GECOM seeks new vehicles to replace ageing fleet

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has invited bids for the procurement of five new Toyota Land Cruisers and two new minibuses to replace an aging fleet, says Chief Election Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield.

The procurement of the vehicles is being done in two lots, with Lot One being for the five Land Cruisers and Lot Two for the two minibuses.

Lowenfield told this newspaper that GECOM took the decision to procure the seven vehicles because most of its vehicles are 15 years or older. One of the last vehicles bought was a PEE series, he said.

Asked if the purchases were being made because of the upcoming Local Government Elections to be held in November, he said, “It is not an elections issue. It all has to do with recapitalising its fleet, which is extremely old.”

The fleet will be bought from funds allocated to GECOM for the year. The commission has been given a budget of $2.9 billion for the year, of which $1.2 billion is for the conduct of the polls.

Lowenfield said the vehicles were budgeted for in GECOM’s 2018 budget.

Meanwhile, the invitation for bids, which were published in last Tuesday’s edition of this newspaper, said that bidding will be conducted through the National Competitive Bidding procedures, specified in the Procurement Act and is open to all bidders, subject to provisions of Section IV (Eligible Countries).

Interested eligible bidders may obtain further information from GECOM’s Administrative and Support Services Manager, telephone 225-5829.

Qualification requirements include valid Guyana Revenue Authority compliance, valid National Insurance Scheme compliance, duplicate copies of tender document, completed bid form and completed price schedule. Additional details are provided in the bidding documents. A complete set of bidding documents in English may be bought for a cash payment of $3,000 at the Accounts Department, Guyana Elections Commis-sion, Lot 9 Fort and Barrack streets, Kingston, Georgetown, the invitation stated.

The deadline for the submission of bids is August 21st.