The ministry made the request in a report to the government following an audit of the contractor selection process for the Binh Phuoc section of the Ho Chi Minh City - Thu Dau Mot - Chon Thanh highway. Son Hai Group Co., Ltd., one of the five bidders, filed a complaint after being disqualified despite submitting the lowest bid.
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Rendering of the Ho Chi Minh City - Thu Dau Mot - Chon Thanh highway through Binh Phuoc. Photo: Investor |
Rendering of the Ho Chi Minh City - Thu Dau Mot - Chon Thanh highway through Binh Phuoc. Photo: Investor
The construction contract, valued at over 880 billion VND, is part of a larger project totaling nearly 1,500 billion VND for the 7-km section through Binh Phuoc. Following the bid opening on 17/3, the Truong Son - Thanh Phat consortium was awarded the contract for 845.4 billion VND, nearly 36 billion VND below the estimated cost.
However, the four other bidders, including Son Hai, which submitted the lowest bid of approximately 732.2 billion VND, were disqualified for not meeting technical requirements. The investor stated the companies did not meet the criteria for building information modeling (BIM), material and equipment supply capabilities, and construction machinery.
After reviewing the documents, the ministry of finance agreed that using BIM during construction aligns with digitalization goals. However, it emphasized that the investor is responsible for ensuring the initial BIM evaluation criteria are clear and transparent to avoid misunderstandings. The investor must also review the expert panel's evaluation to ensure it aligns with the bidding documents and contractor proposals.
Regarding the disqualification based on machinery and equipment, the ministry stated that evaluating related documents requires adherence to multiple regulations and consultation with specialized agencies. Therefore, the ministry could not yet determine whether the disqualification was justified.
The ministry confirmed the three members of the expert evaluation panel all held valid professional licenses until at least 10/2028.
To expedite the project, the ministry of finance has asked the government to direct Binh Phuoc province to review these issues and make a final decision regarding the contractor selection, assuming full responsibility. The province should also promptly address Son Hai's complaint, ensuring adherence to regulations and preventing losses, waste, or misconduct. The province was also advised to consult relevant ministries to clarify technical documents, particularly those related to safety and the environment.
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Route of the Ho Chi Minh City - Thu Dau Mot - Chon Thanh highway. Graphics: Do Nam |
Route of the Ho Chi Minh City - Thu Dau Mot - Chon Thanh highway. Graphics: Do Nam
The nearly 69-km Ho Chi Minh City - Thu Dau Mot - Chon Thanh highway consists of a 53-km section through Binh Duong, a 7-km section through Binh Phuoc, and a section in Ho Chi Minh City that has not yet begun construction. The highway will significantly reduce travel time between Ho Chi Minh City and Binh Phuoc compared to the current 120-km route along National Highway 13.
Construction on the Binh Phuoc section began in 12/2024, while the Binh Duong section commenced in 2/2025.
Giang Anh - Phuoc Tuan
