FOR the fourth time, the Baguio City Government will bid out the operation and rehabilitation of Asin mini-hydroelectric plants in Tuba, Benguet to private investors.
Engr. Ransam Avance, hydro plant supervisor and member of the Asin Hydro Power Plant technical working group (TWG) said the Special Bids and Awards Committee (SBAC) chaired by city budget officer Leticia Clemente published anew a notice of invitation to submit offer after the third bidding conducted last June failed with the disqualification of the two companies which participated in the bidding.
One of the firms was disqualified outright while the other was declared ineligible only last September 25 due to financial and legal deficiencies.
The last day of submission of bids and opening of bids is set for October 15.
Apart from the bidding last June, two biddings were conducted by the city last year but both exercises conducted on January 27 and on June 15, 2012 were declared failures as no company satisfied the requirements set under the terms of reference.
The project entitled "Privatization of the Operation and Management of Asin Mini-Hydro Power Plants" has an approved contract budget of P500,000,000.
The bidding will follow the terms of reference earlier adopted for the project.
Based on the TOR, the bid components will be for the rehabilitation and rental under the conditions that the operator shall invest a considerable amount of money for the rehabilitation, upgrading and expansion of the plants to produce 41,406,178 kilowatthours, install independent substation and power line to the national grid.
The terms also provided the schedule of remuneration to the city government and other concerned parties including the provincial government of Benguet, municipality of Tuba and barangays Tadiangan and Nangalisan where the plants are located and including the surface owners whose properties are affected by the pipelines and plant facilities. (Aileen Refuerzo)