The UAE projects market continues to show signs of picking up in May led by invitations to start the process to prequalify for the expansion works on Abu Dhabi International Airport as well as major maintenance works at 80 schools in the country.

Additionally, Qatar has invited consultancy services to prequalify for the Inner Doha Resewerage Implementation Strategy.

Other government authorities such as the Municipality of Abu Dhabi, the Al Ain Municipality, the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) and the Police Projects Committee continue to invite tenders for construction on smaller projects.

In its second tender in May, the Supervision Committee for the Expansion of the Abu Dhabi International Airport has invited expressions of interest from experienced design-and-build construction companies to prequalify for the design-build, operation and maintenance services for one or more district cooling plants and distribution systems at the Abu Dhabi International Airport, estimated at 60,000 TR each. The last date to respond is June 17.

The project is divided into two separate packages namely design-build for construction, and operation and maintenance (O&M) for a period of three years. The scope of work will also cover complete handover of district cooling plants and systems at the expiration of the O&M period. Companies must demonstrate more than five years of similar experience in district cooling projects and experience in GCC is preferred. Those contractors satisfying the above criteria will be contacted to collect the prequalification documents. The committee said it has the right to accept or decline any or all applications, extend the date of submission, amend the prequalification criteria or cancel the process at any stage without prior justification.

Meanwhile, the Municipality of Abu Dhabi has invited bidders to take part in the bidding for the construction of the Al Shamka city roads (Phase 4). The deadline for buying the tender documents is June 10 and the documents are priced at Dh4,000. The bids will be opened on June 14. Companies must be contractors operating in Abu Dhabi and have to be classified as Special Grade in the Main Roads and Streets Projects list. The tenders must be valid for acceptance for 120 days from the closing date of the tender. Each bid must be accompanied by an initial deposit in the form of a bank guarantee of $3 million (Dh11m) and valid for 120 days from the bids opening date.

Additionally, the Department of Municipal Affairs at Al Ain Municipality has invited registered contractors in the UAE, who are licensed and classified under special and first categories for main roads, to submit their proposals by June 6 for infrastructure works in Al Yahar north. The tender proposal must be valid for 150 days and those who wish to participate can obtain the documents for a non-refundable fee of Dh3,000 in cash.

The tenders must be accompanied by a bank guarantee of $1m and valid for 150 days from the date of the tender submission.

As a major education thrust, Musanada, an Abu Dhabi government-owned company, has invited all firms licensed in construction (categories second or third in Abu Dhabi and equivalent in other emirates) to submit tender documents by May 24 for Musanada's 2010 major school maintenance works. It will primarily concentrate on 38 schools in the Abu Dhabi region (documents available against a non-refundable fee of Dh3,000), 34 schools in the Al Ain region (documents available against a non-refundable fee of Dh3,000) and eight schools in the Western Region (documents available for a non-refundable fee of Dh2,000).

In Dubai, Dewa has invited tenders for consultancy services for civil engineering works. The closing date for receipt of completed tender is June 21. The tender documents are available at the Dewa head office against a non-refundable fee of Dh200 and must be valid for acceptance for 120 days from the closing date of the tender. The master tender document must be accompanied by a tender bond for an amount of no less than Dh25,000 and must be valid for 150 calendar days following the last date fixed for receipt of tender.

Dewa has also invited tender submissions for the construction of a network maintenance office and warehouse facility at Jafza. The closing date for receipt of completed tender is June 29. The tender documents are available at the Dewa head office against a non-refundable fee of Dh500 and must be valid for acceptance for 120 days from the closing date of the tender. The master tender document must be accompanied by a tender bond for an amount of no less than five per cent of the total tendered price.

Also, the tender bond should be strictly in accordance with the authority's prescribed specifications and be valid for 150 calendar days following the last date fixed for receipt of tender.

Outside the UAE, the Public Works Authority of Qatar has invited engineering consultancy services to prequalify for the Inner Doha Resewerage Implementation Strategy. The prequalification documents can be obtained from the website and completed forms should be returned by June 1.

The existing sewerage system consists of shallow sewers and numerous pumping stations, which are becoming overloaded due to the scale and pace of development in Doha. A major tunnel interceptor scheme is proposed in the Doha South STW catchment to reduce the number of pumping stations and to meet the long-term needs of Doha.