DPWH to tap consultant for P29-B tollway project

CLLEX to connect Tarlac and San Jose, Nueva Ecija

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is set to tap a construction supervisor for the proposed P29-billion Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEX) connecting the cities of Tarlac and San Jose in Nueva Ecija.

In a request for expression of interest, the DPWH said it is inviting interested companies for consultancy services in the civil works of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project.

DPWH Undersecretary Raul Asis said interested consultants have until Aug. 28 to submit their prequalification documents to the agency.

Asis, who is also chairman of the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) for consultancy services, said the DPWH would draw up the shortlist of consultants from those who have submitted expressions of interest and prequalification documents.

The DOTC said the shortlist would consist of least three to five prospective bidders using the criterion and rating system including applicable experience (35 points); qualification of personnel (40 points); and job capacity (25 points).

The DPWH would evaluate bids using the Quality – Cost Based Evaluation/Selection (QCBE/QCBS) procedure and the financial proposals of the short listed bidders whose technical proposals pass the minimum technical requirements of 75 percent would be opened and evaluated.

Services to be rendered by the consultant include project management support, review of detailed engineering and construction supervision.

The winning consultant would also assist in the coordination with the provincial governments concerned as well as in complying with environmental management and monitoring of the environmental compliance certificate (ECC) requirements.

The DPWH would also require the consultant to render other technical support services including guidelines and procedures for the construction supervision; monitoring and reporting of contractor’s field accomplishment; establishment of quality control and testing procedures; and additional reports that may be required.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) would fund the construction of the 66.4-kilometer CLLEX while operation and maintenance would be under the PPP scheme.

The proposed expressway would start at the end of the 94-kilometer Subic Clark Tarlac expressway (SCTEX) up to Tarlac – Pangasinan – La Union Expressway (TPLEX).

The first phase of the project worth P14.9 billion would cover a 30.7-kilometer four-lane expressway stretching from Tarlac to Cabanatuan City in Nueva Ecija while the second phase worth P14.2 billion covers 35.7 kilometer two-lane expressway from Cabanatuan City to San Jose City also in Nueva Ecija.

CLLEX forms an important lateral (east-west) link of overall high standard highway network within the 200-kilometer radius from Metro Manila.