A contractor is due to be appointed by Liverpool City Council in September, with works starting in autumn 2013 on the 80,000 sq ft hall space plus support, circulation and servicing areas.
According to construction information specialist Glenigan the project has attracted bids from BAM Construct, Gilbert Ash (NI), ISG Regions, McAleer & Rushe and Vinci Construction.
The £40m contract to deliver Exhibition Centre Liverpool is due to completed in late 2014. The building will offer 80,000sq ft of space, which can be divided into three separate 27,000 sq ft halls.
The ECL will be located next to ACC Liverpool, home to BT Convention Centre and Echo Arena in the Kings Dock and is planned to open early in 2015.
Bob Prattey, chief executive of ACC Liverpool, said: “ACC Liverpool will become the only purpose-built interconnected arena, convention centre and exhibition facility in the UK so this is a sizeable project for us and for the city, all of which will enhance the waterfront.
“The development, with its flexibility, interconnectivity with our existing facilities and progressive technology, will ensure that Liverpool continues to move towards becoming one of Europe’s leading destinations for large-scale conferences, exhibitions and events.”