Guyanese engineers can obtain practical experience in design, construction of new Demerara River Bridge

Dear Editor,
Guyanese have, for years, been dreaming of a fixed bridge across the Demerara River; now the PPP/C Government has boldly undertaken to make this dream a reality.
Unlike bridges across a trench or a canal or a small river (small span bridges), the New Demerara River Bridge (NBRD) is a Large Span Bridge (LSB), requiring, from conceptualisation to construction and operation, professionals from across various disciplines such as economics, social science, environment, law, geology, many sub-disciplines of civil engineering (eg, geotechnical, structures, hydraulics, traffic, and so on), architecture, electrical and mechanical engineering, construction, and project management.
Often, specialists in the technical disciplines involved in bridge engineering and contractors with significant experience in LSB construction are required.
Newspaper articles reported that the NDRB is conceptualised as a fan-style, cable-stayed bridge, allowing uninterrupted ship traffic along the river. It is unknown if any substantial environmental and geotechnical investigations have been carried out.
Nevertheless, the soils at the location of the bridge are likely to be a relatively thick layer of a very soft to soft clay (Demerara Clay) sitting on a stiff clay of unknown thickness (Coropina clay). Bedrock, the ideal foundation support for at least the towers for the cable-stayed section, is at considerable depth from the surface.
The NDRB is a complex structure requiring technical professionals with significant relevant experience working as a team. Bits and pieces of the work, both preconstruction and during construction, cannot be farmed out to locals and others without comprehensive professional management and understanding of contemporary design and construction of such a complex structure.
The Government decided to invite contractors to bid for a four-lane bridge under two contract models (a) Design, Finance and Build (DFB); and (b) Design, Finance, Build and Operate (DFBO). Procurement for public infrastructure works in Guyana is based on the low- bid method (LBM), in contrast to qualifications-based bid method (QBM). The winner in the LBM is usually the contractor with the lowest bid. Negotiations with the winner follow the opening of the bids. These negotiations are necessary to ensure that the contractor has equipment, personnel, materials, finance, and a work plan to complete the work according to the specifications for the quoted price.
There are situations when the winning contractor cannot perform consistent with the bid. Often this happens when the procurement documents are not thorough, and thus provide loopholes. For structures such as the NDRB, it is important that procurement documents be prepared by professionals who are familiar with state-of-the-art design and construction of such structures.
In QBM, the Government would have to choose a contractor according to the contractor’s qualifications, experience, and reputation. Compared to LBM, QBM is more prone to favouritism and corruption. QBM is preferred when the contractor has specialised experience for the project and a good performance record.
The Government commenced negotiations with the lowest bidder, China State Construction Engineering Corporation Ltd, to construct NDRB at a cost of some $51.2 billion (iNews, Jan 11, 2022). Negotiations with this bidder ceased because Minister Juan Edghill cited as one reason “the increase in cost for the construction of the bridge”, and negotiations with the next lowest bidder commenced (iNews, Feb. 9,2022).
Suggestions of corruption erupted from the failed negotiations with the lowest bidder. There is nothing sinister about the termination of negotiations with the lowest bidder and starting new negotiations with the next lowest bidder. This is the way these LBM procurement procedures work.
Negotiations for DFBO or DFB require special skills not only in technical matters connected with evolving LSB design and construction, but also in financial mechanisms and guarantees, maintenance and operations plans. It would be foolish if the Government were to disclose its strategies before negotiations are completed and a contract is awarded. It is the Government’s responsibility to select the best contractor with the credentials and price tag to DFB or DFBO the NDRB.
It is also the Government’s responsibility to ensure that the public receives value for such infrastructure works. This can be achieved by well-prepared procurement documents and quality, incorruptible project/program management, messaging, and transparency. It is imperative that the Government provides opportunities in the contract for Guyanese, especially engineers, to obtain practical experience in the design, construction, maintenance and operation of this symbolic structure.

Sincerely,
Dr Muniram Budhu