Plans are in train for the landscaping and setting up of various amenities on the foreshore/sea defence reserve between the Kitty Pump Station and the Round House behind the Pegasus Hotel.
In a notice in Friday’s edition of the Guyana Chronicle, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MPI) announced its plans and signalled that it expects construction to begin in April this year. This is likely to be another of the intended projects for the 50th independence anniversary celebrations.
The notice said that MPI will be proceeding with a project for infrastructural, architectural and landscaping improvements on the Georgetown sea defence reserve and foreshore via the “establishment of a contemporary spatial layout and the inclusion of various amenities” for the public’s benefit.
It added that the project would “significantly improve the recreational experience at the Georgetown foreshore/ beach and stimulate future social and cultural initiatives”. The Kitty Pump Station is the eastern boundary and the Round House behind the Pegasus Hotel is the western boundary.
The project will be done in three phases. The notice said that under phase one there will be a conceptual designs shortlisting competition which will be done through a competitive process. A shortlist of preferred conceptual designs will be drawn up by a special panel to be formed by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB).
Under phase 2, a consultancy contract for the development of detailed designs for civil works, architectural and landscaping improvements will be signed with the individual consultant or architectural firm with the highest ranked conceptual design.
The third phase, construction/project implementation is expected to begin in April. The ministry in the notice is inviting sealed technical proposals (including conceptual designs) and financial proposals from qualified individuals or consultancy firms for entry into the Conceptual Design Shortlisting Competition – Georgetown Sea Defences Recreational Area Enhancement Project. Financial proposals must detail the costs for services related to the preparation of detailed final designs and must be done in accordance with the required formats in the bidding document. Individual consultants and firms shall be eligible to take part if they meet at least one of the following qualification requirements:
1) A Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture with a minimum of five years experience.
2) A civil engineering or architecture firm with at least five years experience in the design and supervision of civil works projects. The firm’s assigned Team Leader must hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture with a minimum of five years experience.
Bidding will be done in accordance with National Competitive Bidding procedures specified in the Procurement Act 2003 and is open to all bidders subject to provisions of Section III (Eligible Countries) of the document.
Those eligible and interested will be required to uplift a bidding document which includes a concept note detailing submission requirements, technical guidelines and budgeting requirements for the contract.
Documents can be gotten from the Chief Sea & River Defence Officer, Work Services Group at Fort Street, Kingston, Georgetown or viewed at the same address between normal working hours up to February 9th, 2016.
Bidding documents have to be placed in the tender box at the NPTAB, Ministry of Finance, Main and Urquhart Sts, Georgetown. The bids have to be submitted in two parts: Technical/conceptual design proposal and financial proposal and should accord with the form given in the “Supplementary Information for Consultants”.
Bids have to be delivered at the address stated above at or about 9 am on Tuesday, 9th, February, 2016. Electronic submission of bids will not be permitted and late bids will be rejected. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives at the NPTAB at 9 am on Tuesday 9th February, 2016.
The notice added that a financial incentive will be given to individuals or firms submitting the top three ranked conceptual bids – 1st ranked – $1,000,000, 2nd ranked – $750,000, 3rd ranked – $500,000.
The former PPP/C administration had at various points mulled plans for this reserve. East of the Kitty pump station has become controversial because of the presence of the Celina Atlantic Resort. Expansion work there was recently halted over concerns that it had not been given approval.
