DOTC Automatic Fare Collection System Expected to Net the Most Number of Bidders

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With the coming bid submission deadline for the P1.72 Billion Automatic Fare Collection System (AFCS) project on Monday, 18 November 2013, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) expects to net the most number of bidders under the administration’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program so far.

“With only a few days to go before bid submission, our sense is that all five prequalified groups are still very much in the running,” said DOTC spokesperson Migs Sagcal.

“From what we understand, if all groups submit on Monday, this could be the highest number of bidders for a PPP project so far. That would mean more competitive bids, and it would show how well the project terms have been packaged,” Sagcal added.

The 5 consortia which were pre-qualified by the transport agency earlier this year are the AF Consortium, led by the Ayala and Metro Pacific groups; the SM Consortium, which includes several companies owned by the Sy family; a group led by ComWorks, Inc.; the E-Trans Solutions Joint Venture, Inc.; and the Megawide-Suyen-Eurolink Consortium.

The pre-qualified groups have also partnered with foreign companies having established experience in similar ticketing systems, such as those in the technology, banking, transportation, and retail industries.

The AFCS project is part of the DOTC’s thrust to modernize the country’s transportation systems for more convenient, reliable and efficient services.

It will upgrade the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Metro Rail Transit (MRT) ticketing scheme to a tap-and-go system, which will substantially lessen queuing time and allow seamless transfers from one rail line to another.

The winning consortium will also have the option to expand this contactless card system to other businesses in and out of the transportation sector, such as in retail transactions.

The DOTC aims to award the contract for this project by February next year, and is targeting full implementation by the third quarter of 2015.

*Photo Credit to Rappler.com

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