La gran filtraci¨®n
Cable sobre los cambios en la licitaci¨®n de las obras del Canal de Panam¨¢
La embajada en Panam¨¢ analiza las posibles estrategias de los diferentes participantes en la licitaci¨®n con ayuda del asesor independiente
| ID: | 177175 |
| Date: | 2008-11-06 23:28:00 |
| Origin: | 08PANAMA851 |
| Source: | Embassy Panama |
| Classification: | CONFIDENTIAL |
| Dunno: | 08PANAMA820 |
| Destination: | VZCZCXYZ0003 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHZP #0851/01 3112328 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 062328Z NOV 08 FM AMEMBASSY PANAMA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2637 INFO RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY |
C O N F I D E N T I A L PANAMA 000851 SIPDIS DEPT OF COMMERCE - MATTHEW GAISFORD DEPT OF TREASURY - SARA SENICH E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/05/2018 TAGS: ECON, EINV, ETRD, MARR, PM, EWWT SUBJECT: ROUGH WATER FOR CANAL EXPANSION REF: 2008 PANAMA 0820 Classified By: Ambassador Stephenson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ------- Summary ------- 1. (C) After multiple extensions to the bid deadline (now at March 3, 2009) and soon-to-be 19 amendments fo the contract for the third set of locks of the Panama Canal expansion, Bechtel and ACS, a Spanish led consortium, have expressed concern about the Panama Canal Authority's (ACP) ability to complete the bidding process in a fully successful manner. According to these two consortia, the extensions, along with the ACP's continuing failure to conclusively address risk allocation issues, have diminished confidence in a successful outcome to the bidding process. Additionally, while the Panama Canal expansion remains a high prestige project, members of the consortia and potential suppliers may begin to turn to more lucrative projects. ---------------------------------------- Diminished Confidence in Bidding Process ---------------------------------------- 2. (C) Due to repeated extensions in the bid deadline and the ACP's unwillingness or inability to seriously address risk issues, Bechtel and ACS, the two most capable prequalified bidding consortia, have diminished confidence in a successful outcome of the ACP bidding process for the contract for the third set of locks, centerpiece of the overall $5.25 billion Panama Canal expansion, according to Bechtel Vice-President of Finance Paul Gibbs, on October 31. See reftel for information on the delays, issues of risk, and consortia. ACS senior representatives did not attend the latest ACP-Consortia meeting; a meeting ACP Director of Engineering Quijano described as important to signaling the intentions of the consortia. Bechtel signaled its reluctance to pour more resources into the project by closing its Panama Office and reassigning personnel to other countries. While Bechtel remains intent on bidding on the locks contract it will not continue to prepare detailed modifications to its bid specifications in reaction to changing ACP requirements. Amendment 18 alone had 30 attachments and great uncertainty exists concerning the content of upcoming (and "final" according to the ACP) 19th Amendment. 3. (C) While Gibbs recognizes that the extension provides the opportunity for the ACP to iron out risk problems, that task has not been fully completed. Bechtel is not fully certain of the outcome of the hydraulic risk as well as the selection of a cement price index. 4. (C) Based upon conversations with representatives of Bechtel, ACS, and Project Management Advisor CH2MHill, these organizations believe that only Bechtel and ACS are credible bidders, because the Spanish consortium led by Sacyr is reportedly close to bankruptcy and half of the members of the French consortium led by Bouygues are not actively working towards submitting a bid. Gibbs stated that the deadline extension and uncertainty regarding risk favor Sacyr and Bouygues, because these "weaker consortia" are more willing to submit a lowball bid and accept greater risk on the assumption they will be able to renegotiate key issues after the contract is awarded. ------------------------------------------ Potential Equipment Shortage due to Delays ------------------------------------------ 5. (C) According to a Caterpillar's Regional Manager for Latin America E. Hopkinson on October 31, the repeated extensions in the bid deadline already caused suppliers to evaluate maintaining equipment production slots for equipment for the winning consortium. Caterpillar, who is pursuing equipment sales to the winning consortia, already reserved production slots for equipment to be used in the expansion. However, due to "lost patience" with the extensions, Caterpillar may instead use those production slots for large mining companies which are long term customers that also use service contracts. The prestige and resulting increased business of working on the Panama Canal may not outweigh greater business opportunities elsewhere. According to Hopkinson, some large excavation equipment is not currently available due to a worldwide shortage of equipment and parts caused by a mining industry that remains healthy despite global financial crisis. ------------------------------- Control Over Project Management ------------------------------- 6. (C) The attempt by CH2MHill, the project management advisor for the entire Canal expansion, to take greater control over the bidding process is still in flux - see reftel. CH2MHill's Construction Manager, Joe Cazares, is now the acting senior engineer-in-charge for the design and construction of the locks for the ACP. CH2MHill and the consortia positively view this change; the preference is for CH2MHill to take control over the bidding process and to produce a biddable document of interest to credible bidders. ------- Comment ------- 7. (C) The turbulence in the Panama Canal expansion bidding is only discussed in tight circles and is not present in the public domain. The messaging and press discipline of the Panamanians on the biggest economic story in Panama is stunning. STEPHENSON |
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