The Transportation Department said Wednesday it awarded temporary maintenance contracts to four companies to address the technical problems at Metro Rail Transit Line 3.
The agency said it chose the four new maintenance providers through a multi-disciplinary approach, where it engaged sub-contractors directly for the maintenance works. This is expected to improve the efficiency of executing such works, it said.
It awarded the P23.9-million contract for rail tracks and permanent ways to Jorgman-Korail-Erin Marty joint venture, the P23.35-million contract for maintenance of buildings and facilities to Global Epcom Services Inc. and the P7.28-million contract for the upgrade and maintenance of communications systems to Trilink Technologies Inc.
The P6.95-million automated fare collection system was awarded to Future Logic Corp.
Global-Autre Porte Technology has been maintaining the MRT 3 based on a contract that the agency rolls over every month.
The temporary maintenance contracts cover a six-month period beginning July 5 this year and will fulfill the MRT-3’s daily operating requirements until the longer-term maintenance provider is procured.
“By directly engaging these companies through the multi-discipline approach, the MRT-3 system should have faster access to spare parts. This will translate to better reliability for the rail line,” Transportation Department spokesman Michael Arthur Sagcal said.
The three other disciplines are currently still being procured, including rolling stocks and depot equipment, power supply and overhead catenary system and conveyance systems.
The agency earlier bid out the three-year maintenance contract twice, the first in September 2014 and again in January 2015, but both auctions failed due to the non-participation of potential bidders.
The department is now seeking the approval of the Government Procurement Policy Board to pursue an alternative mode of procurement for the 3-year maintenance deal.
Running from North Avenue in Quezon City to Taft Avenue in Pasay City, MRT 3 serves nearly 500,000 passengers a day, beyond its rated capacity of 350,000.
The rail system has a fleet of 73 Czech-made air-conditioned rail cars, of which only 24 three-car trains operate daily because other trains need repair.
