Government is to create a website where contractors can bid for work on an "equal" footing.

The Ministry of Works and Engineering's $71 million budget for 2009-2010 will include funding for an Internet bidding system.

Deputy Premier and Finance Minister Paula Cox said yesterday: "The further development of a web-based bidding system in the coming year will assist in equal bidding opportunities for all contractors seeking Government work."

No further information was available last night.

It was also announced yesterday that Government intends to push ahead with a replacement structure for the Causeway.

The Structures Section of the Ministry is to "progress the required geotechnical investigation for the New Crossing initiative (that is, the replacement Causeway) and oversee the required Environmental Impact Study".

Government is to seek a public-private partnership to fund the project.

Derrick Burgess, Minister of Works and Engineering, said: "As we recall Monday evening's closure of the Causeway during the extremely bad weather conditions, we appreciate even more the need for the New Crossing.

"Government is considering a PPP (Public Private Partnership) mode of funding for this important capital project and it is hoped that an architectural design will be produced soon."

Also announced yesterday was a joint initiative by the Ministry of Works and Engineering and the Ministry of Finance, to assist graduates of the Bermuda Small Business Development Corporation's Incubator Programme. A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed to allocate $1 million to their start-up companies.

Government also wants to second engineers, architects and surveyors from the private sector to assist in its projects.

Ms Cox said yesterday: "The Ministry of Works and Engineering is exploring a number of strategies designed to attract greater numbers of suitably qualified and experienced professional engineers, architects and surveyors.

"For example, the Department of Architectural Design and Construction, with an operational budget of $1.5 million, is working with local private sector firms to second staff that would otherwise be laid-off during this particularly challenging period.

"This holds a number of benefits, including that the private sector firms can offer a short-term employment opportunity to their current staff while Government can deliver its projects by using experienced resources that are already familiar with Bermuda's processes."

Meanwhile, people could be charged for depositing waste at the Airport and Marsh Folly sites. The Solid Waste Section is to explore "a 'user-pay' charging system for waste disposal".

Staff will also expand the e-waste programme, introduce a scrap metal recycling programme, and start an "in-vessel compost concept" aimed at recycling horticultural waste. During the coming year, the Water/Sewage Section of the Department of Operations and Engineering will also complete its computerised water metering system, to track customer billing and water usage. Upgrades to the St. George's Water Truckers' Outlet and to the Devon Springs and Prospect reverse osmosis plants are also in the pipeline. The 2009/10 Works and Engineering budget of $71,492,000 marks a cut of almost $5 million on the $76,450,000 for 2008/09.