Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) is holding discussions with two companies for the contract to build its headquarters at the Masdar City development in Abu Dhabi.

According to sources involved in the tender process, the two contractors are US-based Contrack International and Germany’s Ed Zueblin. A contract award is expected during the first quarter.

Two other companies submitted commercial bids in September. They were the local Al-Habtoor Engineering Enterprises with South Africa’s Murray & Roberts Contractors (Middle East); and Japan’s Taisei Corporation (MEED 7:9:09).

Chicago-based Adrian Smith & Gordon Gill Architecture has designed the building as the world’s first large-scale “positive energy” building, generating more energy than it consumes.

Louis Berger Group is the project manager, Environmental Systems Design is the mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineer, and the structural engineer is Thornton Tomasetti, all from the US.

Masdar is also close to awarding the contract to build the next phase, known as 1b, of its Masdar Institute of Science & Technology.

The Al-Ahmadiah/Hip Hing joint venture is already working on the first phase of the project. US-based Parsons Brinckerhoff is the project manager.

The 6.5-square-kilometre Masdar City, designed by Foster & Partners, is set to be completed by 2016. It will eventually grow to accommodate 1,500 businesses and 50,000 residents.