The companies in the nine groups come from Denmark, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, France and South Korea. In addition, companies from the UK and USA are associated with some of the nine groups.
The interested companies had until Friday 18 January to submit their application documents. Following the end of the prequalification application period, client Femern has now prepared an initial overview of the international construction industry鈥檚 interest in the four main civil engineering contracts for the Fehmarnbelt project. Each joint venture could apply for prequalification for more than one of the four main contracts.
鈥淲e鈥檙e very satisfied with the response,鈥� said Femern technical director Steen Lykke. 鈥淎s this project represents one of civil engineering鈥檚 largest tunnel structures, we need the world鈥檚 best construction companies. Having received a sufficient number of applications, and bearing in mind that a joint venture or firm can apply for more than one contract, I鈥檓 optimistic that we鈥檒l be able to prequalify a suitable number of professional and experienced contractors on each contract.鈥�
Femern will now evaluate the applications in detail and then decide which companies will be prequalified and consequently invited to submit bids. Steen Lykke said: 鈥淎s the selection of prequalified companies requires the utmost care and attention, the process will take a couple of months. After all we鈥檙e talking about contracts worth billions of euro. Once we鈥檝e announced the prequalified companies in the spring of 2013, the tender process will begin.鈥�
The four civil engineering contracts for the coast-to-coast link are:
- Dredging of the seabed and land reclamation;
- Construction of the northern section of the tunnel;
- Construction of the southern section of the tunnel;
- Construction of the portal structures, ramps and associated land facilities
The consolidated construction estimate for the coast-to-coast link amounts to 鈧�5.5bn at 2008 prices. Final project approval will be effected by the Danish Parliament鈥檚 adoption of a Construction Act by the end of 2014. In Germany it is expected that the authorities will approve the project in 2015.
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