Two companies competing for the job of designing and building the $600 million Ruataniwha Water Storage Scheme in Hawke's Bay have submitted their bids.
The two are a French-based contractor and a Spanish-New Zealand joint venture.
Hawke's Bay Regional Council says an expert selection panel will spend the next couple of months assessing the bids, which will provide detailed costings and give farmers a more accurate price for water from the dam.
Farmers have been waiting to see what the cost of the water will be before committing to the project.
