The Paraguayan state-owned Empresa de Servicios Sanitarios del Paraguay (ESSAP) has initiated a public bidding process for the construction of major sewerage and wastewater treatment systems worth more than US$500,000,000 for the Lambare, Luque and Mariano Roque Alonso basins in the metropolitan area of Asunción.

This project is executed under the modality foreseen in Law 5074/13 “Establishing the Public Works Regime”, according to which the bidder must also arrange for the financing of the works with first class institutions, with sovereign guarantee. Further details on the financing scheme will be published in the bidding documents. The sewer and wastewater system will be constructed under the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) model.

According to the Invitation for Prequalification, the technical specifications of the project will include the following components:

a) Sanitary sewerage networks (primary, secondary and tertiary collectors and house connections);

b) Pumping Stations and Pumping Lines;

c) Wastewater Treatment Plants;

d) Sub-fluvial outfalls.

The project also includes the assisted operation of the Wastewater Treatment Plants for a minimum period to be established in the bidding process, in addition to the elaboration of an organizational strengthening plan that will include consulting services, provision of goods and services, execution of civil works and electromechanical assembly.

The public bidding is currently in the pre-qualification stage. At this stage bidders must provide information on their technical qualification and then the selected bidders will submit their bid for the engineering, procurement and construction of the sewerage and wastewater treatment system.

The deadline for submitting the pre-qualification application is March 09, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. (Paraguayan time) and the consultation period ends on March 02, 2015 at 12:00 noon (Paraguayan time). Subsequently, the government will select the companies that will be able to participate in the bidding process.

Public bidding is expected to be completed by July 2015 and construction of the project in 4 years.