Tenders submitted by 22 contractors for four government projects in Bahrain were opened in public for the first time last month. Prices quoted by each contractor were displayed on a screen.

The largest of the four contracts was a Works and Housing Ministry project for the dredging and reclamation of shoreline protection works at Bander Seef development, in Busaiteen and West Hidd. The other Works and Housing Ministry job was for the refurbishment of pumping station D1 in Isa Town.

Two other contracts were for the Electricity and Water Ministry's water production (60 million gallons per day) and transmission project associated with Hidd Power Station Phase III consultancy services, as well as the civil work for the 220 kV transmission substations in Jasra, Hamad Town, Hawar and Manama waterfront and the associated electromechanical work.

Seven contractors bid for the Bander Seef development, and each of them submitted three tenders respectively for the Busaiteen development, West Hidd development and a combined tender. The contractors were A A Nass, Boskalis Westminster Middle East, Ballast Ham Dredging, Al Ganah Contracting, Van Oord Acz Marine Contracting, Dredging International and Jan De Nul NV

Five contractors submitted tenders for the pumping station project in Isa Town, with the lowest bidder being Zohal Construction at BD1,547,600.

There were four bidders for the 220 kV substation civil work: with the lowest bid having come from Habib Ali Awachi Company (BD1,786,748.205).

Six contractors submitted their bids for the Hidd Phase III consultancy.

"The lowest bidder will get the contract if there are no irregularities in their documents," said Finance and National Economy Ministry undersecretary and Tender Council member Shaikh Ibrahim bin Khalifa Al Khalifa.