Five groups submitted bids yesterday to win the concession to manage four Dominican airports: Las Am?ricas (Santo Domingo); Gregorio Luper?n (Puerto Plata); Arroyo Barril (Saman?); and Mar?a Mont?s (Barahona). The bid submissions and readings were conducted in the presence of the Airport Commission headed by the Public Works Ministry and observed by a panel of eminent persons designated by President Fern?ndez to ensure fairness in the process. The Commission is to award a concession to one of the bidders within 60 days.One bid, by the group Williams Nicholas Bodouva, was rejected immediately because it was not submitted with five copies as previously announced bidding rules stipulated. Of the others, the GTM-Aeropuertos Par?s-M?ndez Cabral consortium proposed a US$606 million investment in rehabilitating and modernizing the four airports and seeks a 20-year concession. The Grupo Calmaquip proposed a US$447 million investment, but includes construction of a fifth airport as part of the package, a guarantee of US$5 million in annual income to the Dominican Government from airport operations, promises to keep current fee levels and to complete the first phase of remodeling all four airports within 18 months. The group is seeking a 15-year concession. The consortium Pawa Complex-Anion Enterprises offered a US$135 million investment in exchange for a 19-year concession, promising the Dominican Government 40% of airport revenues. The consortium Aeropuertos Dominicanos (Aerodom Siglo XXI) bid for a 15-year concession with US$204 million investment pledged, rising to US$581 million if the Dominican Government renews the concession for another 10 years thereafter. The consortium includes U.S.-based Ogden Aviation Services, Canada-based Vancouver Airport Services (YVR), Italy-based Impregilio and DR-based Operaciones Aeroportuarias del Caribe (OPASA). Its bid includes promises to freeze current fee levels, not to create new fees, and to create a US$100 million fund to promote Dominican tourism. It also guarantees a 25% slice of income to the Dominican Government. Under the proposal, YVR would be the entity in charge of day-to-day management of the airports.
