Groups working for mega public bid
Valor Econômico 04/06/2009
The biggest public bid announced by the Federal Government in the decade will go through decisive moments in the next weeks. At this moment, at least six foreign groups are getting into consortiums in order to take part in the bidding while they wait for the details of the project of the high speed train, an US$ 11 billion contract that can change the face of the industries of heavy construction and transportation in the country.
The foreign groups involved in the tender spent the last months meeting potential investors, suppliers and partners of the project. The conversations involve private banks, investment funds, official sources of credit and many foreign and national contractors. It is estimated that 75% of the US$ 11 billion foreseen for the project will be intended for part of the civil construction of the works, and only 25% will be intended for the transportation equipment themselves - which has justified the search for partners among the contractors. The interested parties that are getting ready to take part in the public bid are led by French Alstom, German Siemens, Japanese conglomerate Mistui - associated to local suppliers -,. the state companies responsible for the Korean high speed train, China Railway Materials (CRM) and Italian Ansaldo Breda. Sources of the sector believe that at least four of these groups should get to the public bid with strong chances of being awarded the contract.Unlike the model of Federal concessions adopted so far, such as for highways and hydroelectric plants, the awarding criterion will hardly be the lowest fare. The winner of the public bid will be the consortium that offers the lowest consideration of public money possible, together with a criterion of celerity in the conclusion of the works - a more expensive, but faster bid, may be the winner. The Government estimates the bidding rules will be ready until the middle of July.