NPTAB accessing successful bidder – Chief Works Officer
New DHB feasibility study
Chief Works Officer of the Public Infrastructure Ministry, Geoffrey Vaughn, on Saturday stated that a company has been decided upon to conduct a feasibility study and design for the new Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB).
An artist’s impression of the new harbour bridge
Vaughn disclosed that one of the 22 tenders was successful and is presently being assessed by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) to determine whether the contract should be awarded.
He stated that although the bidder might have met the financial criteria for the project, the NPTAB still conducts background checks to ascertain if the company has met the terms and reference of the project.
“They have to ensure that they are capable of taking on the project,” he said, but was unable to state if it was a local or international company which was successful during the tender.
Government had specified that the companies bidding must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services with verification in brochures, reports of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, and availability of appropriate skills, among other criteria. It was stipulated that the consultant can also associate with another company to enhance their qualification.
In December 2015, 22 companies from around the world submitted bids to conduct the study and furnish a design for the bridge. Thus far, three connections are being examined for the construction of the bridge – which are between Houston, East Bank Demerara (EBD) and Versailles, West Bank Demerara (WBD); between Peter’s Hall, EBD and Schoonord, on the WBD; and between New Hope, EBD and at Laurentia Catherina, WBD.
The bridge must have a navigational clearance of 100 metres wide, with navigational aids, an air draft of 50 metres, adequate marine collection protection at the navigating channels and an estimated length of 2250 meters.
Faced with constant mechanical problems and heavy traffic, calls were made for the construction of a new bridge across the Demerara River. Floating at 1.25 miles, the Demerara Harbour Bridge is a strategic link between the Eastern and Western Banks of the Demerara River.
The structure, which opened in July 1978 with the expectation of lasting only 10 years, has been floating for 37 years.
General Manager of the Demerara Harbour Bridge Company (DHBC), Rawlston Adams had said that the Public Infrastructure Ministry has already made the evaluations and recommendations for the consultancy.
“Those recommendations are with the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board, I think to forward to Cabinet,” he stated.
Adams said the Harbour Bridge Company will be reviewing the process as it relates to the Terms of Reference and the evaluations.
Speaking about the feasibility study, Adams stated that it will “identify all the issues and costs involved in building the new bridge. The study will guide us in which direction – do we build a new bridge? Do we keep this one? Do we have two and that’s why we do feasibility studies to identify all the issues and to have them address.”
