The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) on Thursday announced the bidding for the P41-million Metro Manila Urban Transportation Integration Study (MMUTIS) Update and Capacity Enhancement Project (MUCEP).

The transportation database for Metro Manila, which was developed under the MMUTIS for 1996, has to be updated to support the development of traffic demand forecasts. The forecasts will be used to develop a public transportation plan for Metro Mania and the adjoining provinces of Laguna, Cavite, Rizal and Bulacan.

For 2011, the DOTC placed losses caused by traffic at P137.5 billion.

The DOTC will fund a Housedhold Interview Survey, which aims to capture current traffic conditions based on passenger trip pattern and to get public opinion on transportation development. Survey results are expected to support the ongoing MMUTIS Update and Capacity Enhancement Project in improving public transport planning for Metro Manila.

The department has also started looking for the submission of eligible documents for the MUCEP Survey. It said that interested consultants must acquire the eligibility documents after the payment of P5,000 and submit their eligibility documents on or before January 18, 2013, 9 a.m. at the DOTC Multi-Purpose Hall.

The Transport and Communications department said that applications for eligibility will be evaluated based on non-discretionary “pass/fall” criteria.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedure using non-discretionary “pass-fall” criterion, as specified in the revised guidelines for Republic Act 9184, or An Act Providing for the Modernization, Standardization and Regulation of the Procurement Activities of the Government and for Other Purposes.

The DOTC shall evaluate bids using the Quality-Cost Based/Section. The department shall indicate the weights to be allocated for the technical and financial proposals. The criteria and rating for the evaluation of bids shall be provided in the instruction to bidders.

According to the DOTC, the contract shall be completed within six months from the date of the notice to proceed.