Abu Dhabi’s Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC) has invited contractors to prequalify for the main contract to build the Guggenheim museum on Saadiyat Island.

The scope of work comprises concrete substructure, concrete superstructure, structural steelwork, glulam timber structure/glazed cladding to the cones, mechanical, electrical and plumbing works, vertical transportation, specialist security installation, fit-out works and external works.

Criteria that interested companies must meet to bid for the tender include: recent experience on similar projects; a minimum turnover for construction activities of $272m in each of the past three years; and completion of three projects each in excess of $272m in the past five years.

The deadline for submissions of prequalification documents is 8 September.

In July, MEED reported that TDIC was preparing to tender new construction work on Saadiyat Island. In the same month, TDIC invited companies to prequalify for museum infrastructure work on the island’s Cultural District. The works will include the construction of roads, utilities, and general infrastructure serving the museums that are being built on the island. TDIC earlier invited contractors to prequalify for a contract to build a tunnel serving the Cultural District.

In January, TDIC awarded the main construction contract to build the Louvre Abu Dhabi museum on Saadiyat Island to a joint venture of the local Arabtec, Spain’s Constructora San Jose and Oger Abu Dhabi.

TDIC is also working on other projects on the island. In mid-July, construction work started on the Cranleigh Abu Dhabi school, which is expected to open in 2014. The school’s piling and early construction works were awarded to the local NSCC. Work on the school’s superstructure is expected to start in the fourth quarter of this year. The architect is UK-based Godwin Austen Johnson Architects.