Shikoku Regional Development Bureau bids for Yoshihara River Bridge No. 4

The Shikoku Regional Development Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism announced in the government procurement section of the Official Gazette Extra edition dated October 5, 2026, that the FY2026/2028 Tsushima Road Yoshihara River Bridge No. 4 Superstructure Work will be subject to general competitive bidding. The bid opening will take place on November 26, 2026, at 13:00 in Conference Room 415, 4th Floor, Shikoku Regional Development Bureau Headquarters. The expenditure authorizing officer for this announcement is Akihisa Okuda, Director General of the Shikoku Regional Development Bureau.

The target project is bridge superstructure work located at Kamihataji, Tsushima-cho, Uwajima City, Ehime Prefecture. The scope of work consists of one set of steel simple narrow box girder bridge with a project length of L=220m and a bridge length of L=78.5m. The construction period is set at 760 days from the start date; if the end date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, public holiday, or New Year holiday, the end date shall be the next business day following the holiday. The procurement agency number is 020, the location number is 37, and the item classification number is 41.

Schedule from Bid Briefing to Bid Opening and Participation Procedures

• Bid Briefing: October 23, 2026, at 11:00, Conference Room 405, 4th Floor, Shikoku Regional Development Bureau Headquarters (Bid specifications will be distributed directly at the briefing)
• Bidding/Bid Opening: November 26, 2026, at 13:00, Conference Room 415, 4th Floor, Headquarters
• Acceptance of Applications for Confirmation of Competitive Participation Qualifications: From October 6, 2026, to November 10, 2026 (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays)
• Obtaining Application Forms: From October 5, 2026, at the Investigation Section, Contract Division, General Affairs Department, Shikoku Regional Development Bureau (3-33 Sunport, Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture, Tel: 087-851-8061)
• Submission of Applications: In principle, submitted via email (skr-shikaku@mlit.go.jp); seals/stamps are not required
• Those who have not yet been certified for general competitive participation qualifications may apply, provided that certification and confirmation of qualifications are obtained by the time of the bid opening

Bidding will, in principle, be conducted via the electronic bidding system, and the exchange of documents for contract procedures will also, in principle, be handled via the electronic contract system. The creation of a written contract is required, and bid bonds and contract performance bonds are waived. Contract performance bonds may be waived through payment to the Bank of Japan, Takamatsu Branch, provision of interest-bearing government bonds, guarantees from financial institutions or guarantee companies, guarantees via public works performance guarantee bonds, or the conclusion of performance guarantee insurance contracts.

Award Method Emphasizing Comprehensive Evaluation and Construction Systems

This project is subject to the Comprehensive Evaluation Award Method (Technical Proposal Evaluation Type), where the successful bidder is determined by a comprehensive evaluation of price and non-price factors. It is also a pilot project for the Construction System Confirmation Type Comprehensive Evaluation Method, which verifies and evaluates the systems for ensuring quality and construction capacity, and low-bid price investigations will be applied. Additionally, the Post-Contract VE method (accepting proposals for construction methods etc. after contract conclusion) and the Total Price Contract Unit Price Agreement method (to facilitate smooth contract change negotiations) will be piloted.

Technical Requirements for Productivity Improvement and ICT Utilization

• ICT utilization works (Contractor-requested Type II) aimed at the full-scale utilization of ICT (Structural Engineering = Bridge Superstructure) based on i-Construction.
• BIM/CIM application works (Client-designated type, 3D data provided).
• Recommended model works for the utilization of the Construction Career Up System.
• Trial works for productivity improvement challenges, where technical proposals regarding construction efficiency and ICT utilization are required as mandatory proposals.
• Trial works for a flexible holiday system; if the number of full closure days exceeds the number of days for a full five-day work week (Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays), a certificate of achievement will be issued.
• Trial works providing a long-term warranty against corrosion (rust) and peeling in the painting of girder ends for steel bridge superstructures.
• The assignment of a Special Managing Engineer under the provisions of Article 26, Paragraph 3, Item 2 of the Construction Business Act is not permitted.
• Separate demolition and recycling of specified construction material waste are mandatory based on the “Act on Recycling of Materials from Construction Work” (Act No. 104 of 2000).

The Margin Period Method (Optional Start Method) is adopted, allowing the contractor to set the start date of the construction period arbitrarily. The margin period specified by the client is from the day following the contract conclusion date until March 1, 2027. During the margin period, it is not necessary to assign the planned engineers, and preparations for materials not delivered to the site can be made; however, commencement of work, such as the delivery of materials or installation of temporary structures, is not permitted. If a contract is not concluded within the margin period due to low-bid price investigations or other reasons, the margin period will not apply, and the construction completion deadline will be March 30, 2029.

On the same date, the Bureau also posted the Public Notice Regarding Qualifications for Competitive Participants for this project, clarifying the application method for qualifications as a Specified Construction Joint Venture. For construction companies that meet the requirements for bridge superstructure construction experience and engineer assignment, this represents an opportunity to secure public civil engineering works within the Shikoku region.

Sources

• Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Shikoku Regional Development Bureau, “Bid Announcement (Construction Work),” dated October 5, 2026 (Official Gazette Extra Government Procurement, Expenditure Authorized Officer: Director General of Shikoku Regional Development Bureau, Akihisa Okuda, Procurement Agency No. 020, Location No. 37, Item Classification No. 41).
• Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Shikoku Regional Development Bureau, “Public Notice Regarding Qualifications for Competitive Participants,” dated October 5, 2026 (Project Name: FY2026/2027 Tsushima Road Yoshibaragawa Bridge No. 4 Superstructure Work).