By: Sulayman Waan
Nick Hodgson, project manager for United Nation of Public Service (UNOPS)-The Gambia has urged the contractors that are contracted to the rural feeder roads project to deliver their works to international standard.
“We will give you all the necessary support to ensure you execute your duties in constructing the rural feeder roads to international standard,” he remarked this on Wednesday at the signing ceremony with six construction companies in Ocean Bay Hotel in Bakau, KMC.
He added: “Some of the feeder roads to be constructed in the rural regions will be done by labour-based technology to ensure thorough construction of the rural feeder roads. Our labour- based technology has already conducted training to the local construction industry including Gambia Technical Training Institutes (GTTI), National Roads Authority (NRA), Cityscape Association and representative of the three regions.”
Mr. Hodgson affirmed that UNOPS is in the process to procure two tractors and two-graders for National Road Authority and asset management software called KAH to ease their (GRA) shot-comings in road maintenance so as to enhance the sustainability of the project.
He explained that in 2017 his office conducted a market research to determine the suitability of hiring local consultants and contractors to carry out the aforementioned project, adding they (UNOPS) visited Gamworks, NRA, GPPA, some local consultants and the President of GACCON[contractors association] pertaining the tendering of the contract.
“We sent out a tender for designing consultancy and select Cityscape Associates. The office worked extensively with the local consultant to design feeder roads of high international standards. The design was submitted for an internal design review at our headquarters, the tenders were launched in October 2018,” Hodgson revealed.
He emphasized that during the period of tendering the contract his office had several interactions with contractors such as in workshops, through GACCON so as to enable them to register and bid on their e-source platform, adding over forty [40] local contractors had participated in bidding for the contract.
Finally he said his office evaluated the tender and came up with the winning bids, saying UNOPS ends of contracting the winners of the contract.
