The Government of the Virgin Islands is inviting persons to submit a proposal for software and hardware for the Next Generation 9‐1‐1 (NG911) Emergency Call Handling Services.

Director of Communications, Mrs. Arliene T. Penn said the Government continues to move forward with developing and expanding emergency communications to strengthen emergency services in the Virgin Islands.

She added that there is a desire to have a structured process of emergency call handling with the objective being to ensure quality assurance and improve organisational responsibility by creating an effective and timely communication link between the public and rescue and health care professionals.

“It is important for us to have flexible, reliable and efficient hardware and software tools in place to construct this service that is expected to offer a fully-integrated workflow of public safety emergency response throughout the Territory,” Mrs. Penn explained.

Interested tenderers are required to submit original Certificates of Good Standing in respect of social security and all taxes including payroll and property taxes from the Director of the Social Security Board, the Commissioner of Inland Revenue and the Registrar of Corporate Affairs if the company is incorporated.

A valid partnership or sole proprietorship trade licence for 2016 and a tender security from a bank or accredited insurance company for a sum equivalent of one percent of the contract sum are also required.

Tenderers are to supply other documentation as listed in the Tender Document, Instructions to Tenderers and 1.9 – Documents Comprising the Tender.

In addition, tenderers registered as companies (or individuals) in a jurisdiction outside of the British Virgin Islands must demonstrate proof of their ability to legally operate a business; for example, trade license and/or company registration documents.

The date of issue indicated on the above-mentioned certificates should be no earlier than one month prior to the date of submission.

Failure on the part of tenderers to enclose the required supporting documentation with each respective tender will render the tender non-responsive on the date of the opening of tenders.

Tender documents are available upon request from Monday, October 31 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday from the Chairman of the Central Tenders Board in the Ministry of Finance. The office is located on the third floor of RFG Place, Waterfront Drive.

A non-refundable fee of $150.00 payable by cash or banker cashier’s cheque (payable to the Accountant General) is required for the tender documents.

Interested tenderers should submit one original and three copies of the tender. The original should be placed in a sealed envelope and marked “Original” and the additional copies placed in another sealed envelope and marked “Copies”.

Both envelopes should then be placed in an outer envelope and marked “Tender for a Request for Proposal for Software and Hardware for the NG911 Emergency Call Handling Services” and addressed to the Chairman of the Central Tenders Board in the Ministry of Finance, Procurement Unit, RFG Place, Third Floor, Waterfront Drive, Tortola, British Virgin Islands.

All tenders must be deposited in the “Tender Box” at the Ministry of Finance, Procurement Unit by the bearer no later than 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 29.  Tenders will not be received after the “Tender Box” is closed.

Tenders will be publicly opened at the Ministry of Finance, Procurement Unit on Tuesday, November 29 at 12:00 noon.  Tenderers are invited to attend.

For more information, interested persons should telephone the Procurement Coordinator, Mrs. Ishma Rhymer at 468-4243.