The two remaining teams vying for the 拢500m Leeds Supertram scheme submitted their bids this week.
Leeds council said on Monday that the Airelink team, including Amec and the Momentis consortium, which includes French contractor Bouygues and Jarvis, had submitted "strong bids".

The contract to design, build, operate and maintain a 28 km tram network linking Leeds centre with outlying suburbs has been beset by problems this year.

A team including Amey and Bechtel pulled out in July after a dispute over bid costs. The companies wanted to be reimbursed before continuing with their tenders but the council refused. Another team including Mowlem withdrew in May.

The council said the two remaining bids would be evaluated before the teams submitted their best and final offer. The deal is expected to be signed by late 2003 with work on the network starting in 2004. The system is due to be fully operational by 2008.