By Clint Chan Tack Monday, October 6 2008

GOVERNMENT, through the National Insurance Property Development Company (Nipdec), has invited interested persons to provide information for the supply and delivery of 200 Very Important Person (VIP) transport vehicles for the Fifth Summit of the Americas and the Commonwealth Heads of Government which will be held in April and November next year.

The Summit of the Americas takes place from April 17 to 19 and the Commonwealth conference from November 27 to 29.

Sources yesterday said the average cost for one VIP vehicle is $500,000. Therefore, the total cost for all 200 vehicles could amount to an estimated $100 million.

The 2009 Draft Estimates of Expenditure indicates that $503 million has been allocated to the Office of the Prime Minister to host both summits.

Stating that the costs of each may vary if features such as armour-plating and bulletproof windows are included, sources added that most if not all of the 200 vehicles would be limousines. According to its request for information (RFI), Nipdec said Government wanted to acquire 200 VIP vehicles and interested companies were asked to provide information on their ability to supply and deliver them by February 17, 2009, as well as “provide full services...including the provision of the labour and parts.”

Nipdec explained there would be a two-step sealed bidding process—a combination of open, non-binding discussions to be followed by competitive procedures designed to obtain the full benefits of sealed bidding. Nipdec representatives may hold discussions with each respondent or as a group but added the talks would not be “negotiations but communications for the purpose of understanding and discussing the contents of the RFI responses in order to best conform to the requirements of the RFI and to meet the needs of the Government.”

After the discussions, a request for proposal (RFP) document will be developed and forwarded to interested respondents. Respondents will be required to submit proposals with pricing data by the date specified. These proposals will be evaluated based on established selection criteria without further communication from the respondents.

Nipdec said based on the evaluation of the proposals, it will select the most attractive proposal “to join negotiations for a best and final negotiated price and contract.” Should these negotiations be successful, Nipdec will provide a letter of acceptance to the selected respondent. This respondent will be required to enter into a contract with the Government which must be effective prior to the start of any work.

Companies interested in supplying and delivering the VIP vehicles were required to forward their responses to the RFI to Nipdec’s head office, St Vincent Street, Port-of-Spain by 2 pm on September 25.

Interested parties must provide information that supports their ability to provide the vehicles by February 17; provide a full service agreement which includes priority servicing and repairs over a three-year period; provide all the personnel essential for the service and repair of the vehicles; supply and install discrete sirens and strobe lights in the engine compartment of each vehicle; supply and install flag poles, one on either side of the bumper of each vehicle, and provide a work plan for the delivery and maintenance of the vehicles requested.