Metro de Panama has started the process of selecting companies to participate in the tender to design and build Line 3 of the Panama Metro, with funding of $2.6 billion.
From a statement issued by Metro de Panama:
It is estimated that the tender for this Best Value megaproject will be launched in 2017.
The financing agreement signed between the governments of Panama and Japan includes a non-refundable $35 million for recruitment of the Project Management company.
From a statement issued by the Presidency of Panama:
Panama today finalized a landmark agreement with Japan for financing of up to B /. 2,600 million to be used for the construction of Line 3 of Metro de Panama, the country's largest public infrastructure project since the Canal Expansion.
The Master Plan includes 90 stations to provide transport service for Panama City and its metropolitan area: San Miguelito, Arraiján and La Chorrera.
The director of the Panama Metro, Roberto Roy presented the master plan for the Metro which proposes a network of eight lines planned for 2040, which includes line 1 which is in operation and line 2, which is under construction.
The government has announced that the Metro Bus service in the capital will be run by the State and its management will be granted in concession to private operators.
The government announced that the service which up to now has been provided by the company Mi Bus will pass into state hands, and the concessionaire will be a private company.
Government Minister, Milton Henriquez told Panamaamerica.com.pa "...
The possibility of tendering Metro feeder routes and Metro Bus in Panama City and San Miguelito is being analyzed.
Government Minister Milton Henriquez, said that the aim of the eventual granting in concession of routes by tender is "... that transportation be a single integrated system which includes the Metro, Metro Bus and feeder routes."
The president of the National Chamber of Transport, Dionisio Ortega told Prensa.com that "...
The company will be responsible for the supply and installation of the equipment required for the operation of the system to charge passengers.
Panamaamerica.com.pa reports: "... SONDA will be responsible for delivering and implementing the equipment required for the operation of fare collection system for Metro Line 1 ..."
The hiring process will be made 'by exception' and will be the responsibility of the Minister for Canal Affairs and head of the Panama Metro Secretariat of the Ministry of the Presidency, Roberto Roy.
Chilean Consortium Sonda SA won the tender to manage the new mass transit system.
The concession was granted to the firm for a period of ten years.
"Sonda is responsible for recharging the cards for access to Metro Bus as set out in the terms and conditions of the bid, once the card system becomes operational one thousand points of sale will be available, of which 10% will be run 24 hours a day," reported the article in Prensa.com.
Sonda, Confya, Panama Card and Metro Recaudo submitted bids to manage the Metro Bus transportation system.
The proposals ranged between $ 118 and $ 229 million.
"Today's event was attended by Ministers Jimmy Papadimitriu (Presidency), Federico Suarez (Public Works), Rómulo Roux (Canal Affairs) and the director of the Transit Authority and Land Transport, Jorge Ricardo Fabrega," reports Prensa.com.
10 companies participated in the preliminary meeting for bidding on the management of the Metro Bus system.
To the four companies which participated in the previous process, declared void on October 8th, the following companies joined: Unipago, TMS-Telemarca, Taborda Velez Transdata, King Holding and Cable & Wireless Panama.
"Companies interested in the contract, which has a reference price of $ 15 million, should make their proposals on November 30th, although several have requested an extension," wrote Prensa.com.
‘Metro Bus Panama’, one of the consortiums bidding for designing and operating the project, has proposed a “bus leasing system”.
On May 26, three consortiums submitted their proposals for ‘Metro Bus’, a public transportation system. The bid by ‘Grupo Express’ was priced at $275 million, the one by ‘Transporte Masivo de Panamá’ at $269 million, and ‘Metro Bus Panama’ presented the lowest priced one at $30 million.
“Metro Bus Panama”, “Express del Futuro”, and “Transporte Masivo de Panamá” were the three consortiums submitting bids.
Only three consortiums will participate in the bidding for designing, supplying and operating the new transportation system.
“Jorge Ricardo Fábrega, Government and Justice vice minister, explained that they will verify the required guarantees, which must correspond to 100% of the price of the bid”, reported Prensa.com.
The first contract for "Metro Bus", a new transportation system, will be awarded on March 29th, 2010.
This project will renew the current bus fleet with air conditioned, high capacity vehicles, but will commence with existing 'Red Devil' buses ("Diablos Rojos").
Demetrio Papadimitriu, presidential minister, remarked that the system "... will feature a 'one ticket system', using rechargeable cards", reports Pa-digital.com.pa.