THE Office of the President has sent out invitation for bids for the One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) project that the government intends to use as a tool to empower the population for the world of Information Communication Technology (ICT). Bids are invited from eligible and qualified bidders for the supply of Netbooks/Laptops, and the bidding process will be conducted through the International Competitive Bidding (ICB) procedures.
Bidders are required to submit, as part of their bid, valid certificates of compliance from the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) for bidding companies registered in Guyana.
International bidding companies will have to provide same for their valid authorised representatives registered in Guyana.
Additionally, should an international bidding company not have representation in Guyana, it will confirm in writing, as part of its bid, to provide copies of the NIS certificates of its local authorised representative once the representative has been established within 21 days of signing of contract.
Other requirements include manufacturer’s authorization for supply of items with contact information to validate authorisation, bid security, audited financial statement for the past three available years preceding the year of the bid, and product brochures.
Documentary evidence to demonstrate that the company and/or agent has been in business of supplying similar equipment and has an office in Guyana to facilitate technical support, after sales service and warranty enforcement when needed, is another requirement.
March 29 is the deadline for submission of the tenders to the Chairman National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NP&TAB), Ministry of Finance Building.
Bid documents can be uplifted from Senior Project Manager of the One Laptop Per Family Project, Sesh Sukhdeo, at 110 Barrack and Duke Streets, Kingston.
The 2011 National Budget allocated $1.8B for the OLPF which is spearheaded by Sukhdeo and includes a committee of stakeholders responsible for the roll out of the programme.
Within two years, 90,000 families, particularly poor families, are expected to be owners of the devices; and with the assistance of professional trainers, all are expected to be versed in the use of a computer.
President Jagdeo said, “We are targeting every member of the family, from the child to the grandparents, everyone.”
If implemented well, President Jagdeo expressed confidence that the programme will lead to a major transformation in the lives of many Guyanese as the world of opportunities will be open to them. In this regard, he implored the beneficiaries to maximise on the opportunity available to them.
In a subsequent press conference President Jagdeo estimated that 50,000 of the 90,000 laptops will be delivered to homes this year, if all goes well. (GINA)