The Long Thanh International Airport and Binh Phuoc Expressway: How Son Hai’s Bids Fell Short Twice, Creating Waves for Failing to Meet Technical Requirements

On May 26, 2025, Son Hai Corporation sent a letter to the Binh Phuoc Province Investment and Construction Project Management Board, protesting the bid results for the construction package of the Ho Chi Minh City – Thu Dau Mot – Chon Thanh expressway, which passes through Binh Phuoc Province.

According to Son Hai, the bid opening announcement on March 17, 2025, stated that the package value was over VND 880 billion. Among the participating bidders, Son Hai offered the lowest price – over VND 732 billion, saving the state budget more than VND 148 billion, equivalent to a discount rate of nearly 17%.

Other units offered lower discounts, such as Cienco4 (over 9%), IB2500057961 Joint Venture (8.7%), Binh Phuoc Expressway Joint Venture (5%), and Ho Chi Minh City-TDM-CT Expressway Joint Venture (1.62%).

When the results were announced on May 22, 2025, the winning bidder was the Ho Chi Minh City-TDM-CT Joint Venture, the bidder with the highest bid price of over VND 866 billion.

A representative of Son Hai Corporation stated that they were “surprised” by the investor’s decision, especially since other well-known contractors such as Cienco4, Vinaconex, Deo Ca, and Son Hai itself were disqualified for “failing to meet technical requirements.”

“We have committed in our E-HSDT to the longest warranty period of 10 years, offered the lowest bid price, and saved the most for the state budget, yet we were not chosen,” Son Hai’s statement said.

The corporation also affirmed that it had carried out many large-scale projects, including important transportation infrastructure, delivering high-quality products recognized by the people.

Currently, Son Hai requests the Binh Phuoc Provincial People’s Committee and relevant authorities to intervene and ensure compliance with the Bidding Law.

Previously, at package No. 4.7 “Construction and installation of aircraft parking works, passenger terminal, and other works” of Component 3 of the Long Thanh International Airport project (phase 1), the Deo Ca Joint Venture, consisting of 8 companies, had repeatedly submitted documents protesting the Vietnam Airport Corporation (ACV) for disqualifying the joint venture from the package.

It is known that the package is valued at over VND 6,300 billion, with 2 joint ventures participating.

Joint Venture 1 (Deo Ca Joint Venture) consists of 8 contractors, led by Deo Ca Corporation. The remaining members of Joint Venture 1 include Deo Ca Construction Joint Stock Company, Deo Ca Transport Infrastructure Investment Joint Stock Company, Lizen Joint Stock Company, Thang Long Corporation – JSC, Hoang Long Investment and Construction Joint Stock Company, Hoa Hiep Private Enterprise, and Son Hai Group Joint Stock Company.

Joint Venture 2 comprises 6 contractors: ACC Airport Construction Corporation, Truong Son Construction Corporation, Vietnam Export and Import Corporation, Vietnam Development and Investment Construction Joint Stock Company, Cienco 4 Corporation, and Aviation Construction Company Six Four Seven.

The Deo Ca-led joint venture was disqualified for “failing to meet technical requirements.” Specifically, ACV stated that Hoang Long Investment and Construction Joint Stock Company (national bidding network code: vn2800177056), a member of the joint venture, had been suspended on the system from June 30, 2024 (due to late fee payment) until the approval of the list of bidders. It is known that contractors are required to pay an annual fee of VND 330,000. This fee is used to maintain the name and capacity profile when participating in bidding.

ACV stated that the bidder did not meet the condition specified in item f of CDNT 5. Legal qualifications of the bidder are not in a state of temporary suspension or termination of participation in the system.

On behalf of Joint Venture 2, Deo Ca Corporation has continuously submitted complaints and petitions to ACV, asserting that Hoang Long Company meets the legal qualifications according to the Bidding Law, and requesting ACV to evaluate Joint Venture 2 as meeting the technical evaluation requirements.

Deo Ca argued that Hoang Long Company had complied with item d, point 1, Article 5 of the Bidding Law: “Having a name on the national bidding network before the approval of the bid selection results, investors.”

Deo Ca Corporation also sent a document to the Bidding Management Department, Ministry of Planning and Investment, for guidance on the legal qualifications of the bidder.

In response to Deo Ca’s document, on August 15, the Bidding Management Department stated: “A bidder (an organization) that meets all the conditions stipulated in Clause 1, Article 5 of the Bidding Law shall be considered to meet the legal qualification requirements when participating in bidding for packages not subject to online bidding within the scope of adjustment of this Law. The requirement in the invitation to bid that the bidder ‘is not in a state of temporary suspension or termination of participation in the system’ to ensure legal qualifications as in the case of online bidding is not appropriate.”

Meanwhile, in response to Deo Ca, ACV affirmed that it had acted in accordance with the law.

Subsequently, ACV officially announced the bid results for Package No. 4.7, with the winning bidder being the Joint Venture between ACC Airport Construction Corporation, Truong Son Construction Corporation, Vietnam Export and Import Corporation, Vietnam Development and Investment Construction Joint Stock Company, Cienco 4 Corporation, and Aviation Construction Company Six Four Seven.