Pinoy-German group bags P132-M MRT-3 maintenance contract

The joint venture between Germany's Schunk Bahn-und Industrietechnik GmbH and the Philippines' Comm Builders & Technology Phils. Corp. (SBI-CB&T JV) bagged the contract to maintain the trains, depot equipment and signaling system of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3).

 

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) on Tuesday said the six-month contract for the fifth and largest component of the MRT-3 maintenance requirements, valued at P131.28-million, went to a German-Filipino group.

SBI is an original equipment manufacturer of power transmission railway equipment, while CB&T is part of the joint venture that currently maintains the Light Rail Transit Line 1 system.

 

"The SBI-CB&T group will be responsible for the upkeep of the MRT-3’s trains, signaling system, and depot equipment starting on July 5," the DOTC said.

 

The DOTC is procuring maintenance sub-contractors directly under a multi-disciplinary approach in order to enhance the efficiency of maintenance works per component, in the meantime that it is preparing the 3-year maintenance contract for procurement.

 

Two previous attempts by the DOTC to bid out a long-term maintenance contract were both a failure as no bidders took part, prompting the department to seek from the Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) to go for an alternative mode of obtaining the services of maintenance providers for the ageing mass rail transport system.

 

Instead, the DOTC decided to bid out the various components of the maintenance needs of the MRT to different contractors on short-term basis.

 

The six-month contracts for the four other components have previously been awarded to the following companies:

 

 

"This leaves only two out of the seven components still for procurement and award:  the Power Supply and Overhead Catenary System, and the Conveyance Systems," the department said.

 

Last week, the DOTC said the prototype for the 48 new MRT-3 trains will arrive in mid-August.

 

"This will lead to the delivery of three train coaches per month, beginning at the end of January 2016, until the delivery of all 48 units is completed," the department said.

 

The first batch of the railway’s conveyance systems, covering 12 escalators, will be rehabilitated by a new contractor within the next 6 months, the DOTC also announced, saying the government also expects to obtain the refurbishment of the remaining 34 escalators and 32 elevators for the transit system stations. – VS, GMA News