site.btaBulgartransgaz Selects New Contractor for Gas Pipeline between Provadia and Serbian Border

May 28 (BTA) - Bulgartransgaz EAD  has selected a new
contractor for the construction of the gas pipeline between
Provadia (Northeastern Bulgaria) and the border with Serbia,
Bulgartransgaz Executive Director Vladimir Malinov told
journalists on Tuesday. The pipeline will be constructed by the
DZZD Consortium Gas Development and Expansion in Bulgaria, which
 includes one company from Italy, Germany, and Luxembourg each.
The project is worth 1,102,197,333.19 euro exclusive of VAT, he
said. 

The company initially ranked first in the public procurement
procedure - Saudi Arabia's Association Consortium Arkad - did
not submit documents either before the legal deadline or before
the extended deadline requested by the company, Malinov
explained. The consortium provided only 4 out of the 30
documents required, he added.

The newly selected contractor initially offered a high price for
 the project's implementation, but on May 17 said it is willing
to reduce the price by 31.5 per cent, thus making it slightly
lower than that offered by Arkad, Malinov said.

He expects the contract to be signed as soon as possible. The
law allows this to happen within ten day after the contractor
selection, provided there are no appeals and other procedural
obstacles, Malinov specified. The work on the project will
continue 615 days, with the first 308 km of the 475-kilometer
route expected to be ready in 250 calendar days.