, Tabuk, Jeddah, Medinah, Taif, Al-Jouf and on Saudi Arabia’s northern borders.