Bahamas Tender Announcement - Construction Materials

 CALL FOR TENDER  (CLOSED)

(Tender # GER3/CAPS /2020-03-27) 

GER3’s mission in The Bahamas, in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), implementing the project “Recovery of educational facilities & housing in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian in Abaco” is inviting interested construction materials suppliers to submit offers for lots of construction materials. The materials will be used for the rehabilitation of the Central Abaco Primary School (CAPS) on Abaco Island, Bahamas. Perspective bidders may submit offers for any or all lots, which are listed in detail in the following: 

Click here to read the complete tender announcement. 

Click here to fill out the required tender form.

The open tender will be conducted using GER3 standard bidding documents and is open to all qualified/registered suppliers in the United States and The Bahamas. Interested and potential bidders should register their intention to bid by emailing andrew.meyer@ger3.org to ensure they receive any updates or modifications to the tender announcement and/or bidding documents. Interested bidders should submit the following documents by the deadline below to be considered for selection: 

1. GER3 Tender Offer Form (follow link above) – Signed and stamped 

2. A planned delivery schedule for the supplies 

3. A scanned copy of your firm’s registration certificate from the country/state where you are based 

4. List of three references (past and/or frequent customers preferred), including email addresses, phone numbers, and nature of relationship 

All bids must be submitted before 5:00 PM EDT on Friday, April 3, 2020 by email to andrew.meyer@ger3.org to be given consideration. Any bids received after this time & date will be automatically rejected. Any inquiries about this call for tender can be directed to the same email address. 

Dorian ReCOVERY Operations Update #7

SCHOOL RECOVERY IN ABACO

In December 2019, GER³ transitioned from Grand Bahama to Abaco to continue our School Recovery Project with UNICEF. After a thorough needs assessment, the Central Abaco Primary School (CAPS) was selected to be the primary focus of our work. It is the largest primary school in Marsh Harbour and has not yet reopened since Dorian struck over six months ago.

No public schools are currently open in Marsh Harbour, requiring students to travel distances to schools outside of the area. The quick and effective rehabilitation of CAPS is a top priority for Marsh Harbour and the surrounding Abaco communities. Reopening CAPS will allow displaced families to return to the area and restore their lives. CAPS is a critical piece of public infrastructure and its opening will serve as a major milestone and token of hope in the recovery and rebuilding process.

GER³ actively engaged in school assessments in order to plan and design a phased approach to the rehabilitation project at CAPS. Our team identified local contractors, supply chains and timeframes for the work to take place. Our team also worked closely with various Ministries in the Bahamas to ensure formal approval and buy-in from all relevant stakeholders.

With generous funding contributions from UNICEF, the Discovery Land Company Foundation, the Lyford Cay Foundations, One Bahamas Fund and other donor and partner agencies, GER³ is now leading phase one of this project. The full school restoration will continue throughout the year as phase two of the project. We have worked closely with partner organization, All Hands and Hearts, to ensure the school is restored in a sustainable, resilient and efficient manner, ensuring our philosophy of “building back better".

CAPS Rehabilitation Project Goals:

• To rehabilitate and rebuild Central Abaco Primary School (CAPS) following Hurricane Dorian to enable students, faculty and staff to return to school.
• To utilize sound project management, reconstruction & engineering expertise to ensure the highest standards in construction practices and materials.
• To integrate cash-for-work staff, local contractors & suppliers, where possible, to support and stimulate the local economy.
• To employ GER³’s philosophy of “building back better”, ensuring enhanced resiliency and sustainability in order to handover a safe, well-renovated school to the community.

Phase one progress is well underway and includes:

• Ongoing debris clearance and “muck-and-gut” of the school
• Removing and replacing damaged roofing, applying waterproof ice and water shield (plywood and/or damaged trusses)
• Mold remediation and sanitization
• Rebuilding and restoring windows
• Masonry repairs
• Interior repairs (painting, tiling, sheetrock, etc)
• Electrical and plumbing installation

In addition to our work at the school itself, UNICEF is supporting GER3 to rehabilitate several teachers’ homes near CAPS. This will allow these teachers to also return to Marsh Harbour for the opening of the school.

As GER³’s work in the Bahamas continues to expand, our team is growing with both national and international staff. We are extremely grateful for the opportunity to continue to support Bahamian schools and communities in response to hurricane Dorian and are looking forward to continuing our work there through the full recovery and reconstruction process.

