Invitation to Bid: Education Quality Improvement Project

The Government of Saint Lucia (GOSL) has received financing from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) towards the cost of the Education Quality Improvement Project (the Project) and intends to apply a portion of the proceeds of this financing to eligible payments under this contract. Payment by CDB will be made only at the request of (GOSL) and upon approval by CDB, and will be subject, in all respects, to the terms and conditions of the Financing Agreement. The Financing Agreement prohibits withdrawal from the financing account for the purpose of any payment to persons or entities, or for any import of goods, if such payment or import, to the knowledge of CDB, is prohibited by a decision of the United Nations Security Council taken under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations. No party other than (GOSL) shall derive any rights from the Financing Agreement or have any claim to the proceeds of the Financing.

The Project is being implemented by the Ministry of Education, Sustainable Development, Innovation, Science, Technology and Vocational Training (Ministry of Education) through its Project Coordinating Unit. The Ministry of Education has contracted Consultants who have prepared designs and tender documentation and will assist in tender administration and evaluation and supervise Project activities.

The Ministry of Education now invites sealed bids from eligible bidders for EQuIP007.5 – SALCC Southern Extension Renovation and Extension. The works include, but are not limited to the following:

The repairs and renovation of an existing 6,700 sq. ft. building and the new construction of a two-storey reinforced concrete building of approximate total floor space of 1,939 sq. ft. of school teaching and administration space. The facility, which is to house the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College Southern Campus, includes an external area, drainage, wheelchair and pedestrian accesses to building, HVAC system and rainwater harvesting system.

Consideration will be limited to firms or joint ventures of firms, which are legally incorporated or otherwise organised in, and have their principal place of business in an eligible country and are either:

1. more than fifty (50) percent beneficially owned by a citizen or citizens and/or a bona fide resident or residents of an eligible country, or by a body corporate or bodies meeting these requirements, as far as the ownership can be reasonably determined; or

• owned or controlled by the Government of an eligible country provided that it is legally and financially autonomous and operated under the commercial law of an eligible country and otherwise meets the eligibility requirements of the CDB Guidelines for Procurement (2006).

Eligible countries are member countries of CDB

Eligible bidders will be required to submit full qualification information with their bids establishing their eligibility to bid and qualification to perform the contract if the bid is accepted. Tender and qualification information are to be submitted in the English Language on the prescribed forms inserted in the Bid Documents. Submissions that do not provide the information required, or do not demonstrate the prospective contractor’s ability to perform satisfactorily, will not qualify and will not be considered for further evaluation.

Qualification requirements include, inter alia:

1. an average annual turnover (defined as certified payments received for works in progress or completed) within the last seven (7) years of at least five million Eastern Caribbean dollars (XCD 5,000,000.00);

• a demonstrable cash flow (including access to credit) of seven hundred fifty thousand Eastern Caribbean dollars (XCD 750,000.00); and

• experience as prime contractor in the construction of at least two (2) assignments of a nature, scope and complexity comparable to the proposed project activity within the last seven (7) years (to comply with this requirement, works quoted should be at least 80 percent complete).

Applicants who require Bidding Documents must first access and register on Government of Saint Lucia Procurement Portal via the link below:

https://goslprocurement.govt.lc

Applications through the procurement portal must be clearly marked: “Request for Bidding Documents for the EQuIP007.5 – SALCC Southern Extension Renovation and Extension” after registration on the portal. along with the name, address and contact information of the bidder for which Bidding Documents are being requested.

Bid documents will be available on the portal from August 17, 2022 Requests for clarification on the Bidding Documents must be submitted to the first address below.

Bidders who have registered on the portal shall make their submissions via the portal. Submissions clearly marked “Bid for EQuIP007.5 – SALCC Southern Extension Renovation and Extension” must be received via the portal not later than 9:30 A.M. Eastern Caribbean Time on 28 September 2022.  The detailed bid submission process is contained in the Tender Document. Queries on the use of the portal must be submitted to the second address below. Bid opening will take place 10:00 hours Saint Lucia Time on the same day of the deadline for submission at the second address below via a zoom link in the presence of the bidder’s representative who chooses to attend. Queries on the use of the portal must be submitted to the second address below. Qualification information only must be simultaneously submitted to the third address below.

Late bids will be rejected.

The Ministry of Education reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, and to annul the process and reject all bids, at any time prior to award of contract, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected prospective bidder(s) or any obligation to inform the affected prospective bidder(s) of the grounds for the Ministry of Education’s action. The Ministry of Education will not defray any costs incurred by any bidder in the preparation of bids.

1. Address for Correspondence:

Project Coordinator, Education Quality

Improvement Project (EQuIP),

Ministry of Education, Sustainable Development

Innovation, Science, Technology and Vocational Training

2nd Floor Hasache Complex

Morne Road, Goodlands

Castries

SAINT LUCIA

West Indies

Telephone: +1 (758) 721-5274

Email: equipprojectslu@gmail.com

2.  Address for Assistance required with the use of the Portal

Naomi St. Remy

Procurement Administration Unit

Ministry of Finance

Point Seraphine

Castries

SAINT LUCIA

West Indies

Telephone: +1 (758) 468-6406

Email: public.procurement@govt.lc

3.  Address for Qualification Information ONLY:

Procurement Officer

Caribbean Development Bank

BARBADOS

E-mail: procurement@caribank.org

• Address for Bid Opening

The Secretary

Central Public Procurement Board

Point Seraphine

Third Floor, Ministry of Finance

Castries

SAINT LUCIA

West Indies

Telephone: +1(758) 468-6406

Email: public.procurement@govt.lc