The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) yesterday announced it has prequalified the consortia of the Lopez Group and the Metro Pacific Group to operate and maintain the Subic-Clark-Tarlac expressway (SCTEX).

The Lopex consortium is made up of the First Philippine Holdings Corp., Tollways Management Corp. and French firm Transroute International SA (TISA). The partner of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. is Africa Israel Investment Inc. Barbara Andal, BCDA project manager said the prequalification papers of 10 other bidders are still being evaluated.

Andal said the Lopez and Metro Pac groups can now submit their technical and financial bids on or before February 20.

For the prequalification of the 10-year O&M contract, the agency required parties to have at least a year of experience as a toll road operator and a total asset value of P500 million during the pre-qualification stage.

Andal said the first to be opened would be the technical offer where they have to meet five components of the project namely toll collection system, support services, manpower and equipment, among others. She said the technical bids would be evaluated for a period of 7 days.

Under the terms, the bidders will have to compete for the ceiling bid of 12.2 percent from toll fees collected within the 10-year contract period.

The other bidders are Ayala Property Management Corp. and Canadian-owned construction and engineering firm SNC Lavalin International, Mideast Alliance Resources Corp., Ausphil Tollways Corp., Pacific Concrete Products Inc., UEM-MARA Philippines Corp., R.D Policarpio Co. Inc., STAR Infrastructure Development Corp., J.V Angeles Construction Corp. and Pietras Builders Inc. Andal added that awarding for the 10-year O&M contract is tentatively set March 21.

"All these followed the government procurement rules under Republic Act 8194," Andal said. TMC and TISA are the same joint ventures of FPHC for the Manila north tollways. SCTEX is being financed by a P21-billion loan from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation. It involves the construction of a 93.77-kilometer four-lane divided tollway consisting of two parts; the 50.5-km. four-lane Subic-Clark section; and the 43.27-km. four-lane Clark-Tarlac portion.