Tender invites have been opened to building contractors to carry out the design, repair and reconstruction of school buildings and associated infrastructure at 12 primary schools in the province of Ra.
Through the Palladium-managed Access to Quality Education Program (AQEP), the reconstruction efforts are part of the Australian Government’s response to extensive damage by Tropical Cyclone Winston in February this year.
“The work is to be carried out by the contractor on a design-construct basis,” AQEP confirmed.
The selected contractor will be responsible for the approval and certification of the design and construction by a suitably qualified member of the Fiji Institution of Engineers and approved by the Insurance Council of Fiji.
A tender briefing will be held in Suva tomorrow, with the evaluation of tenders to be undertaken by AQEP, in consultation with the Fijian and Australian governments,
Palladium noted that all contractors would be expected to have a comprehensive child protection policy in place and contracted employees, working with AQEP-assisted schools and a valid policy clearance certificate.
In response to TC Winston, the Australian Government has provided abut FJD $53 million of assistance to Fiji, including a AUD $20 million assistance package of ongoing reconstruction support.