Tender planning gets underway

“The competitive element is important to us. Not only so that we can achieve the best price, but equally to inspire the construction industry to think creatively and perhaps propose new and even better methods than we have seen so far. We are just about to put the finishing touches to a plan to define the scope of each of the major construction tasks. Soon we will have a clear picture of which and how many contracts we want to put out to tender,” says Technical Director at Femern A/S Peter Lundhus.

Femern A/S is planning to invite interested construction consortia to a prequalification round in the summer of 2012. By the end of 2012 it will then be known which consortia will be invited to bid for the construction contracts during the tender in 2013.

But even at this early stage, it is time for major construction and engineering companies to start familiarising themselves with the opportunities that the project offers and, if they so wish, begin considering forming consortia with partners. Femern A/S is expecting to have defined each of the major construction projects in September 2011.

In brief, the biggest tasks for the potential contractors will be excavating the tunnel trench in the seabed, constructing a tunnel element factory, manufacturing and submerging tunnel elements, constructing tunnel entrances and approach facilities for hinterland infrastructures, and building railways and other technical installations.

The construction contracts are expected to be signed in 2014, and construction will then be ready to start. The total construction estimate for the coast-to-coast link between Rødbyhavn and Puttgarden is EUR 5.5 billion (2008 prices). The link is due for completion in 2020.