A pre-bid meeting for the SMART rehabilitation of the Canaries Wellness Centre was held recently and provided potential bidders with an opportunity to gain a better understanding of the scope of work, details of the project and requirements for submitting a bid.
The Ministry of Finance also collaborated with the Ministry of Health and made a presentation on the bidding process.
Project Officer for the OECS Regional Health Project Jacqueline Matthew-Fevrier said this meeting is important as it gives the prospective bidders first-hand information on the works expected to be undertaken and also highlighted that this is the first of many meetings.
“Canaries is the first wellness centre that will be made into a SMART facility under the project. The project will be target 14 wellness centres across the island. A similar process will be followed for the other wellness centres. When we move into the next facility, the tenders will be advertised, potential contractors will be invited to the pre-bid meeting which will be followed with a walk-through of the facility.”
Fevrier also highlighted that work has started with engagement of the internal stakeholders such as the Community Nursing Service and staff members at the Canaries Wellness Centre. She also says the hope is to commence engagement with residents of the community at the soonest.
“In the coming months, we will be engaging the residents of the community. Consultations will be held with residents of Canaries, giving them an idea of work that will be done at their wellness centre. You want to appreciate that this wellness centre is the only health facility in the area, in the Canaries area. So, we have to inform the users of the facility where they can seek care, what alternative or avenues that will be available to access the services that they received at the wellness centre.”
The Project Officer also says there is an opportunity for potential contractors to bid on the rehabilitation works for the wellness centres, and explained the bidding process.
“Bidding for the implementation of SMART works at the wellness centres would require potential contractors to go through the e-procurement portal of the Ministry of Finance. From that portal, the bidding documents can be accessible. The bid submission can also be uploaded on the portal. All of the information is readily available on the portal and it allows you to submit your final bid document on the portal as well.”
Following the pre-bid meeting, a site visit of the Canaries Wellness Centre was undertaken to allow the potential contractors an opportunity to see the work expected to be done at the wellness centre and what the centre looks like.
The SMART rehabilitation of the wellness centres will be funded through the World Bank under the OECS Regional Health Project.
