TENDER NOTICE

1. The Ministry of Education and Training has received funding from the Government of Lesotho for provision of additional Physical facilities in existing Secondary / High Schools in Lesotho and intends to apply the proceeds towards the cost of Free Primary Education and it intends to apply part of the proceeds for the construction of additional classrooms and related facilities in Secondary/ High Schools in Lesotho. Bidding will be governed by the “Public Procurement Regulations 2007”, enacted by the Government of Lesotho.

2. The Principal Secretary, Ministry of Education and Training now invites sealed bids from eligible and qualified bidders for the construction of Classrooms, Administration Block, Students Latrines, Staff Toilets and associated site works at the following Secondary Schools identified comprising 4 (Four) schools as detailed below. For the purpose of this Bid Invitation, eligible Bidders are defined as those Bidders who are contractors based and registered in the Kingdom of Lesotho with the Ministry of Public Works and Transport in Categories A, B and C only.
 

School	Secondary/High School	District	Scope of work	Construction period	Category
1	Mohlapiso Gov.	Qacha’s Nek	Construction of; (4) classrooms, (2) units Staff Latrines and (8) units Students Latrines	24 weeks	A & B
2	Takalatsa Gov.	Thaba-Tseka	Construction of; (4) classrooms, (2) units Staff Latrines and (8) units Students Latrines	20 weeks	A, B & C
3	Mahloenyeng Gov.	Maseru	Construction of; (3) classrooms, (2) units Staff Latrines and (8) units Students Latrines	12 weeks	B & C
4	Lancer’s Gap Gov.	Berea	Administration Block	10 weeks	B & C

3 Bidding will be conducted through Open Procurement Procedures specified in the ‘Public Procurement Regulations 2007’ enacted by the Government of Lesotho and is open to all bidders as defined in Bidding Documents.

4. Interested eligible bidders may obtain further information from and inspect the bidding document at: The Principal Secretary, Ministry Education and Training (MOET), authorized representative; The Procurement Unit, Education Facilities Unit, e-mail efu@education.gov.ls and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below;

Bidders may bid for one school, more schools or all four schools, all items and quantities in each school shall be fully priced. However, the Ministry of Education and Training deserves the right to limit the number of awards. Bid form and Bid Security should be submitted for each lot separately. Incomplete bids will be eliminated. Bid evaluation will be on per school- by-school basis.

5. A margin of preference will be applied to Basotho business in evaluating the bids as follows, subject to submission of documentary proof (Memorandum and Articles of Association, Certificate of Incorporation, Copy of Passport e.t.c) ;

a) 15 % margin of preference if 51% or more shares owned by Nationals of Lesotho.
b) i- 10 % margin of preference if 30 to 50 % shares owned by Nationals of Lesotho.
   Or
   ii- A bidder proposing to supply goods of Lesotho origin.
   Or
   iii -A bidder proposing to perform at least 50 % of the contract in Lesotho by establishing  workshop/
    factory and using and developing the skills and capacity of Basotho staff.
  Or
  iv- A bidder proposing to sub- contract at least 50 % of the contract to one or more Basotho business.
  Or
  v- A bidder who has the largest use of locally produced goods, materials
  and services;
 Or
  vi- A bidder who employs the largest share of local labour.

c) 5 % margin of preference if between 10 and 30 % of shares owned by nationals of Lesotho.

A complete set of Bidding Documents in English may be purchased by interested bidders on the submission of a written Application to the address below and upon payment of a non refundable fee of M100.00 (One Hundred Maloti), or its equivalent in any convertible currency, net of all bank charges from the 7th July 2008.

The method of payment will be by Cash, bank wire transfer; certified cheques, and/or any other secured method of payment, payable at : Bank : Nedbank Lesotho, Branch: Maseru Branch, Account # : 021900003371, Account Name: Education Sector Development Project II; Bidders must quote the “Invitation For Bids” Number when filling the deposit slips.

The bank deposit slip should then be submitted to PSCU Accounts Office where a receipt will be furnished. The bidding documents shall be collected from Education Facilities Unit, The Contracts Manager’s Office or will be sent by post, courier or electronically upon submission of the receipt.

6. Bids shall be valid for a period of sixty days after Bid Opening. Bids must be delivered to the address below at or before 12.00hrs. On Tuesday 12th August 2008. Electronic bidding shall not be permitted. Late bids will be rejected. Bids will be opened physically in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend in person at the address below at 14.30hrs. Tuesday 12th August 2008.

7. Bids shall be accompanied by a Bid Security of M1,000.00 per school, in the form of bank cheque or bank guarantee and valid for 60 (sixty) days after bid opening.

8. It is anticipated that the contract will be awarded during August, 2008.

9. Bidders are to acquaint themselves with the Income Tax Order No. 9 of 1993 enacted by the Government of Lesotho and subsequent amendments thereto.
Bid prices shall provide for all costs to comply with the requirements (Including VAT). Claims from bidders for reimbursements through failure to comply with this requirement will not be entertained.

10. It is mandatory for bidders to submit their Tax clearance certificates and the Traders License with their Bids. These documents shall be either original or certified copies by The Lesotho Revenue Authority and The Department of Trade. Non compliance to this requirement will invalidate the bids.

11. A pre-bid meeting will be held on the 22nd July 2008 at 10:00hrs, EFU Board room, Fokothi Site. All interested Bidders are advised to attend.

12. The addresses referred to above are: