Sixteen projects to fix storm-damaged roads, retaining walls and bridges around the territory should be finished by the end of 2015, officials said last Thursday.
Several of the projects — such as repairing a fractured stretch of road in Ballast Bay, erecting a new retaining wall on Ross Hill near Cane Garden Bay, and engineering a new drainage method for Jost Van Dyke’s East Road — have been completed.
Work on other projects in Parham Town and Paraquita Bay is currently ongoing, Communication and Works Minister Mark Vanterpool said last week.
New contract
During a ceremony last Thursday, Mr. Vanterpool signed a contract for the latest CDB-funded work, a $332,485 deal with Autland Heavy Equipment Company Ltd. to replace a retaining wall and restore a strip of road in Thomas Land.
The wall failed when a 20-foot section of slope collapsed during Otto, which brought nearly 25 inches of rain over a three-day period.
During the ceremony, Anthony McMaster, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Communications and Works, said government was “very proud” of the Autland firm for its work on the Ballast Bay project. In that area, the rains had tumbled boulders into the roadway and eroded the slope of the hillside, requiring new asphalt, concrete and a supporting wall in the area.
For the Thomas Land works, the MCW initially received interest from four bidders, three of which submitted tenders, Mr. Vanterpool said.
In response to a reporter’s question, he said he couldn’t recall if Autland submitted the lowest bid, but he added that other considerations such as reputation and experience often affect which firm is chosen.
Tendering
Under the terms of the CDB loan, all contracts must undergo a public tender process, regardless of size.
By contrast, the VI government typically uses tendering only when a contract exceeds $100,000. Even then, though tendering is recommended under public finance guidelines, Cabinet often waives the process.
Still, Mr. Vanterpool said that there are “good lessons” to learn from the CDB’s procurement process.
“There are occasions when there are emergencies or other reasons that we aren’t able to tender, but we like to stick to the procurement process,” he said.
In the coming months, the MCW hopes to select contractors for CDB rehabilitation projects in Huntums Ghut, Horse Path and Greenland, Mr. Vanterpool said.
He added that after a public meeting was held in May with Virgin Gorda residents to discuss proposed repairs to the island’s Lee Road, plans will be revised to take community concerns into account.
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