Abu Dhabi issues two PPP tenders to private sector

Abu Dhabi is launching two major infrastructure public-private partnership (PPP) projects under the Partnership Projects framework issued by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO).

Potential bidders can now submit expressions of interest for the two projects including three new schools and also work on phase 2 of its street lighting upgrade programme.

The Zayed City Schools PPP project will provide three new schools with a capacity of 5,360 students in Abu Dhabi’s Zayed City.

The project, structured in a collaboration framework between ADIO and the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK), will provide students access to high-quality learning environments and modern facilities, reported news agency WAM.

The end contract will include the design, build, finance, maintenance and transfer of three schools with a concession period of 22 years, inclusive of a construction period of 24 months and a maintenance period of 20 years.

“Leveraging our successful Charter School model, which currently counts 15 private sector-operated and public sector-owned schools across the emirate, the project for three new Charter Schools in Zayed City will offer convenient and high-quality education options for catchment students, aiding Abu Dhabi’s ongoing social development,” said Amer Al Hammadi, under-secretary of ADEK.

Phase 2 of the Street Lighting LED PPP programme meanwhile will see approximately 140,000 of the emirate’s streetlights replaced with energy-efficient LED technology, resulting in a reduction of approximately 76 per cent in power consumption – equivalent to cost savings of Dhs705m – and will be structured as a 12-year concession agreement with DMT.

“The Street Lighting LED PPP programme will reduce operating costs and improve the elements of smart city empowerment by replacing the existing street lighting with energy-saving LED streetlights. In the second phase, we are expanding the geographical scope of the project to include the Al Ain City and the Al Dhafrah Region,” said Abdullah Al Sahi, under-secretary of the Department of Municipalities and Transport.

ADIO is the central Abu Dhabi government authority with responsibility for the facilitation, development and procurement of all infrastructure projects delivered through a PPP framework in Abu Dhabi, in line with its mandate to support private sector investment in the emirate. It works with entities across Abu Dhabi, including ADEK and DMT, to facilitate PPPs, as part of the government’s plan to procure approximately Dhs10bn worth of infrastructure partnership projects.

Following the submission of expressions of interest, ADIO will be conducting a technical workshop to help build technical PPP knowledge and awareness within the local design, engineering, and construction community. The workshop is aimed primarily at design and engineering consultancies and construction firms that may not have PPP infrastructure delivery experience.