THE Penang government, through Penang Island City Council (MBPP), will be calling for an open tender Request for Proposal (RFP) to invite interested companies to submit their proposals to plan, provide, operate, and maintain water taxi services in Penang island.
State Transport and Infrastructure Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said an advertisement regarding the RFP would be published on Dec 12 and a briefing session would be held on Dec 19.
“Companies that wish to take part in the RFP are required to comply with the terms and conditions listed in the RFP document.
“The interested companies or organisations must be registered with the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) or with the Registrar of Societies Malaysia (RoS). They must have paid up capital of at least RM500,000 to participate in the RFP.
“The companies must be registered with the Penang government procurement system through the website https://ep.penang.gov.my to purchase the RFP document. The RRP document is only sold online via the website and must be purchased and downloaded through the respective procurement account as proof of purchase,” he told a media conference in Komtar today.
Zairil said the companies are also required to attend the RFP briefing session before purchasing the RFP document.
“Companies that do not attend the briefing session or attend after the registration period will not be allowed to take part in the RFP,” he said.
He added interested companies must provide important components such as a preliminary feasibility study report, a proposed pier location for water taxi services, the type and specification of ferries or boats to be used, the financial model, and the duration of the project implementation.
The deadline for the tender submission is Feb 27 next year (2023).
“Penang has not fully maximised its waterways (except the ferries which are used to cross the strait) despite Penang island being surrounded by water.
“Water taxi services are quite common in countries which are surrounded by water. For the public, the services can function as an alternative mode of transport. Water taxis can also be a tourist attraction in the state,” Zairil said.
He added that the successful company would be awarded the offer letter by the middle of next year should everything goes smoothly.
“The successful company should be able to start the preliminary works three months after receiving the offer letter,” Zairil said.
MBPP mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang said the local council obtained conditional approval from the Transport Ministry on Oct 18 to call for the RFP.
“This is a piece of great news for Penang in its effort to capitalise its resources.
“We have identified four proposed pier locations for the water taxi services, namely, Straits Quay, Weld Quay, Pantai Jerejak, and Batu Maung. These locations are the basic requirements for the RFP.
“Nevertheless, we welcome the RFP participants to propose more pier locations according to their feasibility study report and we are happy to consider them,” Yew said.