Director of Mass Transit Studies:
A.H. WILKINS, B.Sc. (Eng.), C.Eng., F.I.C.E., F.E.D.I., F.C.I.T., M.I.T.E.
General
(Acting)
Government Mass Transit Engineer:
S.A. BARDEN, B.Sc. (Eng.) (Hons.), C.Eng., M.I.C.E., M.I.T.E.
13.01 The Mass Transit Department is responsible for all matters concerning the Mass Transit Railway system. Its primary function is to examine and evaluate the work of the Consulting Engineers and to direct their activities after ensuring that all aspects of the project are based on sound engineering concepts and appropriate to the circumstances.
In addition, the Department is responsible for co-ordinating all Government activities and public works associated with the Mass Transit Railway project and for examining all public and private development affected by the scheme to ensure that there is no conflict with the Mass Transit programme. The Department represents the Mass Transit Steering Group (later the Mass Transit Provisional Authority) in negotiations with the Consortium concerning the engineering and contractual aspects of the project.
13.02
It is also responsible for co-ordination and liaison duties in respect of the Cross Harbour Tunnel project, the tunnel road connections and other ancillary schemes linked to the Cross Harbour Tunnel. It has a total establishment of 37 in 16 different grades.
Contract Negotiations
Government
13.03 Discussions with the four consortia that had shown interest in the project led to the submission in June 1973 of proposals for constructing, managing and financing the railway. After studying the proposals, Government announced in July its decision to adopt the single contract method for the design of the railway. Further discussions with the Consortia were held in August and September and a programme was agreed with the Consulting Engineers for the issue, over the period October 1973 - March 1974, of outline design drawings and performance specifications for the Initial System. In October 1973 the Japanese Consortium made a firm offer, based on the information then available, to construct the railway within a fixed sum. This "pre-emptive bid" was declared valid and the other consortia were informed accordingly. In late December, Government announced its intention to commence negotiations with the Japanese Consortium with a view to finalising a Contract whilst continuing with the supply of design information to the other consortia. This was followed in February by the issue of a "Letter of Intent" to the Japanese Consortium. Feb 74
13.04
The adoption of a negotiated form of contract necessitated the preparation of contract documents that would ensure a viable and acceptable system based on stated performance requirements whilst leaving the contractor some flexibility in his method of meeting these requirements. A general
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