By Ayen Infante
11/02/2009 [ tribune.net.ph ]
The government will soon bid out the management and maintenance of the country’s longest tollway, the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) to a private operator.
In a statement, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) has issued an invitation to prospective bidders for the management, operations and maintenance of the SCTEX.
BCDA vice president for finance and chairman of the asset disposition program committee Victor Zablan said interested private firms to partner with BCDA in running the SCTEX will have until Nov. 6, 2009 to secure the required terms of reference (ToR) after payment of a non-refundable fee of P250,000 per set.
Under the ToR, the winning bidder will bear the operational funding requirements for the management, operations and maintenance of the SCTEX, including periodic maintenance works, special/major/emergency works and all other additional works and insurance.
Also, the private sector partner will provide management services, toll collection, traffic safety and security management, tollroad maintenance, including greenery and landscaping, and other related services.
Zablan said BCDA will receive a semi-annual lease/concession fee from the winning bidder, amounting to either: The peso equivalent of yen-dominated JBIC/Jica loan as well as all financing charges payable to BCDA 10 days prior to its due dates secured by a rolling five-year letter of credit; or 20 percent of audited gross revenues whichever is higher.
After the Nov. 6 deadline to secure a ToR, bidders are expected to attend a pre-bid conference on Nov. 10, at the BCDA Corporate Center, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City. Details of the ToR will be discussed with the interested parties during the pre-bid conference to guide them in the submission of their bid documents.
Zablan stressed that while BCDA welcomes the private sector initiatives to join the bidding process, the agency reserves the right to accept or reject any proposal, and to reject any proposal at any time prior to the awarding of the contract — without incurring any liability to the participating firms.
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