Deadline for green schemes extended again
• Bidders have until this Friday
The ministry said it is being 'considerate' by extending the deadline once again.
Ellanie SmitWINDHOEK
The deadline for the submission of proposed bids for the leasing of some of Namibia’s green scheme irrigation projects has been extended again - to the end of this week. The agriculture ministry is currently running a bidding process to lease out three green scheme irrigation projects – Uvungu Hvungu, Ndonga Linena and Orange River. Just last month, the ministry announced a deadline extension from 30 November to 16 December to give investors more time to bid.
In a new notice issued last Friday, the ministry informed bidders that the closing date for the three green scheme projects has now been extended to Friday, 23 December, at 11:00.
“Late bids will be rejected,” it said, adding that all documentation will be opened in the presence of the bidder’s representatives at 11:05 on Friday. “We want to give more time to bidders. Given the needed requirements, we are being considerate,” Jona Musheko, the ministry’s spokesperson, said when the deadline was first extended.
The ministry expects the announcement of successful bidders to take place early next year, it said.
“But it depends if there are no objections from competitors or any complaints. This delays most procurement decisions on major projects or tenders.
“Unfortunately, the Act [Procurement Act] makes provisions for complaints,” Musheko said.
Food self-sufficiency
The green scheme programme encourages the development of irrigated agronomic production, with a target of approximately 27 000 hectares along the perennial rivers bordering Namibia and at strategic inland areas where water is abundant. The investments are expected to promote the production of gains and cereals as basic staple foods to reach food self-sufficiency, while allowing investors to diversify production into high-value horticulture, crops and fruits.
Government currently owns 11 green schemes across the country - four are leased out to the private sector, while eight were managed through the state-owned Agriculture Business Development Agency (Agribusdev).
The deadline for the submission of proposed bids for the leasing of some of Namibia’s green scheme irrigation projects has been extended again - to the end of this week. The agriculture ministry is currently running a bidding process to lease out three green scheme irrigation projects – Uvungu Hvungu, Ndonga Linena and Orange River. Just last month, the ministry announced a deadline extension from 30 November to 16 December to give investors more time to bid.
In a new notice issued last Friday, the ministry informed bidders that the closing date for the three green scheme projects has now been extended to Friday, 23 December, at 11:00.
“Late bids will be rejected,” it said, adding that all documentation will be opened in the presence of the bidder’s representatives at 11:05 on Friday. “We want to give more time to bidders. Given the needed requirements, we are being considerate,” Jona Musheko, the ministry’s spokesperson, said when the deadline was first extended.
The ministry expects the announcement of successful bidders to take place early next year, it said.
“But it depends if there are no objections from competitors or any complaints. This delays most procurement decisions on major projects or tenders.
“Unfortunately, the Act [Procurement Act] makes provisions for complaints,” Musheko said.
Food self-sufficiency
The green scheme programme encourages the development of irrigated agronomic production, with a target of approximately 27 000 hectares along the perennial rivers bordering Namibia and at strategic inland areas where water is abundant. The investments are expected to promote the production of gains and cereals as basic staple foods to reach food self-sufficiency, while allowing investors to diversify production into high-value horticulture, crops and fruits.
Government currently owns 11 green schemes across the country - four are leased out to the private sector, while eight were managed through the state-owned Agriculture Business Development Agency (Agribusdev).
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