A lone $34.9M bid was yesterday received for the construction of government’s anticipated “Rice Brekkies” cereal factory.
The project, being undertaken through the Office of the President and the Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST) saw the bid made by Psyphdave Construction and Engineering and had an engineer’s estimate of $18.5M.
The bid was declared during the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board’s (NPTAB) weekly tender opening at its Main and Urquhart streets office.
The “Rice Brekkies” cereal, which was launched at this year’s GuyExpo by President Donald Ramotar and Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Irfaan Ali, is a pilot 
project developed by IAST as part of a move by the government to expand the local productive sector.
Through the collaboration of the Ministry and IAST, funding for the construction of a manufacturing plant was procured from the Rural Development Fund, administered by the Ministry and the capital cost is anticipated to be $75 Million. It is expected to be located at Anna Regina, Region Two.
The cereal, which is awaiting approval from the Food and Drug Department, was manufactured at IAST’s facilities at Turkeyen, on a pilot scale, with approximately 600 boxes (250g) per week.
Bids for three other projects for the venture, the construction of a factory building, the supply of office furnishings and computers, construction of chain link fencing and security huts and construction of bridges were also opened yesterday. Details of these are shown in the tables below.
The construction of a factory building.
