Chile launches tender to assess infrastructure at state-owned ports

Chile has launched a tender process to carry out a comprehensive survey of the condition of infrastructure across its state-owned port system, focusing on a first phase of technical diagnosis and evaluation rather than construction works.

The call seeks to hire an initial assessment designed to characterize the functional condition and state of preservation of key port assets through a review of records, visual inspections, non-intrusive technical checks and specialized engineering criteria.

The goal is to deliver an integrated technical diagnosis of the state-owned port system’s infrastructure, with a primary focus on berths, regardless of whether they operate under concession agreements or multi-operator regimes. The final report may recommend deeper follow-on studies, but any potential second phase is not included in this tender.

According to the tender terms, the consultant must assess observable functional condition, identify defects and deterioration, corrosion and wear, estimate remaining useful life for relevant components and propose preventive and corrective maintenance guidelines prioritized by risk and criticality. The work must also identify conceptual needs for preservation and rehabilitation, summarize technical gaps relevant to safety and operational continuity, and evaluate the adequacy and reliability of available information for future decision-making.

Scope of the review

The study will cover infrastructure and systems defined by each state-owned port company. The tender explicitly cites berth structures, terminals and piers, breakwaters and protective works, pavements, port-operation buildings, electrical installations, water and sanitation systems, as well as other assets specified in the terms of reference.

The awarded consultant will be required to conduct on-site inspections at each included port and review historical maintenance documentation, current preservation programs, “as-built” plans where available, and prior technical reports from both the state-owned port companies and concessionaires.

Deliverables include a preliminary and a final report for each port, to be presented to the respective boards, as well as a consolidated executive report for the State Port System (SEP) if requested.

Two groups, seven companies

The tender is structured around two groups of state-owned port companies. Group 1 includes Empresa Portuaria Arica, Empresa Portuaria Iquique and Empresa Portuaria Antofagasta. Group 2 includes Empresa Portuaria Coquimbo, Empresa Portuaria Valparaíso, Empresa Portuaria San Antonio and Empresa Portuaria Talcahuano-San Vicente.

Bidders must submit an offer for each group. The consultancies may be awarded separately, or both may be awarded to the same bidder, provided the bidder demonstrates independent teams capable of executing the work simultaneously.

The structure indicates the study will cover a significant share of Chile’s state-owned port network, and that the expected outcome is not only a snapshot of physical conditions but also comparable inputs across ports to support investment and management decisions.

Timeline and participation rules

The tender is scheduled to be published on March 30, 2026. The sale and delivery of background documentation runs from March 30 to April 10, with questions accepted through April 13. Responses and clarifications are due on April 17.

Bids must be submitted by 12:00 p.m. on April 28, 2026, with the bid-opening session set for the same day at 4:00 p.m. Technical and financial evaluation is expected in the first half of May, and the award notification is scheduled for May 2026.

Why it matters for port investment plans

The rationale for the study is explicit in the tender terms: state-owned port companies need an up-to-date, systematic and technically robust diagnosis to plan investments in preservation, replacement and upgrades.

The assessment is intended to verify the current condition of key infrastructure, identify gaps against technical, safety and regulatory standards, and provide objective inputs for maintenance programs and future berth tenders.

Beyond the procurement process itself, the tender opens a comprehensive review of assets that underpin the operability of Chile’s state-owned port system. Its findings could become a roadmap for prioritizing interventions, structuring investments and anticipating new requirements for critical infrastructure across some of the country’s main logistics hubs.

Fonte: DataPortuaria

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