The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) has announced a median price of 4.02 billion baht for its latest attempt to buy a new bus fleet - 489 vehicles running on compressed natural gas for vehicles (NGV).
Prayoon Chuaykaeo, a deputy director for bus operations, said on Tuesday the BMTA posted the new median price of 4.02 billion baht for the planned fleet and the new terms of reference (ToR) for the bidding on its website on Sept 18.
Public comment on the procurement terms will remain open until Thursday, Sept 21. Opinions will then be incorporated into an amended draft of the ToR, which will be posted for a second online public hearing, expected later this month, he said.
Bidding is expected next month and the first 20 NGV buses should be delivered to the BMTA by the end of this year or early January, he said.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha wanted them on the road, serving commuters, as a New Year gift.
The BMTA recently scrapped it third attempt to buy the 489 NGV bus fleet. No companies entered bids for the contract at an e-auction on Aug 24.
Last month, Deputy Transport Minister Pichit Akrathit said the bus procurement contract was valued at 3.3 billion baht.
And according to Mr Pichit, the lower value of the contract discouraged private companies from throwing their hats into the ring.
Mr Prayoon said the BMTA has also extended the new contract deadline for delivering the procured buses to 120 days, because the previous 90-day deadline appeared to be too tight.
However, it will be a requirement the first 20 buses be delivered in 40 days, with the rest in 120 days, he said.
The process for purchasing the 489 new NGV buses began last year and was further delayed after the BMTA revoked a 3.3-billion-baht contract won by Bestlin Group on April 12.
Bestlin was awarded the contract in September last year but failed to meet the delivery deadline because it could not get the imported buses out of Laem Chabang port in Chon Buri.
The Customs Department accused Super Zara Co, the firm’s affiliate handling the importation, of falsifying documents to make it appear the buses were made in and imported from Malaysia, to receive a tax break under the Asean free trade agreement.
The buses are believed to have been made in China.