Eight groups prequalified for the 14.4km long Seymour Capilano tunnel project in Canada (T&TI May, p13), but by the time tenders were received the running had been whittled down to three parties.
Pacific Liacion & Associates (PLA) was appointed as project and contract manager for the client, Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD), for the water transfer tunnels that will allow both treated and waste water to be transported. Andrew Saltis, PLA’s area manager for tunnels told T&TI that the lowest bid was submitted by the Bilfinger Berger/Fru-Con JV at US$76M; followed by Seymour – Cap Partnership at US$142M; with the highest bid received from Peter Kiewit Sons at US$181M.
Saltis explained that Bilfinger Berger had prequalified originally and then formed a JV with Fru-Con during the tender process. In a similar vein, the Seymour – Cap Partnership is a joining of the prequalified Frontier Kemper/ Aecon JV and the also original prequalifier, JF Shea.
Rather than extending their alliance, the prequalified JV of Peter Kiewit Sons Co (PKS) and Traylor Bros fell apart when Traylor Bros withdrew from the competition during the tender period, leaving PKS to stand alone. Guy F Atkinson LLC, the McNally/Obayashi JV, Kenny Construction Co and Insituform Technologies were the balance of the original prequalifiers, who all declined to submit tenders.
Twin 3.7m diameter tunnels will be driven through ground conditions characterised as granodiorites at depths varying between 160m and 640m, as they pass underneath Grouse Mountain. The drive shaft will be 185m deep and once the tunnels have reached their furthest extent a 270m deep shaft will be raisebored.
Tender review is currently underway although Saltis could not add further to the expected timetable until after award.
This was originally scheduled for late June, so it is reasonable to assume that the tender review will be a fast tracked process. Construction, is scheduled to be completed by 2008.
