MAPUSA
Six companies, including the firm that operates Goa’s Saligao solid waste treatment plant, have submitted bids for the long-awaited solid waste management project at Bainguinim under the Request for Qualification (RFQ) process floated by the Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC).
The corporations said that Hyderabad Integrated MSW Ltd, Hindustan Waste Treatment Pvt Ltd, 3R Management Ltd, Srinivas Waste Management Services Pvt Ltd, Organic Recycling Systems Pvt Ltd, and HNB Engineers Pvt Ltd have responded to the tender.
A senior GWMC official explained that the RFQ stage is the preliminary part of the bidding process, aimed at identifying technically and financially qualified firms with the capability and experience to execute major waste management projects.
“Following the RFQ stage, GWMC will issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) to the shortlisted firms to submit detailed technical and financial bids for setting up and operating the Bainguinim waste management facility,” the official said.
He added that the corporation will now scrutinize the documents submitted by the six companies before shortlisting eligible bidders. “This is a huge project which needs to follow all due procedures. Naturally, the awarding of the final contract will take some time,” the official said.
The GWMC had earlier extended the deadline for submission of bids to November 10, after the initial deadline of October 31 expired. The extension was granted to allow prospective bidders more time to finalise their submissions.
The tender invites bidders for the design, engineering, financing, construction, supply, installation, commissioning, performance run and operation and maintenance of a 100-tonne-per-day (TPD) solid waste processing facility at Bainguinim for a 15-year concession period.
Originally proposed in 2019, the Bainguinim project has faced repeated delays owing to technical hurdles, administrative bottlenecks and local opposition. GWMC officials, however, maintained that earlier objections from residents have now been resolved and that the project has received all required approvals, including environmental clearance.