Infrastructure work will enable Doha to upscale its development

All 220 infrastructure projects will be underway by the end of the year, officials at Ashghal have revealed.

Following the announcement that infrastructure building in Qatar will be overseen by five project management firms, the public works authority said that it will look to Qatari contractors and companies to take the lead in construction.

Speaking at a recent event attended by 200 companies, Ashghal explained that the ambitious $9 billion programme will see each phase have specific criteria that “would determine the awarding of the framework agreement”.

The framework procedure will involve a procurement process that includes pre-qualification, submissions, evaluations and tendering.

Under the framework agreement, there will be an umbrella of agreements, that established general terms and conditions, schedule of rates, work orders and call off procedures, it was told One of the main norms for the selection process is the need for the successful bidders to be either a Qatari registered company or a joint venture of a firm with a Qatari company.

Qatari registered companies must have its commercial registration with at least two years of local experience in infrastructure construction works. Non-Qatari contractors are expected to have a joint venture in a 50:50 partnership with a registered Qatari company.

Those between QR200mn and QR900mn would be awarded either to Qatari firms or non-Qatari joint ventures. Similarly, works over 900mn could also be awarded to Qatari firms or non-Qatari joint ventures, having local participation.

Construction of roads and drainage across the five designated sectors are to co-ordinated by chief project consultants Parsons Brinckerhoff.

According to the locations, the new projects would be classified as those falling in Qatar North, Qatar South, Doha North, Doha South and Doha West areas. The five project managers are Kathab & Alami/WSP, TBD, Hyder Consulting,  Parson International and Atkins.

Qatar North will have 40 new projects, Qatar South 15, Doha North 68, Doha South 80, Doha West 18.

Ashghal said it has worked with Parsons Brinckerhoff to establish the local roads and drainage programme is integrated with the greater infrastructure plan of the Qatar National Vision 2030 and to maintain pace with development required for the FIFA 2020 World Cup.