NPA, KWA sign equipment supply contract

The Management of the National Port Authority or N.P.A. has signed a contractual agreement with Kalmar West Africa, for the supply of Container Forklift at the Port of Greenville in Sinoe County, Southeast Liberia.

According to the Management of N.P.A., the signing ceremony marks the first of several procurable items contract to be concluded under the terms and conditions of the Kuwaiti Loan for the rehabilitation of the Greenville Port.

The ceremony took place recently at the National Port Authority head office at the Freeport of Monrovia with Managing Director, David F. Williams, signing on behalf of the N.P.A., while Kalmar West Africa’s Juan Roel Moreno, signed on behalf of his company.

Mr. David Williams disclosed the management team is in the process of concluding contracts for the supply of marine crafts (tug boats, pilot boat and patrol boat) with SMIT Lamnalco, and another with J.A. Delmas, for the supply of one Log Loader.

He said the contracts are being negotiated with both entities that were the most responsive bidders after an International Competitive Bidding (ICB) procurement method and the required bid evaluation and due diligence process for each procurable item.

He added that as is required, the bidding process results with all associated documentations were sent to the Public Procurement and Concession Commission or PPCC, requesting no objections to award contracts to the most responsive bidders. PPCC reportedly approved all but two: the request to award contracts for the supply of Reach Stacker and Aids to Navigation. A new bidding process is underway for the additional two items. 

In 2012, the N.P.A. management through the Government of Liberia entered into a loan agreement with the Kuwait Fund for funding to rehabilitate the Port of Greenville in Sinoe County. Under the terms of theloan, funding was allocated for the following items: Navigational Aids, Security and Electrical Equipment, Marine Crafts, Cargo Handling Equipment, Institutional Support and Contingencies.

The first bidding process in 2015 under Mr. Williams’ management team yielded quotations from the bidders that were far above budgetary allocations. As a result, management cancelled the bid as is permissible and started a new process, having sought the permission of the Kuwait Fund to reduce the scope of purchase. 

Mr. Williams said this first contract with Kalmar West Africa, valued at US$368,123.92, was drafted with the help of the Ministry of Justice and has been forwarded to the Ministries of Justice and Finance and Development Planning, respectively for attestation. All subsequent contracts US$250,000 and above will be similarly drafted and forwarded to the Ministries of Justice and Finance and Development Planning for attestation as required under the Public Financial Management law, he intimated. After the two ministries attest, the completed contract (s) with all associated documents will be forwarded to the Kuwait Fund for payment to the suppliers per the terms of the agreement. 

In a related development, the Management of the National Port Authority says the process for the pavement of internal roads, automating the financial systems, dredging of the Freeport of Monrovia and the rehabilitation of the Port of Harper in Maryland Countyare well on course. 

Mr. Williams concluded that the NPA Management team has made commitments to the government about projects deliverables and remains focused on delivering on projects already outlined and approved by the Board of Directors.Press Release