Ashghal launches initiative for small local contractors

The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has launched an initiative for small contractors to allow local entrepreneurs to execute small projects that will qualify them for competition in the domestic as well as global market.
Announcing the launch of the initiative yesterday, Saud al-Tamimi, road projects manager at Ashghal, said that the initiative aims to qualify small local contractors and announce tenders for five small projects related to road maintenance in different geographic areas in the country in order to achieve competitive advantage, develop national economy and enhance the quality of the implemented projects.
The projects include road maintenance in several areas of Greater Doha (Phase 6-A) in Doha municipality, road maintenance in Al Rayyan (Phase 6-A), road maintenance in the northern areas (Phase 3-a), road maintenance in the south of Greater Doha (areas 90 to 95 6-a) of Al Wakrah municipality, and road maintenance in the towns of Al-Dha’een and Umm Salal. These projects are scheduled to be completed within 18 months.
“Through this initiative, Ashghal aims to support new local companies that have never partnered with the authority in this field to allow them to participate in road projects and reduce dependence on foreign contracting companies,” he said, adding this was part of measures taken by Ashghal to support Qatari contractors and consultants and qualify them for competition in the domestic as well as global market.
This places a great responsibility on the contracting companies of different classification to achieve this demand and keep pace with growth on the basis of quality and efficiency, he said.
“Through the initiative, Ashghal seeks to pursue the state’s approach to implementing the infrastructure projects in the country by relying on national expertise, believing that the qualified local contractor is one of the most important elements of the success of the future development plan,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ghanem al-Mansouri, director, contracts department at Ashghal, said that tenders for the five projects will be offered on Ashghal’s website and the government procurement website on January 14, adding that each bidder will be awarded one project to allow more participants to participate in this initiative.
“One of the most important requirements of the tender and bidding process is that the company must be a Qatari firm and classified by the government procurement department of the Ministry of Finance as Fourth Class contractor operating in the field of road maintenance or Third Class (or above) building contractor,” al-Mansouri said, adding that there is no requirement for experience of these companies in the infrastructure projects with the Public Works Authority. (QNA)