Lebanese firm wins design review contract for Sh154bn JKIA project

Lebanese firm – Dar Al-Handasah Consultants will undertake design review, project management, contract administration and construction supervision for the Sh154.2 billion JKIA modernisation project.

The contract award sets pace for the redevelopment of the country's busiest airport, paving the way for implementation of the multi-billion-shilling project.

Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir said the appointment signals the start of a critical implementation phase towards transforming JKIA into a world-class aviation hub.

"Their expertise will be instrumental in delivering a modern, efficient, safe and sustainable airport that meets global standards," Chirchir said.

He said the investment will strengthen Kenya's position as Africa's premier aviation gateway and regional air cargo hub while boosting trade, tourism, connectivity, economic growth and job creation.

Dar Al-Handasah is a global multidisciplinary consultancy specialising in engineering, architecture, planning and project management.

The Lebanon-registered firm operates through regional headquarters in Beirut (Lebanon), Cairo (Egypt), London, Pune (India) and Amman (Jordan).

The appointment follows the government's signing of an engineering, procurement and construction contract with China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) on June 23, to modernise and expand JKIA.

The project is expected to nearly triple the airport's annual passenger handling capacity from 7.5 million to 22 million within 36 months.

Tender documents released by the roads and transport ministry shows bidders had to meet some of the toughest technical and financial requirements ever imposed for a public infrastructure project in Kenya.

The State Department for Aviation and Aerospace Development rejected repeated requests from prospective bidders to relax the qualification criteria, insisting that only firms with extensive experience supervising mega international airport developments would qualify.

Bidders were required to demonstrate experience in at least two construction supervision contracts involving ongoing or completed international airport projects in Sub-Saharan Africa or other developing countries.

Each qualifying project had to have a construction value of at least $2 billion (Sh258.4 billion).

The government also rejected proposals to recognise experience in projects outside the airport sector, even where they were of comparable size or complexity.

Similarly, requests to substitute construction supervision experience with design consultancy, design review, quality control, cost control or schedule control services on airport projects were declined.

For technical evaluation, firms capable of demonstrating three qualifying airport construction supervision contracts stood to earn the maximum 15 marks, with five marks awarded for each eligible project.

Strict experience requirements were also imposed on key experts.

The Project Design Director was required to possess at least 25 years of engineering experience, including 15 years leading teams on comparable international airport projects.

The Senior Structural Engineer had to demonstrate at least 15 years of experience, with 10 years designing concrete structures for similar airports, while the Senior Electrical Engineer was required to have 15 years' experience, including at least 10 years working on airport buildings and associated external electrical systems.

The government also maintained stringent local compliance requirements.

Foreign consulting firms seeking flexibility on registration rules were unsuccessful after the ministry insisted all bidders be legally registered and authorised to conduct business in Kenya, before submitting bids.

They were also required to provide valid Kenya Revenue Authority tax compliance certificates. Joint ventures proposing to register locally only after contract award were rejected.

Bidders were further required to submit a Sh30 million bid security from a Kenyan bank or an equivalent guarantee of $232,000 issued by a foreign bank. Tender-securing declarations were expressly ruled out.

The ministry also rejected requests by international firms for additional time to prepare proposals and establish local partnerships, maintaining the original submission deadline.

Chirchir defended the procurement process, saying it was conducted through open international competitive bidding and complied fully with public procurement laws.

He said the project is not merely about constructing a new terminal but involves a comprehensive overhaul of JKIA, including rehabilitation and resurfacing of the existing airfield, expansion and renovation of current terminals, and construction of a new passenger terminal and support facilities.

The modernisation programme comprises three phases which are rehabilitation of the airfield over 15 months, expansion of existing terminals over 18 months to raise capacity to 12 million passengers annually, and construction of a new terminal capable of handling an additional 10 million passengers each year.

Funding for the project is being structured by the Trade and Development Bank and the Africa Finance Corporation, with financing expected to rely largely on airport-generated revenues alongside support from development finance institutions and commercial banks.