The Government of Jamaica has secured a loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to finance the Primary Education Support Project (PESP), which will support the development and implementation of activities aimed at improving the delivery of primary level education in Jamaica. Part of the loan proceeds is to fund payments for the procurement of an international consultant to develop a professional development protocol, describing the different dimensions of the primary program. This protocol will be used as a framework for teachers, in-service leaders, teachers college lecturers, administrators, offshore universities and anyone associated with the implementation of the new curriculum.

Interested eligible bidders from the IDB=s member countries may obtain further information from and inspect the bidding documents at the address below.

A complete set of bidding documents, in English, may be purchased by interested bidders on the submission of a written application to the Project Manager, PESP (same address) and upon payment of a non-refundable fee of US$ 100 or J$ 4,500 per package, Monday through Friday, from 0900 to 1600 hours, in the form of a banker=s check or demand draft in favor of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture. Payments in any other form will not be accepted. The bidding documents will be sent by DHL or electronic mail to bidders outside Jamaica, but the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture will not be responsible for any delays in delivery. The bidding documents will be available for sale as of 1 February 2002 until one day prior to the closing date of the bid.

All bids must be accompanied by a security of US$ 1,000 in US dollars, or its equivalent in the currency of the bid or Jamaican dollars, and be delivered to the address below by 1400 hours on 18 March 2002. They will be opened at 1405 hours on the same day, in the presence of the bidders= representatives who choose to attend, at the same address.