DTL2e - Contract 991 tender & 2nd pre-qualification

22 January 2025 - Screengrab of contract for tender & pre-qualification on Government
e-procurement portal Gebiz.

Yesterday, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) kicked off the process for tendering contracts under the Downtown Line 2 extension (DTL2e) project. Contract 991, the first DTL2e contract launched, will be for the "Design and Construction of Tunnels for Downtown Line 2 Extension and Associated Additions & Alterations Works to Gali Batu Depot".

In August 2024, a preliminary round of pre-qualifications was conducted for 4 contracts for various rail projects. In addition to the tender being floated yesterday for contract 991, a second round of pre-qualification was also launched. Pre-qualifications serve to allow the LTA to review the capability and suitability of interested contractors for the job before contract tendering takes place. In short, pre-qualification is a means of shortlisting of the contractors based on technical experience, capabilities, project team qualifications and other factors.

The initial closing date of the contract tender is currently 9 May 2025. Typically, extensions are issued during corrigenda to allow contractors more time to review any changes and clarifications, and submit suitable bids - allowing for more competitive bids and avoiding tenderers overpricing for risks. Depending on the number of corrigenda and the tenderer's request, extensions to the tender period can stretch over several months. The pre-qualification round though, is due to close on 17 February 2025 and usually does not see such lengthy extensions, if any, owing to a simpler review process involving mostly factual submissions.

A list of the respondents to the first round of pre-qualification was published on Government e-procurement portal Gebiz. The list, however, does not state which contractors had been shortlisted but nonetheless allow a glimpse of the potential bidders for the contract.

Contract 991's scope will include the construction of tunnels (both Cut & Cover and Bored), escape shafts and other supporting infrastructure, viaducts and Addition & Alteration works to the existing DTL depot at Gali Batu, along Woodlands Road. The contract is likely to be awarded some time next year, roughly between 1 to 1.5 years from the point of tender closure, following quality submission evaluation and then price submission evaluation. Quality submission evaluation reviews the contractor's technical submissions including proposed methodologies for construction and detailed processes for quality and safety assurances, while the price submission evaluation reviews the overall cost-benefit based on contractor's submitted prices.

As the project progresses, we'll do our best to keep you updated on any news. So do stay tuned for more updates as & when they come.

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