Eng Saud Al Tamimi (second left), Director of Roads Projects, and Ghanim Al Mansouri (second right), Director of Contracts Department, with other officials during a press conference at Ashghal Tower yesterday. Pic: Baher Amin/The Peninsula
DOHA: The Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’ yesterday announced the launch of the “Rehabilitation of Small Contractors” initiative to provide local entrepreneurs with the opportunity to execute small projects that will enable such companies executing future strategic projects in Qatar.
Addressing a press conference, Eng Saud Al Tamimi, Director of Roads Projects, said that the initiative included the rehabilitation and equipping of small local contractors for tenders of five small projects related to road improvement works in different areas of the country.
He said that it would bring competitive advantage and development of the national economy and raise the level and quality of the implementation of projects.
He further pointed out that the projects included road improvement works in several areas of Doha (Phase A6) in Doha Municipality, as well as road improvement works in Al Rayyan (Phase A6), as well as road improvement works in the northern parts (Phase A3) of the country.
These projects further include the improvement of roads in the south of Doha; areas 90 to 95 (Phase A6) of the Al Wakra Municipality; and the improvement of roads in the towns of Al-Daayen and Umm Salal. He said that the projects would be completed in 18 months from their starting date.
“Through this initiative, Ashghal aims to support national entities from new local companies that have never worked in this field with the Authority to participate in road projects and it will also reduce dependence on foreign contracting companies.”
Al Tamimi pointed out that the Authority intended to contribute through the “Rehabilitation of Small Contractors” initiatives to implement the State’s approach to implement the infrastructure projects in the country by relying on national expertise, believing that the qualified local contractor was one of the most important elements of the success of the future development plan.
For his part, Ghanim Al Mansouri, Director of Contracts Department at the Public Works Authority, said that the tenders for the five projects would be published on the website of Ashghal and the government procurement site on January 1 4 2018. “One project will be awarded to each bidder.”
He added that one of the most important conditions of the tender and submission was that the contractor should be Qatari and classified by the government procurement department in the Ministry of Finance as the fourth or third degree contractor category.
“There is no condition of prior experience for these companies in the infrastructure projects with the Public Works Authority.”
Regarding encouraging local producers and contractors and increasing their participation in development projects, Ashghal officials said that the Authority had rehabilitated 47 national plants and accredited 54 products under the “Ta’heel” initiative since its launch in July last year.
Ta’heel is an initiative launched by the Public Works Authority in cooperation with Qatar Development Bank for the rehabilitation and accreditation of the existing national industrial factories.
The initiative aims to give Qatari manufacturers the chance to participate in the implementation of Ashghal’s engineering and construction programs and projects, in addition to enlisting the national factories in the supply chain approved by the Public Works Authority.
