The national government issued the Evaluation Report for Envelope 1 of the bidding process for the privatization of the Waterway, which involves assessing the bids from the first stage.
According to reports, submissions from globally capable firms Jan De Nul NV, DEME NV, and DTA Engenharia were analyzed, evaluating the bidders’ operational background, as well as their technical and financial capacity, along with the submission of the various guarantees.
In this context, the Evaluation Committee’s report determined that both DEME NV and Jan De Nul NV met the conditions required in the bidding documents, and it was therefore recommended that they proceed to the next stages of the evaluation process.
DTA Engenharia, meanwhile, did not submit the required guarantees—specifically, the bid maintenance guarantee, which ensures that the offer will not be modified during the selection process—and its disqualification was therefore recommended.
The bidding companies will now have a period of seven calendar days to submit objections to the report. Once this process is completed, the National Ports and Navigation Agency will issue a Resolution approving the Stage 1 evaluation and calling for the opening of Envelope 2, which, through a scoring system, evaluates the Work Plan. This plan details the methods, equipment, and professionals that will carry out the established works.
After Stage 2 is completed, the bids for Stage 3 will be opened, which will evaluate the financial offers of each bidder.
The head of the Agency, Iñaki Arreseygor, convened representatives from the provinces and users such as the Rosario Board of Trade, the Argentine Rural Society, the Argentine Oil Industry Chamber, the Argentine Industrial Union, and the Chamber of Private Commercial Ports, among others, to inform them about the progress and compliance with the established schedule.
“A committed and professional technical effort was made in this first stage of evaluation. We will have two of the largest companies in the world competing in the next phase of the bidding process, which will be key,” Arreseygor highlighted during the meeting.
Javier Cervio, Executive Director of the Rosario Board of Trade, said they view “very positively the space for dialogue created by the ANPYN, which allows users to stay informed and closely follow this bidding process that is so important for our country’s foreign trade.”
Meanwhile, Gustavo Idígoras, from the Argentine Oil Industry Chamber (CIARA), stated: “As users, we support this process. This meeting was a clear demonstration of its transparency, and we hope to conclude with the awarding of this tender, which, we reiterate, stands out for its transparency.”
It should be noted that this is a three-stage bidding process, in which the financial offer will carry the greatest weight, ensuring the lowest possible tariff for Argentine producers. Once the different evaluations are completed, the process will move forward with the awarding and signing of the new contract for the privatization of the Waterway, with an estimated investment of more than 10 billion dollars.