Swiss challenge on for TPLEX extension

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has started the Swiss challenge for the P23.4-billion Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX) extension project unsolicited proposal submitted by San Miguel Holdings Corp. (SMHC) as it issued a call to firms to make competing offers.

In a social media post, the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center said the DPWH is inviting interested firms to submit their comparative proposals for the TPLEX extension project.

“The DPWH invites local and international companies to submit comparative proposals under a comparative bidding process to finance, design, construct, operate, and maintain the project under a 34-year concession period,” the DPWH said.

A single-stage qualification and bidding will be conducted for the project in accordance with the Build-Operate-Transfer Law and its revised 2022 implementing rules and regulations.

Instructions to comparative proponents and other relevant qualifications and documents for the Swiss challenge will be available from Dec. 6 to 20 at the DPWH.

Interested firms will need to submit all documentary requirements and pay a non-refundable fee of P1 million.

Comparative proposals will have to be submitted to the DPWH on March 15, 2024.

“In the event that a comparative proponent submits a price proposal better than that submitted by the original proponent, the latter shall have the ‘right to match’ such price proposal within 30 working days from receipt of a notification from the DPWH of the result of the comparative or competitive bid,” the DPWH said.

Earlier this month, the National Economic and Development Authority Board chaired by President Marcos gave the go-signal for the DPWH to proceed with the Swiss challenge.

To be implemented through PPP, the TPLEX extension project is a 59.4-kilometer four-lane toll road that will start from TPLEX in Rosario, La Union and terminate in San Juan, La Union.

The project is among the infrastructure flagship projects of the current administration.

It is expected to promote the development of Northern Luzon and facilitate connectivity to Central Luzon and Metro Manila through high-speed mobility and secured access.

Apart from providing better and safe road access, the project is expected to stimulate economic activity, mitigate road congestion, as well as promote the development of new growth centers in nearby regions.

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The article was originally published in PhilStar Global and written by Louella Desiderio.