Two Bids Submitted for West End Ferry Terminal Project

The Recovery and Development Agency (RDA) has confirmed the receipt of two bids for the West End Ferry Terminal Project by the extended submission deadline of January 17.

One submission was made by a joint venture of two local firms, while the other came from a Canadian company. Representatives from both bidders attended the official bid opening, which took place at the RDA’s Cyril B. Romney Tortola Pier Park office. The process was led by RDA Director of Procurement, Mr. John Primo, and witnessed by key stakeholders, including CDB Contract Supervisor and Project Manager Sergio Dantas, RDA officials, and representatives from the design consultancy firm, Inros Lackner S.E.

The bid opening adhered to a two-envelope system, with only technical proposals reviewed at this stage. Inros Lackner S.E. will now conduct a thorough evaluation of the technical submissions, expected to conclude by early February 2025. Following this, the financial proposals will be opened for assessment.

The West End Ferry Terminal, a project funded under the Caribbean Development Bank’s (CDB) Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Loan (RRL), was once the busiest seaport in the Virgin Islands but has been out of operation since its destruction in the 2017 hurricanes, severely impacting travel and commerce between Tortola, Jost Van Dyke, and the USVI.

Bid documents were issued on July 30, 2024, the same day the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) granted its No Objection, allowing the procurement process to move forward. The bid deadline was later extended from October 18, 2024, to January 17, 2025, to give bidders additional time to prepare their submissions. Additionally, updates on the project were provided to First District residents during a community meeting on July 23, 2024.

The RDA reaffirms its commitment to maintaining transparency and rigor throughout the procurement process, ensuring this flagship initiative aligns with the Territory’s long-term development goals.