Government wants feasibility studies carried out by contractors in highway concessions

Source: Valor Econômico

Disturbed by the accusations of favoring the Brazilian Project Structurer (EBP), the government appealed to large contractors to present technical and economic feasibility studies for the next highway concessions, according to reports from sources in the private sector. The request for the presentation of studies would have been made by the Ministry of Transport and the Civil House. For the Rio-Niterói bridge, whose original concession contract expires in 2015 and which will be re-bid, 11 companies applied to carry out the works.

The appeal, according to these reports, also extends to the four other federal highway concessions announced by President Dilma Rousseff at the end of January. In the case of these roads, the deadline for expressions of interest ends on February 17th.

Sought by the report, the Ministry of Transport denied these versions and says that there was no pressure or appeal to contractors. The ministry considers that the manifestation of 11 interested parties is a clear sign of the attractiveness of Rio-Niterói for the private sector. He also points out that he never had meetings with some of the companies that applied to carry out the studies.

The companies, who remain anonymous, say they were “encouraged” to participate. According to them, the government would have expressed discomfort in carrying out the next concessions based only on studies by EBP, a company formed by the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) and eight commercial banks. She was responsible for all the studies for the airport, port and highway tenders so far. In the case of ports, there were accusations that she had early access to government guidelines, which is being investigated by the Federal Court of Accounts (TCU) and by the Public Ministry. In December, the TCU demanded clarification from all those involved.

Yesterday, the matter would return to the court's agenda, but the control body ended up postponing the discussion. The Ports Secretariat

closely monitor developments. If the TCU ministers reject the explanations and prevent the use of EBP studies to bid for new leases in the sector, tenders for terminals in the ports of Santos and Pará – the first in line – are compromised and may no longer take place in 2014. Therefore, the issue is handled with absolute care by the Planalto Palace.

Now, the government's desire is not to have the EBP solely responsible. According to reports from business sources, denied by the Ministry of Transport, the request to builders is precisely aimed at creating an environment of competition. Feasibility studies define the minimum investment, demand projections and the maximum price for the auctions.

In the case of Rio-Niterói, the list of candidates to prepare them includes groups with shareholdings from large contractors, such as CCR, Invepar, Odebrecht, Ecorodovias, Queiroz Galvão, Cowan and Carioca Christiani. The Global Project Company, Planos Engenharia and Proficiente Construções also performed. EBP completes the list. If approved by the ministry, one or more companies will be able to carry out the studies, which should be ready within 120 days. The winner of the auction reimburses the authors of the studies, at no cost to the Union.