Liberian port signs contract for equipment

NPA Managing Director signs the contract

NPA Managing Director signs the contract

The National Port Authority (NPA) of Liberia has signed a contract with Kalmar West Africa for the supply of container forklift for use at the Port of Greenville in Sinoe County.

The signing ceremony took place on February 12, 2016 at the NPA head office at the Freeport of Monrovia with Managing Director David F. Williams, signing on behalf of the NPA and Juan Roel Moreno for Kalmar West Africa.

According to the NPA management, the signing ceremony marked the first of several procurable items contract to be concluded under the terms and conditions of the Kuwaiti Fund loan for the rehabilitation of the Greenville Port in Sinoe County.

Mr. Williams explained that the management team is in the process of concluding the contracts for the supply of marine crafts (tug boats, pilot boat and patrol boat) with SMIT Lamnalco and another with J.A. Delmas, for the supply of one log loader.

Mr. Williams asserted further that the contracts are being negotiated with the entities that were the most responsive bidders after an International Competitive Bidding (ICB) procurement method and the required bid evaluation and due diligence process for each procurable item.

And as is required, Mr. Williams said, the bidding process results with all associated documentations were sent to PPCC requesting no objections to award contracts to the most responsive bidders. PPCC approved all but two: the request to award contracts for the supply of ReachStacker and aids to navigation. A new bidding process is underway for the additional two items.

It can be recalled that in 2012, the NPA management through the Government of Liberia entered into a loan agreement with the Kuwait Fund for funding to rehabilitate the Port of Greenville in Sinoe County.

Juan Roel Moreno of Kalmar affixes his signature to the deal

Juan Roel Moreno of Kalmar affixes his signature to the deal

Under the terms of that loan agreement, funding was allocated for the following items: navigational aids, security and electrical equipment, marine crafts, cargo handling equipment, institutional support and contingencies.

The first bidding process in 2015 under Mr. Williams’ management team yielded quotations from the bidders that were far above budgetary allocations. As a result, the NPA duly cancelled the bid as is permissible and started a new process, having sought the permission of the Kuwait Fund to reduce the scope of purchase.

The NPA managing director said this first contract with Kalmar West Africa was drafted with the help of the Ministry of Justice and has been forwarded to the Ministries of justice and Finance and Development Planning for attestation.

All subsequent contracts US$250,000 and above will be similarly drafted and forwarded to the two ministries for attestation as required under the public financial management law, Mr. Williams intimated.

In a related development, the NPA management also reported that the process for the pavement of internal roads, automating the financial systems, dredging of the Freeport of Monrovia and the rehabilitation of the Port of Harper in Maryland County are well on course.

Mr. Williams concluded that the NPA Management team has made commitments to the government about projects deliverables and remains focused on delivering on all projects already outlined and approved by the Board of Directors.

 


Malcolm Scott
Manager, Public Affairs-NPA