3 bidders after Santiago-Valparaíso rail studies contract

Egis Rail, Técnica y Proyectos, and a consortium comprising Consultrans and Pini submitted technical proposals for the studies contract for the US$1.3bn rail link between Santiago and Valparaíso.

The evaluation committee deemed the proposals acceptable and authorized the companies to submit bids by February 26, according to procurement site Mercado Público.

The winner will define the works needed between both cities, as well as for links to Tiltil in Santiago’s metropolitan region, and La Calera and Llay-Llay in Valparaíso region. 

As a requirement, the designs should include the use of existing rail infrastructure.

A tender for the concession is expected to be launched next year.

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Raúl Montero, the head of Uruguay’s public water utility OSE, warned that the current rates aren’t enough to cover needed infrastructure investments.

OSE is implementing a US$320mn wastewater coverage expansion plan in the country’s interior, under which 55,000 household connections will be added in the first phase, Montero told a local broadcaster.

“What we are charging is completely insufficient for the investments that must be done, and I believe that this is a debate the country must have,” he said, adding that the government makes rate decisions.

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Argentina’s Santa Fe province paid 28.3bn pesos (US$33.9mn) that it owed to public works contractors, municipalities and towns between December 10, when the current local government took office, and February 9.

Some of these debts dated back a year, with the current provincial authorities blaming former governor Omar Perotti for the lack of payments. 

“We can say that we’re practically up to date [with payments], which allows us to create trust with companies and local governments so that they don’t stop their commitments and continue public works in such a complex inflationary scenario,” provincial public works minister Lisandro Enrico said in a press release.

Out of the total paid, 10.8bn pesos came from the central administration, 16.9bn pesos from the provincial roadworks office and 610mn pesos from the provincial housing and urbanism office.