Saudi Arabia eyes consolidating project consultancy services: report

Saudi Arabia is planning to issue tenders to consolidate consultancy services for government infrastructure projects in the coming months, Reuters reported, citing unnamed government sources.

The request for proposals are being finalised and tendering, worth millions of dollars, is expected to start in coming months, with five-year contracts to be awarded by the end of 2018.

The Kingdom plans to hire a consultancy at each ministry or state entity to supervise its projects and train Saudi nationals to build the local capabilities to manage the projects going forward.

Recognized regional and foreign consultants with expertise in international project management are expected to win the contracts.     

Though the total value of the contracts has not been finalised, a source told Reuters that the contract his ministry is planning to tender could reach SAR 5 billion ($1.3 billion).

UK-based consultancy firm Faithful+Gould said in January that Saudi Arabia is likely to award infrastructure contracts worth $35 billion across government sectors this year.