DELAY
5.1
5.2
5.3
The abortive efforts of the Japanese Consortium to design a system within the required $5,000M ceiling, have effectively delayed the MTR project for 12 months, and there could be further delay unless quick effective action is taken to ensure that the alternative plan for a modified system is put into operation immediately. This is particularly relevant in the context of the con- tinuing cost of the MTR preliminary organisation now having reached $4M a month. Any further delay could have serious effects in that it would accentuate further the cynicism about the MTR developing in the contracting world, and also among the civil engineers it is necessary to recruit to ensure the successful completion of the project. Announcement of an alternative plan and a call for tenders on a world wide basis before the end of this month would, it is considered, substantially counteract the damaging effect of the Japanese Consortium's withdrawal.
For similar reasons, it is necessary to regain as far as possible time lost, and a multi-contract procedure would appear to be the best way of achieving this by ensuring simultaneous work on a maximum scale, thereby reducing the construction period. Also, a multicontract approach should allow a quicker start, as it is not necessary to finalise every aspect of the more complicated tenders before making a start on the simpler contracts. There seems little point in reverting to the main sequence as there are only two consortia left from the original tenderers which substantially reduces the competitive element, and in any event, they would have to be advised of the new specification comprising the minimum viable system. Also, during the last twelve months, world recession has had the effect of increasing the interest of international contractors in such a con- siderable project, and a world wide call for tenders will allow advantage to be taken of this development.
The preparation of tender documents for a multi- contract procedure is simplified as a result of the extensive engineering work already carried out, and a tight tendering programme has been drawn up which provides for: -
(a)
A general call for tenders before the end of this month (January).