The Oficina para el Reordenamiento del Transporte (Opret) announced on Tuesday that it has published the procurement processes for maintenance of the Santo Domingo Metro and the Santo Domingo cable car, according to Diario Libre. The contracts would run for four years, while the cost estimates cover a ten-year planning horizon.
According to Opret, the technical specifications, maintenance plans and economic estimates are available on the Public Procurement and Contracting Portal. The agency said the measures aim to guarantee the safety and continuity of both transport systems.
Opret clarified that the ten-year horizon reflects the need to anticipate technical interventions that will not necessarily take place within the contract period. The projections therefore do not represent hiring commitments for a decade.
Planned work
The planned works include replacing the cable car cables, estimated to occur between years seven and eight depending on wear. Major maintenance of the trains is scheduled every 900,000 kilometres travelled. Interventions are also foreseen in traction cells, communication cabinets and other components essential to the operation of the infrastructure.
Companies involved
In a press document, Opret indicated that the companies taking part in the processes are Alstom, Siemens, Hitachi, formerly Thales, and Sofratesa, which were part of the Eurodom I and II consortia that built the Santo Domingo Metro. For the cable car, the company Poma is listed.
The agency said the procedures are exceptional, due to the technical characteristics of the infrastructure and the need for manufacturers and specialised companies for the equipment, spare parts and services required. Opret noted that some of these companies have worked on installation and maintenance since construction, which gives them accumulated technical knowledge of their systems.
Transfer to EMT in 2027
Opret said it is carrying out the procedures as the contracting entity during the current stage of institutional transition. Under Decree No. 60-26, from 1 January 2027 the Empresa Metropolitana de Transporte (EMT) will take over the legal continuity of the maintenance contracts through the transfer mechanisms established.
The agency stated that these processes aim to protect the State's investment and ensure that users continue to have safe and reliable public transport.