Lone bidder bags contract for 650-MW facility

State-run Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) has awarded SPC Power Consortium the P715-million operation and maintenance service contract (OMSC) for the 650-megawatt Malaya Thermal Power Plant in Rizal.

In a statement, PSALM president Emmanuel R. Ledesma Jr. explained that the offer made by SPC Power Consortium—the joint venture of SPC Light Co. and SPC Power Corp.—was deemed the “lowest calculated and responsive bid for the one-year Malaya OMSC.”

Ledesma noted that although SPC Power Consortium was the lone bidder that participated in last month’s auction, the group’s P715-million offer was well within PSALM’s approved contract requirement of P716.8 million.

He also pointed out that the company passed the post-qualification process set by the bids and awards committee in accordance with the Government Procurement Reform Act, its revised implementing rules and regulations and other provisions stipulated by the Government Procurement Policy Board.

“PSALM will issue a formal notice awarding the Malaya OMSC to the consortium, which will require the winning bidder to post a performance security bond and enter into a contract with PSALM within 10 calendar days. Our subsequent issuance of the Notice to Proceed after the approval of the contract will formally commence the OMSC contract with SPC Power,” Ledesma said.

Situated in Pililia, Rizal province, the Malaya thermal power facility was rehabilitated in 1995 by the Korea Electric Power Corp. under a 15-year rehabilitate-operate-manage-maintain agreement. The power plant consisted of a 300-MW unit with a once-through type boiler, and a 350-MW unit fitted with a conventional boiler.

At present, the government remains keen on keeping the Malaya facility until some of the commitments for natural gas pipeline projects are firmed up, said Energy Secretary Jose Rene D. Almendras.