Airport Exterior Painting Contract Awarded

Good afternoon everyone.

It is a pleasure as the Minister for Economy, Trade and Industry to join the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation known as BEDC, the Ministry of Government Estates and Information Services and the Ministry of Transport to celebrate a partnership that allows us to create opportunities for Bermudians.

The Government is committed to increasing the pool of contractors equipped with the capacity to provide competitive bids and services to facilitate public sector projects. To action this commitment, the Government delegated the BEDC as the lead agency to work with and advocate for small/medium sized construction industry businesses with the goal of enhancing their business and contract management acumen and to better position these entrepreneurs to take advantage of the opportunities afforded them through public sector initiatives.

Through its Small Business Construction Incubator – Hands Up Empowered programme, the BEDC enhances the economic growth of small construction companies through business development and innovation. The participants of this programme have been assisted through individual assessment, consulting, seminars, technical assistance and referrals within a cooperative network of Government agencies.

Supporting those companies who have taken advantage of the services made available through the SBCI initiative will continue growth and development of a diversified economy, increase economic opportunities and diversify service providers for the people of Bermuda.

The Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry is not alone in its desire to stand up for Bermudians and ensure that opportunities are created. All Government agencies with responsibility for the management of Government property have a collective role in their commitment to the Bermudian community, especially with regard to empowering entrepreneurs in the construction industry to realize significant enhancement and participation in the industry.

One way that Government has fulfilled this role is by partnering with BEDC to encourage participation of the SBCI graduates’ bidding on public jobs.

During the period between 1st November 2008 and August 2009 the then Ministry of Works & Engineering set aside funds for the express utilization by participants of the SBCI for the delivery of general planned maintenance works.

Since this time several jobs have been completed by SBCI graduates, the first of which was the renovation to the Sea Song property at John’s Smith Bay. Remaining funds have been allocated to support the project that we are here to witness today – the exterior painting of the L.F. Wade International Airport.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed by this Ministry, the Ministry of Government and Estates; who has assumed the responsibility for the former Ministry of Works & Engineering, and the Ministry of Transport’s Department of Airport Services. As you can see, work has begun, so the process of vetting reviewing and selecting the winning SBCI candidate has been completed.

Ms. Lucrecia Ming, BEDC Assistant Executive Director and Project Manager of the SBCI Initiative created a tendering process that has been utilized in all of the public jobs that SBCI participants have been awarded. Through this tendering process which included a thorough review of all applications received, submissions were fully vetted and then short listed. Of those short listed, a final committee made up of members of the BEDC Board SBCI Sub-Committee awarded the contract to a graduate of the Construction Incubator, Mrs. Pandora Moore owner of Redeemed Construction.

We congratulate Mrs. Moore on successfully winning this bid and see that great progress has been made since starting this project some three and half weeks ago. This represents an example of the success that small contractors can have when they utilize the tools that they have learned as graduates of the Construction Incubator Programme.

In addition to the utilization of the tendering process, BEDC also provides support throughout the life of the project to ensure the project is managed in a timely fashion and that quality and safety standards are maintained. It is estimated that this project will take twelve weeks and based on the work that has already been done, it seems that we are on schedule to make that deadline despite the rain days.

As the Government seeks to streamline its processes and make the procedure for submitting bids for public jobs more efficient, the tendering system will be automated so that bids can be submitted electronically. Thus BEDC is proactively looking forward to determine what assistance small and medium contractors will need to be able to navigate this new process. BEDC will continue to educate its stakeholders on the methods for procuring contracts and is committed to providing assistance and resources to help ensure that applications are completed successfully.

As the Minister of Economy Trade & Industry, being a part of a partnership that creates opportunities for Bermudians and puts our small tradesmen and contractors back to work, is one of the benefits of serving this Country. I look forward to many other partnerships with other Government Departments and thank Ministers Roban and Scott for their willingness and steadfastness as we continue to make sure and steady progress standing up for Bermudians. In addition we thank Mr. Aaron Adderley, General Manager of LF Wade International Airport for his assistance, navigating the BEDC and the winning contractor through the proper airport procedures and protocols.

Thank You.

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