Secretary for Transport and Public Works Raimundo do Rosário said yesterday that the government has decided to launch a tender by invitation only for the first phase of its new central library project, instead of launching a public tender, because of the expected complexity of the project’s first phase, with the aim of ensuring that it will be carried out by a competent construction company.
Rosário made the remarks while speaking to reporters after attending a closed-door committee meeting in the Legislative Assembly (AL).
The Public Works Bureau (DSOP) announced on its website on Tuesday that the new central library project will be carried out in two phases, with the first phase to demolish the derelict Hotel Estoril and carry out the new library building’s pile foundation and basement work.
The library project’s second phase, namely superstructure work, will start after the first phase’s completion.
The Public Works Bureau did not launch a public tender for the library project’s first phase. Instead, according to its website, the bureau has launched a tender by invitation when it asked seven construction companies to bid for the library project’s first phase. All seven companies submitted their respective bids, which were unsealed by DSOP officials on Monday, according to the website.
The quotations for the project’s first phase proposed by the seven bidders range from 69.78 million patacas to 89.98 million patacas, according to the website.
After the bureau finishes assessing the seven bids, it will choose and announce the winning bidder.
If the government launches a public tender for a public construction project, it is required to publish an announcement in the Official Gazette (BO).
Speaking to reporters yesterday, Rosário noted that all officially registered construction companies can submit a bid for a public tender.
Rosário revealed that in the past, for instance, a construction company that had won a public tender for a relatively difficult project turned out to be unable to complete the work because of its insufficient capabilities.
The policy secretary underlined that the law allows the government to launch a tender by invitation only for a project if it concludes that the project would be difficult and complicated.
Rosário said that the government will assess the level of difficulty of a project first before deciding which type of tender it will launch.
Rosário underlined that the government will certainly launch a public tender if it concludes that “there will be nothing special” about the project. Otherwise, he said, the government will choose to launch a tender by invitation only by asking a certain number of construction companies deemed to be competent to bid for the project if it concludes that the project would be difficult.
In which case, Rosário said, launching a tender by invitation only aims to ensure that its winner will be able to carry out and complete the project.
Invitation only tenders are also known as closed tenders.
Secretary for Transport and Public Works Raimundo do Rosário talks to reporters in the Legislative Assembly (AL) yesterday. – Photo courtesy of TDM
