Ashghal Signs Six Infrastructure Deals Worth QR 40 Billion

Doha, November 23 (QNA) - The Public Works Authority (PWA) Ashghal Wednesday announced the signing of six new contracts for management and design of infrastructure projects worth to QR 40 Billion. The contracts cover both Qatar's Local Roads and Drainage network and infrastructure which will result in the delivery of projects totally valued at QR 40 Billion. The contracts with consultants and services companies for projects amount to QAR 2,208,428,320. PWA's President Nasser Al Mawlawi, confirmed that these awards represented a significant step towards delivering the infrastructure required to achieve Qatar's National Development Plan. The appointment of these consultants represented one of the Qatar's largest professional services commitments ever awarded. The consultants were selected after a rigorous competition of more than 32 other global companies that started over a year ago. A key requirement of each contract is that consultants bring global best practices and resources to the PWA which had placed financial incentives and mechanism in the contract linked to Key Performance Indicators to encourage the timely delivery of quality projects PWA Director of the Infrastructure Affairs Department Engineer Jalal Al Salhiat said that the infrastructure upgrade will cover the entire state of Qatar which is divided into five geographical zones and represent a large drainage catchment area and for the most part has an interconnected infrastructure network. One General Engineering Consultant (GEC) will be appointed for each Area to provide the design and construction supervision services on long-term contracts covering the five year period. With these agreements in place, the Infrastructure Affairs Department (IAD) will be able to execute works more efficiently and effectively. By streamlining the administrative procedures and building up on lessons learned throughout the programme, the PWA will bring continuous improvements to the infrastructure in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner, he said.\ The appointed Programme Management Consultant is Parsons Brinkerhoff International with the contract valued QR 592,930,460.00. The appointed General Engineering Consultants for design and supervision at contract value of QR 333,060,346.00 are: Area 1 (Qatar North): Khatib and Alami (Lebanon) in a joint venture with WSP (UK). For Area 3 (Doha North): Hyder Consulting Middle East with the contract value being QR 459,843,337.00. For Area 4 (Doha South): Parsons International Ltd with the contract value being QR 193,835,196.00. For Area 5 (Doha West): WS Atkins & Partners Overseas with the contract value being QR 403,976,803.00. PWA has announced the award of Contract for Programme Management Services to CH2M Hill on the QR10bn IDRIS Wastewater Programme for a contract value of QR 224,779,178.05. Following a competitive tender, PWA selected the global programme managers CH2MHill who have been responsible for major wastewater programmes in capital cities around the world including Singapore, London and Abu Dhabi. The scope of services for the Programme Management Consultant (PMC) includes the Concept Design and the Preliminary Design (30%) and the management of Design and Construction Supervision Consultants to ensure delivery of the programme. The Inner Doha Re-sewerage Implementation Strategy (IDRIS) programme will provide new municipal drainage and wastewater treatment facilities for the Doha South area extending from the Souq Waqif area to the southern districts of Doha. The estimated capital cost is between QAR 8 to 10 billion. The programme will be implemented over seven years and is scheduled for completion in 2019. The IDRIS programme will provide the final link in the long term wastewater treatment facilities for Doha. A new wastewater treatment plant at Doha North is under construction, extensions to the Doha West plant will be completed in 2012 and construction of a new treatment facility to the south of Doha will be implemented by 2019. A tunneled transfer scheme is envisaged to reduce the number of existing pumping stations by as many as is economically viable. The programme will include treated sewage effluent transfer mains and pumping stations to ensure that recycled water can be utilised for irrigation and non-potable purposes. (END)