DOTr Procures Spare Parts, Independent Audit and Assessment (IAA) Consultant for MRT-3

Wazzup Pilipinas!

In its commitment to progressively address the issues beleaguering the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3), the Department of Transportation MRT-3 (DOTr MRT-3) team recently completed the procurement of the first batch of various spare parts required for the system’s maintenance.

Among those already procured by DOTr MRT-3 through its Maintenance Transition Period Bids and Awards Committee (MTP BAC) over the last seven weeks are spare parts for rolling stock, worth about PhP8.66 million and spare parts for tracks amounting to PhP7.33 million.

The rolling stock spare parts contract had an Approved Budget for Contract (ABC) of PhP8.89 million and was won by Linkers Enterprises, while the spare parts for tracks had an ABC of PhP7.97 million and was won by Nikka Trading.

Notably, the contract for the Independent Audit and Assessment (IAA) Consultant of the entire MRT-3 system was also awarded to TUV Rheinland for PhP45.31 million. The contract had an ABC of PhP48 million, and offers from TUV SUD and Bureau Veritas were also received.

The IAA will cover all sub-components of MRT-3, including its signaling system, tracks, and rolling stock. Both the current fleet of 73 Czech-made trains and the unaccepted 48 China-made trains will be covered by the IAA.

The IAA Consultant will make specific and actionable recommendations to address identified issues.

To ensure quality and independence, the MRT-3 MTP BAC required all bidders for the IAA Consultancy to be ISO 17020:2012 and ISO 17065:2012 certified firms, and further required membership in the International Federation of Inspection Agencies (IFIA).

Other contracts for trunk radio communications (P924,000), spare parts for power (P6.44 million), pantograph strips (P7.88 million), spare parts for overhead catenary system (P2.8 million), and various bearings (P1.98 million) were also awarded to various bidders.

Assistant Secretary for Railways TJ Batan said the DOTr MRT-3 MTP BAC adjourned its 16th and last meeting for 2017 early Friday morning. The MTP BAC was created last November 9.

“The DOTr MRT-3 MTP BAC would sometimes start as early as 6 AM, and on some days end as late as 12 MN, to ensure that the spare parts needed by our Maintenance Transition Team (MTT) are procured at the soonest possible time,” Batan said.

The MRT-3 MTP BAC was created by DOTr after terminating its maintenance service contract with Busan Universal Rail Inc. (BURI) last November 6 due to poor performance and breach of contractual obligations.

“Deliveries of some spare parts have commenced, and will continue over the next 30 - 90 days. We got the commitment of all suppliers to exert best efforts to deliver earlier than the prescribed contractual lead times, and our MRT-3 team will focus on realizing this,” he said.

With instruction and guidance from Secretary Arthur Tugade, Asec. Batan said the DOTr will continue procuring next year signaling spare parts and general overhaul services, among others.

“I believe the entire MRT-3 organization and our DOTr Central Office representatives have truly stepped up and delivered on our service commitment to the public,” Asec. Batan said.

The purchase of spare parts for the MRT-3’s Maintenance Transition Team (MTT) is Part 2 of DOTr’s 4-Part Strategy for fixing MRT-3:

Part 1: Promoting accountability with the termination of BURI

Part 2: Ensuring continued service delivery by establishing the MTT and purchasing needed spare parts

Part 3: Contracting a rehabilitation and maintenance service provider together with an Official Development Assistance partner

Part 4: Putting in place a long-term, single-point-of-responsibility, operator and maintenance provider for MRT-3