Unable to invite bids for 13 rest stops on the North Expressway

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According to the report of the Vietnam Expressway Administration, on the North-South Eastern Expressway, there are a total of 21 rest stops that have not been invested in, of which the 2017-2020 period (phase 1) has 10 rest stops and the 2021-2025 period (phase 2) has 11 stations.

After a period of active implementation, the Vietnam Expressway Administration has selected investors for 8 rest stops in phase 1 including: Mai Son - National Highway 45, Nghi Son - Dien Chau, Dien Chau - Bai Vot, Nha Trang - Cam Lam, Cam Lam - Vinh Hao, Vinh Hao - Phan Thiet (2 stations), Phan Thiet - Dau Giay.

Currently, project management boards and investors are actively coordinating with localities to implement site clearance compensation and construction of rest stops, with the goal of striving to complete as soon as possible to serve synchronous exploitation with the route as directed by the Prime Minister and the Minister of Transport.

For the remaining 13 rest stops including National Highway 45 - Nghi Son; Ham Nghi - Vung Ang; Vung Ang - Bung; Bung - Van Ninh; Van Ninh - Cam Lo; Cam Lo - La Son; Quang Ngai - Hoai Nhon (station Km77 + 820 and station Km15 + 620); Hoai Nhon - Quy Nhon; Quy Nhon - Chi Thanh; Van Phong - Nha Trang; Can Tho - Hau Giang; Hau Giang - Ca Mau, in the past time, the Vietnam Expressway Administration and project management boards have also been active and proactive to speed up the progress of organizing the selection of investors, at the same time, taking advantage of time, learning from the experience of the 8 stations in phase 1 to coordinate with localities to speed up the site clearance work, shortening the procedures as much as possible, in accordance with the provisions of law, speeding up the implementation progress.

Specifically, the bidding documents were also released in July 2024 for interested investors to participate and bids were opened in September 2024.

However, up to now, the Vietnam Expressway Administration said that due to objective factors, during the organization process, it was necessary to extend the bidding documents to update the project investment capital according to the new investment rate issued by the Ministry of Construction, then cancel the bidding notice according to the provisions of the newly issued law on bidding and effective from the date of signing.

Specifically, on September 16, 2024, the Government issued Decree No. 115/2024/ND-CP detailing a number of articles and measures to implement the Law on Bidding on selecting investors to implement investment projects using land, effective from the date of signing, according to the provisions of Point e, Clause 4, Article 73 of Decree No. 115/2024/ND-CP, for rest stops that are issuing bidding documents but by August 1, 2024, no investors have submitted bidding documents, they must "cancel the bidding notice and stop selecting investors".

“According to reports from project management boards, as of August 1, 2024, no investors have submitted bid documents. Thus, for bidding documents currently being issued, it is necessary to “cancel the bidding notice and stop the selection of investors” in compliance with the provisions of the law on bidding” – Vietnam Expressway Administration added.

As soon as objective situations arose, the Vietnam Expressway Administration and project management boards studied relevant regulations and proactively implemented them to shorten procedures as much as possible, such as requesting project management boards to update investment capital, extend the closing/opening time for bids, study the provisions of Decree No. 115/2024/ND-CP as well as the draft bidding documents of the Ministry of Planning and Investment to take advantage of the time to carry out legal procedures so that when the legal regulations come into effect, they can re-invite bids as soon as possible.

Currently, the Ministry of Planning and Investment has promptly issued Circular No. 15/2024/TT-BKHĐT dated September 30, 2024 guiding the bidding documents for selecting investors, so the selection of investors for 13 rest stops that have canceled the bidding notice will be reissued based on the updated current regulations.

It is expected that in mid-October 2024, the Vietnam Expressway Administration will re-post the invitation for bids on the national bidding network for interested investors to participate.

Vietnam Expressway Administration said: Up to this point, the work of preparing and approving bidding documents is being urgently studied and implemented by project management boards, after approving bidding documents and posting bidding notices (the time for investors to prepare bidding documents is at least 45 days according to regulations). It is expected that the selection of investors will be completed by early 2025 at the earliest in case there are no problems or situations that need to be handled during bidding./.

Source: https://dangcongsan.vn/kinh-te/chua-the-moi-thau-13-tram-dung-nghi-tren-cao-toc-bac-nam-679754.html