The second rail track project envisages archeological research activities in the areas of Dekani and Osp. Two archeological sites have been identified there - Buševca and Špina. Among the bidders to do the excavation work, in April last year the Slovenian Infrastructure Agency chose the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage and the University of Primorska. The two institutions were prepared to do the archeological research work for around one million euros.
Also hoping to win the contract was the Faculty of Arts. Because its application was rejected it decided to appeal the decision. The National Review Commission acknowledged its arguments and annulled the decision of the Infrastructure Agency. But later, the agency once again decided that the best offer was given by the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage and the University of Primorska

What followed was a new appeal by the Faculty of Arts and a second annulment of the public procurement procedure. Can the site preparation work for the second rail track begin without the archeologists? The Infrastructure Agency says no. The required archeological excavation work has to be done before the start of any construction work, while archeological research activities may be carried out during construction work.

The period of performance for the excavation and research work is 730 days from the signing of the contract. If the public procurement procedure for archeological works, worth the one million euros, has been dragging on for one year now, many people are starting to wonder how long it will take to choose the main contractor for the construction of the second rail track.