Tender Process To Build Solar Plant On ‘Finger’
The Government issued an open call to pre-qualify companies seeking to participate in the tender process to build a solar power photo voltaic plant on the “Finger” by the airport, saying the tender process is “expected to establish the optimal price of solar power for this project through competitive bidding.”
A Ministry spokesperson said, “On August 17th 2016 the Government issued an open call to pre-qualify companies seeking to participate in the tender process to build a 6 Megawatt [MW] AC solar power photo voltaic [PV] plant on the Government-owned peninsula known as the ‘Finger’, which is adjacent to the L.F. Wade International Airport .
“Solar photovoltaic technology is an important component in the future development of Bermuda’s electricity sector,” the Ministry added.
“The technical criteria that must be met for companies to be eligible to participate in the tender process include a track record in successful solar project development of at least 10MW of cumulative capacity, with at least one successful installation of 3MW or more on a single site anywhere in the world.
“The financial qualification criteria include the submission of three years of audited financial statements showing positive net worth and profits for each of the three years.
“The tender process, which is scheduled to commence during the fall, is expected to establish the optimal price of solar power for this project through competitive bidding.”
Additional details about the Project and the RFQ documents themselves can be found on the Project website.
The ‘Key Project Information’ document is below [PDF here]
What’s a Tender Process? I’ve forgotten…
Looks something like the Tender Bermudian you can see at Dockyard.
It’s where a joker quotes $3.5m to returf a golf course and ends up charging you $24.5m.
No, not this time. Different Minister in charge of the department concerned.
Good point. I was just putting in terms he would understand and perhaps remember.
I am certain they already have a vendor in mind and the RFP process is really an eye-wash, just to deflect any criticism they received in the airport deal.
How would you have regarded the tender process on Port Royal, to take a random example? Was that ‘eye wash’ as well?
Probably. I was not in Bermuda then. Not defending any party.
All governments in Bermuda work the same way.
The real loser is the general populace
So tell us. How are you “certain” that they have a specific vendor in mind.
How do you know that? How are you “certain”. Let us see the proof you have.
Or are you just making sheeet up?
“I was not in Bermuda then.” That seems to be one of the standard deflection phrases. Goes right hand in hand with “I was not an MP then” or “That was a long time ago. Don’t know what happened then.” Suure you don’t.
They have to compete but CCC does not have to compete for the airport. This is the problem with these tyrants – different sets of rules. Different sets of rules is not acceptable in this country; there is literally no end their hypocrisy and the passive population accepts it. They are mere men just like us.
Let the Bermudians fight over the scraps while the Canadians sit at the dinner table.
If somebody gets $24.5m for returfing a golf course, after quoting less than 20% of that amount, is that ‘scraps’, or is that ‘sitting at the dinner table’.
For most of us that would be an enourmous amount of money.
ZEVON you are living in the past – speak to the current issue that some have with the OBA’s tactics in this regard.
Oh right. Of course, you don’t want to talk about what the PLP actually did to us. Of course not.
So the current issue is that they want companies to tender for an rfp process for a contract.
And you don’t like that because…what again?
Your logic is “PLP screwed us, so OBA has a right to screw us”!! Very sound !!
Poor Bermuda taxpaying public !!
They’re conducting an open process to look for a competent contractor. That’s not screwing anyone.
When you get charged 500% of the quoted price to returf a golf course, when the contractor awarded the conteact to himself, when there was no bidding process, that’s the taxpayer being screwed.
Sorry to point out the differences. They appear to be too sublte for you.
Hey Johny, who in Bermuda has the ability to finance a $250m airport and the expertise to build it? Please enlighten me?
Burt would give it to a friend with no previous experience and then buy a performance bond from the BIU.
There are many around the world who would have liked to bid for the airport. Canadians were not the only ones interested.
Has nothing to do with whether anyone in Bermuda had the ability to build an airport or finance.
The question is whether there were “no other ones, other than Canada?”
Please let us know your inside knowledge on the ‘others’ who would of liked to bid and their specific terms offered? -Please do tell us! Was it the same others delivering the $500m + the PLP were quoting?
