The Hon. Neko Grant, Minister of Public Works and Transport, presents a contract to Jack Andrews to build an eight-classroom block at C. H. Reeves School. Also shown in front row from left is Colin Higgs, permanent secretary; Livingstone Forbes, chief architect; and Desmond Bannister, Minister of Education. Pictured in second row from left: Teryan Nicolls of Quantam Technologies Civil Engineering, Caldwell Pratt, and Daniel Robinson. (BIS Photo/Letisha Henderson)
Nassau, The Bahamas – Teachers and students at
C. H. Reeves Junior High School will benefit from a new classroom block and
reconfiguration of the school’s campus.
The Government awarded a contract to Jack
Andrews of Mal Jack Construction Monday for $1,838,464 million to build an
eight-classroom block, a library, restrooms and an administration office at the
school located in Montell Heights.
Minister of Public Works and Transport the
Hon. Neko C. Grant said the works are a part of a master plan for the school.
“Last month a contract was signed for the
completion of construction on a partially finished eight-classroom block at the
C. H. Reeves School after the original construction contract was terminated in
2007. At the time in January when the contract was signed for completion of
that eight-classroom block, I had indicated that a Master Plan for the C. H.
Reeves School had been developed,” he said.
In attendance at the signing ceremony was
Education Minister the Hon. Desmond Bannister, permanent secretary Colin Higgs,
director John Canton and other senior government officials.
Nine companies submitted bids for the project.
Mr. Grant said the three lowest compliant bids were: Mal Jack Construction with
a bid of $2.2 million and completion time of 28 weeks; E. R. Hanna Construction
with a bid of $1.7 million and completion time of 52 weeks and Inline Project
Co. Ltd. with a bid of $1.6 million and a completion time of 52 weeks.
Pictured from left signing a contract for the construction of an-eight classroom block for CH Reeves school is the Hon. Neko Grant, Minister of Public Works and Transport, the Hon. Desmond Bannister Minister of Education and Jack Andrews of Mal Jack Construction. (BIS Photo/Letisha Henderson)
On review of the initial bids, the Ministry of
Works requested the three contractors to submit revised bids based on a 32-week
construction period, said Mr. Grant. The revised bids were as follows: Mal Jack
Construction - $1,838,464, E. R. Hanna Construction - $1,896,756.37 and Inline
Project Co. Ltd - $1,846.875.35.
“The Ministry’s tender evaluation report was
forwarded to the Tenders Board on January 23, 2012. In this report, the
Ministry recommended the award of the contract to Mal Jack Construction in the
base amount of $1,838,464. The Tenders Board agreed with the Ministry’s
recommendation, after which Cabinet approval was sought and obtained,” Mr.
Grant added.
He thanked chief architect Livingstone Forbes
and other technical and administrative staff of the Ministry of Works for their
assistance with the project.
“We look forward to the successful completion
of this project which will provide the staff and students of C. H. Reeves with
enhanced accommodations,” said Mr. Grant.
Minister Bannister described the event as a
“new era” in the life of C. H. Reeves. He said Mr. Reeves was an outstanding
public servant and a great proponent of education.
“It seems most appropriate that in a year when
we have just officially opened a new school named in honour of his daughter,
Mrs. Anatol Rodgers, that we would be here to sign this contract for the start
of a new building block at C. H. Reeves Junior High School.
“This block is a part of a master plan to
rebuild the entire school on the original site,” he said.
