The transport company has once again selected the winner for the construction of part of metro line D, and it is Subterra once again

Prague - The Prague Public Transport Company (DPP) has reevaluated the tender for the construction of the second section of metro line D and has selected the winner of the contract, which has once again become the consortium led by Subterra, with a price of approximately 30 billion crowns excluding VAT. This was announced by DPP's press department head Daniel Šabík. The selection of the contractor was previously canceled by DPP after complaints from the consortium of PORR, VINCI, and Marti (PVM) that was excluded from the tender; after reevaluation and taking into account new information, the DPP states that Subterra's offer is the most advantageous. PORR and VINCI criticize DPP's decision, while Subterra stated that it views it as a confirmation of the quality of its offer.

The tender concerns a section of the new line from Olbrachtova to Nové Dvory. Last year, PVM challenged the selection of the consortium led by Subterra at the Office for the Protection of Competition (ÚOHS), among other reasons, due to alleged errors in the references of the winner. The Prague Public Transport Company subsequently canceled the selection of the contract winner but not the tender itself. Today, according to Šabík, the board of the company decided on a new contractor selection based on the unanimous recommendation of the evaluation committee.

"To address the new facts arising from the submitted objections, DPP has secured new materials and information. Based on an exceptionally detailed review of the bidders' offers and additional expert and legal analyses, DPP has again made a decision in the matter," said DPP Director and Chairman of the Board Petr Witowski today.

"Today's decision by DPP confirmed the position that Subterra a.s. has maintained since the very beginning, that our offer is of high quality and meets the requirements of the contracting authority in all respects. We also see it as confirmation of the correctness of our arguments, which we used to refute the unjustified claims made against its validity," said Subterra spokesperson Vladislav Beneš regarding DPP's decision.

On the other hand, companies represented in the PVM consortium criticize the company's approach. "Our offer was not only more economically advantageous but also supported by many years of international experience, for example, in building the metro in Vienna," stated PORR spokesperson Jana Mašínová. She added that the company's step raises doubts about the transparency of the tender. "We are forced to defend against the decision and use all available legal means," she stated.

VINCI spokesperson Iveta Štočková told ČTK that although the company's representatives have not yet reviewed the justification for the selection in detail, DPP's step confirms their belief that the company is trying to select the more expensive offer from Subterra of the Metrostav group at any cost. "We will therefore be very interested in what has changed in the Metrostav group's offer to the extent that it now meets DPP's requirements again," added the spokesperson. According to the company, the flaws must have remained the same because offers cannot be supplemented afterward.

The second evaluated bid was submitted by a consortium led by STRABAG. Šabík added that of the suggestions the ÚOHS received concerning the contract, the office is now only dealing with the last one filed by PVM due to its exclusion from the tender.

Construction of the new metro line began in 2022. A one-kilometer section between the stations Pankrác and Olbrachtova is under construction and is to be linked with the currently addressed section from Olbrachtova to Nové Dvory. Furthermore, a section from Nové Dvory to the Písnice Depot will be built. The original completion assumption was set for 2029, but due to disputes, it will likely be postponed, with commissioning expected in 2031.