Nepal’s Melamchi Water Supply Development Board (MWSDB) seeks bids for construction of headworks and a diversion tunnel as part of the Melamchi Water Supply Project. A site visit is scheduled December 13-14, with bids due January 21, 2013.
With funding from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), MWSDB issued a similar solicitation in 2008. ADB had agreed to new terms, including a lower cost, for funding construction of the Melamchi project, which is to bring drinking water to Kathmandu.
MWSDB seeks bids for construction of headworks and intake structures on the Melamchi River near Ribarma Sindhupalchowk, permanent support works for 6.5 kilometers of previously completed tunnel, construction of another 21.3 kilometers of diversion tunnel and a reinforced concrete invert in the water diversion. Work also includes construction and maintenance of access roads.
The work is expected to require 36 months.
ADB initially agreed to support the project in 2000, but work was delayed by political circumstances and “challenges engaging private sector partners,” the bank said. Changes since then lowered project costs due to prioritization and phasing of project components, the bank had said.
The project is essential for Kathmandu’s 1.5 million residents, most of whom receive piped water for only a couple of hours a day, the bank said. The project originally was designed to include a 25-MW hydropower project, which was shelved to reduce cost and environmental effects.
Bid documents in English may be obtained from the address below for 20,000 rupees for domestic delivery or US$300 for overseas delivery. Payment is by international bank transfer to Siddharta Bank Ltd., Tinkune Branch, Kathmandu, Account: Melamchi Water Supply Development Board, No.: 01715014170 for U.S. dollars, 01715007893 for rupees, SWIFT Code: SIDDNPKA, routed through one of the following correspondent banks in the United States:
- JP Morgan Bank, New York, Account No. 400911701, SWIFT Code CHASUS33;
- CITI Bank, New York, Account No. 36143644, SWIFT Code CITIUS33;
- American Express, New York, Account No. 00740944, SWIFT Code AEIBUS33.
A site visit is scheduled December 13-14. A pre-bid meeting is scheduled December 14. Bids are due by 2 p.m. January 21.
For information, contact Executive Director, Melamchi Water Supply Development Board, Madan Bhandari Path, Min Bhawan, Kathmandu, Nepal; (977) 1-4468963; Fax: (977) 1-4468962; E-mail: [email protected]; Internet: www.melamchiwater.org.
