The Office of the President is re-tendering for bids for the “Supply of Computer Based Training Software” and “Online Evaluation” for its One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) Project, after the initial tender failed to attract any bidders.
The advertisement for the re-tendering of the project appeared in yesterday’s edition of the Guyana Chronicle and was also published on www.eprocure.gov.gy. Bids are to be submitted to the Chairman of the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NP&TAB) by May, 24, 2011.The original tender for this project was launched on April 21, but when the tenders were opened on Tuesday in the boardroom of the NP&TAB no bids were received.
On April 12, three local companies bid for the supply of netbooks/laptops for the OLPF. These companies were: CCS Guyana Ltd, Giftland OfficeMax and Digital Technology. No announcement has been made as yet as to which company has won the contract. The government has budgeted $1.8 billion for the procurement of the computers for this year.
Under the OLPF, the government hopes to distribute 90,000 computers to poor families in two years. Phase one, which is being executed this year, is supposed to see 50,000 computers being given to priority groups, which include single-parent, differently-abled and least fortunate family. Families living together as a single household, who earn a combined income of $50,000 or less, are eligible. The application process to acquire a computer under the OLPF commenced on Monday. The deadline for submission of application forms is 31st May, 2011.