A venture of Sweden's Adtranz with the local Yapi Merkezi has submitted the lowest bid to Istanbul municipality of about $208.9 million in a rebid for the mechanical and electrical (M&E) equipment contract for the first stage of the Istanbul metro. The municipality expects to reach a decision on the bids by 13 December, a municipality spokesman says.

Three ventures returned bids. The spokesman says they are:

Adtranz and Yapi Merkezi - $208.9 million

France's Cegelec with Cengiz and Albayrak - $226.2 million

SNC Lavalin International and Bombardier, both of Canada, with the local Gama - $330.8 million, and an alternative price of $363 million

All the bids exclude supply of rolling stock, for which bidders were requested to supply optional offers. The municipality is considering the use of reserve cars held by the Ankara metro until the Istanbul cars can be delivered, which will take around 18 months.

The 7 November rebid follows the cancellation of an award for the contract to a consortium headed by the local Turk Siemens Kablo & Elektrik Sanayii (MEED 27:10:95).