1.    Solomon Islands has received a grant from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Australian Agency for International Development (Aus AID), European Commission (EC) and New Zealand Agency for International Development (NZ Aid) towards the cost of Second Road Improvement (Sector) Project (Solomon Islands) and it is intended that the proceeds of this grant will be applied to payments under the contract for which this invitation for bids is issued. The terms and conditions of the contract and payments therefore by the Asian Development Bank will be subject in all respects to the terms and conditions of the Grant Agreement, including the Procurement Guidelines. Except as ADB may specifically otherwise agree, no party other than Solomon Islands shall derive any rights from the Grant Agreement or have any claim to the grant.

2.    The Ministry for Infrastructure Development (MID), represented by the Permanent Secretary MID (the Employer), now invites sealed bids from eligible bidders from eligible member countries of ADB and EC for:

• Design and construction of three high-level bridges.
• Construction of two steel girder bridges.
• Construction of two steel girder bridges as an extension to existing steel girder bridges.
• Construction of three low-level bridges and eight causeways and their immediate approaches.
• Construction of about 17km of two coat bituminous seal road sections including sub base and base construction using coronous material.
• Maintenance of the road within the overall limits of the Works.
• Construction of river training and river bank protection structures using timber retard walls, gabion walls, reno mattresses and geo-textile fabric.

3.   International Competitive Bidding will be conducted in accordance with ADB's Single-Stage: Two-Envelope Bidding Procedure.

4.    Only eligible bidders with the following key qualifications should participate in this bidding:

• have a minimum of 5 years general construction experience;
  
  
• have successfully completed at least 2 contracts during the last 5 years of similar size and nature to the subject contract and of value greater than USD$13.0 million equivalent;
  
  
• have a minimum average annual construction turnover over the last 3 years of USD$16.0 million equivalent;
  
  
• must demonstrate access to, or availability of, financial resources such as liquid assets, unencumbered real assets, lines of credit, and other financial means, other than any contractual advance payments to meet the following cash-flow requirement:
  
  
  1. USD$1.5 million for a period of 3 months,
  2. and the overall cash flow requirements for this contract and its current works commitment;
  
  
• have construction experience in developing countries for the following key activities in the last 5 years:
  
  
  1. Bridge construction - minimum 1,500sqm of bridge deck area
  2. Piling for bridges - minimum 250m of bridge piles
  3. Road construction/rehabilitation - minimum 5,000m bituminous two coat sealed road length
  4. Structural steelwork fabrication - minimum 10m long steel Girder Bridge
  
  
• have available owned or leased construction plant and equipment of type, size, and number sufficient to undertake and complete the works within the specified contract period of 18 months, including at least one piling equipment, concrete batching plant, motor grader, excavator, road roller and tipper truck;
  
  
• have technical and supervisory personnel in construction of similar types of work under similar conditions with a minimum of 10 years experience for Project Manager and Bridge Construction Engineer; 5 years experience for Bridge Design Engineer, Bridge Design Review Engineer and Geotechnical Engineer; 2 years experience for Quality Management Engineer and Bridge Construction Supervisor; and one year experience for Road Construction Supervisor and Environment/ Safety Officer.

5.   To obtain further information and inspect the Bidding Documents, bidders should contact:

Project Manager, SIRIP2
Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID)
Head Office Building
Mendana Avenue
Honiara, Solomon Islands
Tel. No.: (677) 24571
Fax No.: (677) 28705
E-mail: sirip5@solomon.com.sb

6.   To purchase the Bidding Documents in English, eligible bidders should:

1. visit the office of the Chairman of the MID Ministerial Tenders Board (MTB) at the address shown in paragraph 5 above, requesting the Bidding Documents for CTB Contract No. TI-GP 67/10 CTB C 40/10, Road Rehabilitation and Bridge Construction, West Guadalcanal Road - Poha to Naro Hill, East Guadalcanal Road - Tetere and Mbalasuna, Guadalcanal Province, Solomon Islands. Pay a non-refundable fee of SBD750 or US$100 by cash or bank draft payable to the Government of the Solomon Islands.

   or

2. requ
   est
   for delivery by sending a written application to the office of the Chairman of the MTB at the address shown in paragraph 5, requesting the Bidding Documents for Contract No. TI-GP 67/10 CTB C 40/10, Road Rehabilitation and Bridge Construction, West Guadalcanal Road - Poha to Naro Hill, East Guadalcanal Road - Tetere and Mbalasuna, Guadalcanal Province, Solomon Islands. The application must include a bank draft payable to The Solomon Islands Government, for the amount of SBD825 (domestic delivery) or USD$100 plus a USD$75 prepaid air-courier bag for overseas delivery. The MTB will promptly dispatch the documents but under no circumstances will it be held responsible for late delivery or loss of the documents so mailed.

7.   Deliver your bid:

• To the following address:

  The Central Tenders Board
  Ground Floor
  Ministry of Finance and Treasury
  Point Cruz
  Honiara, Solomon Islands

• On or before Thursday, 5 August 2010 at 2:00 p.m.

8.   All bids must be accompanied by a Bid Security of US$325,000 or an equivalent amount in a freely convertible currency. Bids will be opened immediately after the deadline in the presence of bidders' representatives who choose to attend at the Leaf House, Central Tenders Board, Ministry of Finance and Treasury, Point Cruz, Honiara, Solomon Islands.

9.   When comparing Bids, ADB's Domestic Preference Scheme will be applicable.

10.   Bidders are allowed to express the bid price as a sum of amounts in different currencies (up to three currency types).

11.   Bidders are encouraged to form joint ventures with other local or international construction companies to strengthen capacity and experience if considered necessary.

12.    All prospective bidders are invited to attend the pre-bid briefing to be held at the MID Conference Room, 3^rd Floor, MID Head Office Building, Mendana Avenue, Honiara, Solomon Islands starting at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, 22 July 2010.