Patiently waiting to see what the Opposition find wrong with this. I know it’s coming.
I can tell you what is wrong with it. It is screaming no local companies need apply.
“track record in successful solar project development of at least 10MW of cumulative capacity, with at least one successful installation of 3MW or more on a single site anywhere in the world.”
What was the point in local companies certifying there employees with over seas training and degrees; If their own Government dose not want to hire them!
I can tell you this a Bermudian company wont cut you short in the work they do. However a foreign contractor will if they can squeeze more profit out of you.
This is saying to me that they are not interested in putting Bermudians to work and want to throw money out of country in someone’s else economy.
Tell me, am I reading this wrong?
” anywhere in the world”. That would include Bermuda. Surely some of the commercial installations here exceed 3MW.
I wouldn’t count on it. I’m not surprised by the requirement, it is fairly common for projects of this size. What I would expect is for whoever gets the contract to act more as design/project manager and sub-contract the work to local companies.
There’s no commercial install here at 3MW you kidding me. To give you an idea you’d need about 2.5 acres for 1MW. They want three. We are not talking about roof space rather field sizes. What you see on roofs is KW kilowatts installs for the most part.
Oh yes. How unreasonable to look for a contractor who has done a remotely similar contract before.
That’s how you lot ended up with 100% overruns all the time.
“I can tell you this a Bermudian company wont cut you short in the work they do. However a foreign contractor will if they can squeeze more profit out of you.”
That is but one of the statements that you’ve made that is complete and utterly ridiculous. It is this sort of nationalistic, xenophobic, complete BS that does nothing but drag us all down as a community/country.
For all that our local companies have done, I don’t think any have that experience to set up an actual sole purpose generation plant of this size without bringing in an outside partner. AES is the only company I can think of that might have done something around a 3MW, but they also probably brought in an outside consultant/engineer to help for them.
There is opportunity for our local experience to bid on this, but they will most likely have to bring in their manufacturer’s/vendor’s expertise and experience to build such a plant.
As much faith as I have in our local expertise in this matter, I would feel a whole lot better knowing it is being backed by foreign experience, because I have seen far too many first hands of locals saying they can do it, but falling far short on far less complicated projects.
AES have done the largest installs, but even their Gorhams one is under 500kW! In fact their total installed on the island as a whole is likely under 1.5MW.
Sounds like any local firm will need overseas partner.
I have worked for many local companies and I have work in many overseas companies. I can tell you that the local companies will get the job done right with High ethics. The Overseas companies I have worked for only care about the money and if they see something that wrong they wont say or do anything unless money is involved. The local companies are different. I have worked with local guys that will do things for free/discount if the customer is strapped for cash like the Gov. The local will rather not do a job if the job is not going to be done right. The oversea companies will do whatever you want along as you pay them.
You have to understand that a local company has more invested in their work. This where they live they and everyone will see their work everyday. They have a name to build and protect because real Bermuda runs on word of mouth.
If There own Government dose not give them a chance, then tell me how would they ever get the opportunity to build a 3MW profile that the gov is asking for?
It ethically wrong train your own so they can be of use in the future.
I don’t have a solar companies nor do I know any of the guys that do. However I have made 100+ watt solar panels from solar cells bus&tab wire and glass. I am Bermudian and not trained to do this. Think what the Bermudians that are trained in this stuff could do. and I have seen a few of the in the media.
Total gibberish.
I have seen local companies partnering with overseas firms on contracts and what they do is obtain the bid from the overseas company and add 75% and quote to the government. Sometimes that is a ridiculous number without any value-add.
I’d guess that Real Deal has NO experience dealing with local companies , or has he ever sat in small claims court before .
Funny how this has come out right after Belco’s announcement of no more net metering for any customers. So does this apply to the finger as well?
BELCO has stopped the RESIDENTIAL net metering program in its current form this is not a RESIDENTIAL installation believe it or not!
Yes…put it there and put all lighting to twelve volt via transformer…
Please consider hydro electric for all bridge apertures.
This is great…finally….the horse before the cart.
Now your talking…not only that…yah speakin my language!