Best and final offers (BFOs) have been submitted to Istanbul municipality for a series of equipment and station finishing contracts for the city's metro system. Tenders were first returned for the work in June (MEED 14:7:95).

A venture of Germany's Siemens with the local Simko has submitted the lowest BFO of $94.8 million out of four for the supply and installation of power systems, traction power, and a signalisation control and communication system. Another venture including Japan's Nissho Iwai with Toshiba has returned the lowest BFO of $38.9 million for the supply of rolling stock.

For fine works, auxiliary mechanical and electrical equipment, and cistern construction works, the lowest BFO of $73 million has come from a venture of locals Garanti Koza and Simko with the UK's Balfour Beatty Construction. The venture has also submitted the lowest BFO of $5.4 million for maintenance bench tools.

Two BFO's are vying closely for rail laying works, the lowest of $21.6 million from Balfour Beatty against $21.8 million from the local Yapi Merkezi.

These contracts form part of the first 7-kilometre section of the metro between Taksim and Levent 4, under construction since 1993. The UK's Acer Group, with its local subsidiary, is the supervising consultant to the municipality.