Roadtown, Tortola - In keeping its goal to start construction of the new Culinary Arts Centre at the H. Lavity Stout Community College in 2010, Government is now inviting tenders for the construction of facility.

The tender is open to local and regional contractors qualified to undertake the project. With respect to international firms, Government is encouraging them to form associations with local partners and to include as much local participation as possible in their proposal.

The scope of work will include the construction of a fine dining restaurant and culinary teaching labs in accordance with the drawings and bills of quantities as listed in the specifications.

Tender documents are available upon request until September 28 from the chairman of the Central Tenders Board located at the Ministry of Finance, RFG Place.

Tenderers are required to submit certificates of good standing in respect of social security and income taxes including payroll taxes and property taxes from the Social Security Board, the Commissioner of Inland Revenue and the Registry of Corporate Affairs. They should also provide a valid trade licence. All of the aforementioned documents should not be dated more than one month prior to the date of submission.

Non-BVI firms interested in tendering are required to submit similar documents of good standing from the jurisdiction in which their company is registered.

In addition, tenderers are required to provide a tender security in the form of a letter of intent from a bank or insurance company for a sum equivalent of 10 percent of the contract sum.

Failure to include the supporting documentation will render the tender non-responsive on the date of the opening of bids.

A non-refundable fee of $350 paid in cash or by banker cashier’s cheque payable to the Accountant General should also accompany tender documents.

The deadline for receipt of tenders is 12 noon on October 27 and the tenders will be publicly opened at 1 p.m. on the same day. A pre-tender meeting is scheduled for October 1 and all prospective tenderers are invited to attend.

The Culinary Arts Centre is co-funded by the Government of the Virgin Islands and the European Union, through the European Development Fund. It is expected to serve as a regional training facility.