MAN, Daimler line up for 2010 buses
Proffesor Ndawonde
30 April 2009
South Africa has named MAN AG and Daimler AG's Pretoria-based Mercedes-Benz unit as the preferred bidders to supply 570 buses and coaches for the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
Mercedes-Benz South Africa is the preferred supplier of 168 semi-luxury coaches and 292 inter-city buses, while Munich-based MAN is the preferred supplier of 110 general spectator buses, Transport Minister Jeff Radebe announced in Pretoria on Wednesday.
The government has put in place a guarantee of R1.4-billion (about US$162.5-million) to acquire the 570 buses.
Radebe said an additional 260 buses - 250 for general spectator services and 10 semi-luxury coaches - would be leased from the industry, bringing the total fleet of bus and coach to be provided by the government for 2010 to 830.
The minister said a critical component of South Africa's transport preparations for the World Cup was the provision of transport infrastructure, but most importantly the provision of various modes of public transport.
The Department of Transport invited bids to supply buses and coaches for the World Cup in May 2008. "We received a number of proposals, and only four met all the minimum requirements to qualify for an evaluation," Radebe said.
"Only three bidders were short-listed after the evaluation process and were issued a Best and Final Offer document on 4 December 2008," he said, adding that all three bidders had responded with final proposals.
Source: BuaNews
