General Procurement Notice

BELIZE

HEALTH SECTOR REFORM PROGRAM

GENERAL PROCUREMENT NOTICE

Loan Number: 1271/OC-BL

The Government of Belize (GOB) has received a loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in the amount of US$ 9.8 million to assist in financing a comprehensive Health Sector Reform Program (HSRP). This includes the organizational restructuring of the Ministry of Health, investment in infrastructure and medical equipment and the establishment of a new mechanism to finance health care services. The resources will assist the Ministry of Health (MOH) to restructure and strengthen the public health services delivery system; rationalize and improve coverage by restructuring public facilities and services; and achieve an equitable and sustainable system of sector financing by setting up a National Health Insurance Fund.

The Health Sector Reform Program will be carried out over a four-year period, beginning in the first quarter of 2001, and will comprise the following components:

Consulting Services to assist the Ministry of Health to exercise its role as a regulator and policy designer and support deconcentration towards newly created regional health and autonomous hospital bodies

Civil Works: Investment in infrastructure and medical equipment to be tied to improvement in facility performance through the design and use of performance agreements

Consulting Services in creating and establishing the National Health Insurance Fund

Tentative procurement plan for new financing

Civil Works including design and supervision

- New Psychiatric Unit at Karl Heushner Memorial Hospital: US$ 2.5 million: financing: IDB 100 percent; method of procurement ICB; prequalification: yes; publicity: 1st/2002

- Regional Hospital at Belmopan; Regional Health Management Team Office and Polyclinic I at Belmopan; Community Hospital at San Ignacio: US$ 2.1 million: financing: IDB 100 percent; method of procurement ICB; prequalification: yes; publicity: 4th /2001

- Regional Health Management Team Office at Orange Walk; Regional Hospital at Orange Walk; Community Hospital at Corozal: US$ 0.47 million: financing: IDB 100 percent; method of procurement LB; prequalification: yes; publicity: 4th/2001

- Community Hospital at Punta Gorda: US$ 0.11 million: financing: IDB 100 percent; method of procurement LB; prequalification: no; publicity: 1st /2002

Goods

- Procurement and commissioning of medical and lab equipment: US$ 0.55 million: financing: IDB 100 percent; method of procurement ICB; prequalification: no; publicity: 1st /2002

- Procurement of Computing Equipment: US$ 0.23 million: financing: IDB 100 percent; method of procurement LB; prequalification: No; publicity: 4th/2001

- Procurement of Vehicles and Ambulances: US$ 0.44 million: financing: IDB 100 percent; method of procurement ICB; prequalification: no; publicity: 4th/2001

Consulting Services

- Institutional Development & Strengthening US$0.12 million: financing: IDB 100 percent; method of procurement LB; prequalification: no; publicity: 4th/2001

- Hospital Management: US$ 0.16 million: financing: IDB 100 percent; method of procurement LB; prequalification: no; publicity: 1st/2002

- Performance Contracts; Pharmaceutical Study: US$ 0.15 million: financing: IDB 100 percent; method of procurement LB; prequalification: no; publicity: 2nd/2001

- Studies on Labour Market, Income and Subsidy Targeting: US$ 0.19 million: financing: IDB 100 percent; method of procurement LB; prequalification: no; publicity: 1st /2001

- Technical Support in Miscellaneous Health-related areas U$ 0.40 million: financing: IDB 100 percent; method of procurement ICB; prequalification: no; publicity: 2nd/2001

Note: ICB – International Competitive Bidding

LB - Local Bidding

In accordance with the procurement procedures of the GOB and the IDB each specific invitation for the supply of goods or services will include:

A general description of the project and of the specific services or goods, which are subject to the bidding

The proposed method of pre-qualification

The place, date and time at which tender documents will be available

The place, date and time for return and opening of bids

Execution of the program is the responsibility of the Ministry of Health and involves project coordination, financial management, administration and procurement of goods and services. Where the estimated value of civil works exceeds US$ 1,000,000 or for goods and related services more than US$ 250,000 or for consultancies more than US$ 200,000 advertisements will be placed in the United Nations publication UN Development Business and in a weekly newspaper in Belize. Where the respective values are less than the above limits, advertisements will be placed in a weekly newspaper in Belize.

Invitations for tenders for goods and services to be financed by this IDB loan will be issued by the Executing Agency. All correspondence and requests for information should be addressed to:

The Project Coordinator

Health Sector Reform Program

35/37 Ambergris Avenue

Belmopan, Belize

Tel: (501-8) 22059, 22068

Fax: (501-8) 22055

E-mail: reform@btl.net