Background on the Querétaro-Irapuato Passenger Train Project
The Agencia Reguladora del Transporte Ferroviaria (ARTF) has decided to hold a second round of clarification meetings on June 27th, while maintaining the July 7th deadline for submitting technical and economic proposals for the first sub-section of the Querétaro-Irapuato passenger train line, a 30.7 km stretch. This decision comes after numerous questions from interested companies and the release of new technical information on June 24th.
Project Budget and Timeline
The ARTF has reduced the projected budget for this year by 22.1 million pesos, bringing it down to 1,353.9 million pesos compared to the initial amount presented in the first public international bidding document version.
Despite companies’ requests for a 30-day extension to prepare competitive proposals due to the project’s magnitude, ARTF denied these requests, adhering strictly to the July 7th submission deadline as outlined in the bidding process’s third base.
The initial plan to commence construction on July 30th with a 671-day natural execution period remains unchanged.
ARTF Clarifications and Responsibilities
The second round of clarification meetings aims to allow bidders to ask questions related to the answers provided during the first meeting’s closure on June 24th. ARTF addressed 846 concerns, with two recurring themes:
- Project Execution Responsibility: Each bidder is responsible for developing an executable project, considering all necessary aspects for the work’s execution and employing appropriate procedures for each case to ensure the best technical and operational solution. All relevant processes must be included within their budget.
- Right of Way: The right of way for construction work will be fully transferred to the winning contractor, so this should not pose any issues.
Key Questions and Answers
- Question:Why is ARTF holding a second round of clarification meetings?
Answer: Due to numerous questions from interested companies and the release of new technical information, ARTF decided to hold a second meeting on June 27th to address these concerns while maintaining the July 7th deadline for submitting proposals. - Question: How has the project budget changed?
- Answer: The ARTF has reduced the projected budget for this year by 22.1 million pesos, bringing it down to 1,353.9 million pesos.
- Question: Were companies’ requests for a proposal extension granted?
- Answer: Despite companies’ pleas for a 30-day extension to prepare competitive proposals, ARTF adhered strictly to the July 7th submission deadline.
- Question: What are the key responsibilities of bidders according to ARTF?
- Answer: Bidders are responsible for developing executable projects, considering all necessary aspects and employing appropriate procedures to ensure the best technical and operational solution within their budget. They must also fully transfer the right of way to the winning contractor for construction work.
