A JV involving Vinci, Arcadis, Besix and Dreging International have been named preferred bidder for the toll road concession to build a second Coen immersed tube tunnel in Amsterdam, an access road and operate the current tunnel crossing.
The Coentunnel Company BV has named the winner late June having submitted a bid of nearly US$680M, plus agreement to certain risk adoptions, to secure preferred bidder status for the 30-year concession. The two losing bidders – Verenigde Coen Compagnie BV (including Fluor) and Gatewest BV (Including Ballast Needam and Van Oord Nederland) – have until just before mid-July to lodge any appeal.
Dutch state client Rijkswaterstaat told T&TI it hopes to achieve contractual close on the project on 15 September. From then, the concessionaire will be paid a fee to operate the existing tunnel (two cells, two lanes each), but while the firm is spending to build the new tunnel (two cells, two and three lanes) no revenues will be received until it is commissioned. From then onward, to 2037, the company will receive a single payment.
The three prequalified JVs submitted their tenders in late May but there was a delay of about two weeks beyond the initial target date of 6 June to name the preferred bidder. T&TI was told the hold-up was due to a question of contract conditions. Until the issue was resolved the bids remained unopened.