School rehabilitation project with UNICEF

GER3's work with UNICEF in Grand Bahama supported the reopening of seven public schools. Check out UNICEF's video to see more about our project and how it impacted this student's story!

Dorian Response Operations Update #6

SCHOOLS RECOVERY PROJECT - RETURN TO LEARNING

GER³ has been privileged to work in collaboration with UNICEF, the Ministry of Education (MoE), and District Superintendent Ivan Butler toward the reopening and continued restoration of seven (7) schools on Grand Bahama. All seven schools have reopened, allowing nearly 5,000 students, teachers, and staff to return to learning and regain some semblance of normal life.

GER3 team with UNICEF representatives, school district super intendant and school administrator

In the second phase of the schools restoration project, GER³ has completed eleven (11) sub-projects within the restoration of Grand Bahama’s schools. These include mucking and gutting, roof re-tarping and repair, mold remediation, plastering, sheetrock installation, painting, blackboard and whiteboard installation, doors installation for closets and classrooms, and agricultural center rehabilitation. GER³ has also provided work opportunities for several cash-for-workers to assist with each sub-project in order to provide a source of income to those who lost their jobs as a result of Dorian and support the local economy.

By the end of this second phase, all seven of the highest priority schools in Freeport will have been rehabilitated, allowing Grand Bahama’s children to return to learning in a safe, functional environment after the devastation of Hurricane Dorian.

With additional funding from UNICEF, GER³ is also offering assistance to several social workers and teachers whose homes were badly affected by Dorian. GER³ is working with each school to identify staff members who were particularly vulnerable to the affects of Dorian and to support the recovery and rehabilitation of their homes.

One of the social workers selected to be a beneficiary of GER³’s program had been posted in the emergency command for the entirety of the storm. In the immediate aftermath of the storm, Pauline remained away from her home as she assisted others to find loved ones, connect to vital resources and services, and reintegrate into their homes. Only after several days was Pauline able to return to her own home and assess the damage. She was overwhelmed at the sight of her belongings flooding through her front door as she opened it for the first time. As her neighbors started to repair quickly and get back on their feet, Pauline was caught several days behind the rest of her community, starting to muck and gut her home and repair the leaks in her roof, prioritizing her daughter’s room first and foremost. After an initial assessment, the GER³ team quickly worked to remediate the mold in Pauline’s home and will soon begin roof repair, sheetrock, installation, plastering, and painting.

For someone who has done so much for others in her community, GER³ is supporting Pauline with the resources in order to get Pauline back on her feet as soon as possible. GER³ will continue offering assistance to teachers and social workers across the island in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of their homes.

GER³ recently conducted an initial assessment on the island of Abaco, the most affected Bahamian island where devastation is widespread, most infrastructure is damaged or destroyed, and many vulnerable populations remain unassisted. UNICEF is supporting an expansion of our initial project in order for GER³ to begin work on schools, teachers’ homes, and social workers’ homes in Abaco in the coming months. Two of our team members will be traveling to Abaco next week to begin setting up operations. This phase of the work is projected to continue into March 2020.

HIGH ROCK DEBRIS MANAGEMENT, LIVELIHOODS & SUSTAINABLE GREEN RECOVERY PROGRAM

GER3 cash-for-work team celebrating their final work day for this project by the beach

In collaboration with the Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP), GER³ has completed our project assisting the community of High Rock in East Grand Bahama. All 20 homes initially evaluated as belonging to the most vulnerable families have been mucked and gutted and cleaned and polished. In addition, light roof repairs were made where possible and all exteriors were completely cleaned. In a community-led decision, three of these homes were flagged as critical priorities to go deeper in their restoration. They belong to particularly vulnerable families including disabled and elderly members. Each of these homes were outfitted with new drywall, plastering, painting, new carpets, furniture, and essential appliances so that these families are supported through a full recovery process and can have peace of mind being back in their own homes within their own community.

With resources and time to spare, the High Rock team, led by Operations Coordinator, Richard Phillips, and his crew of 15 local cash for workers expanded to assist additional homes in the High Rock area, as well as the neighboring communities of Freetown and Gambier’s Point.

In a continuous effort to provide a sustainable and livelihood-generating recovery effort, the High Rock team used fallen trees to fashion several bed posts and community benches to be situated alongside the ocean, right at the entrance to the High Rock community. They will stand as a tribute to the remarkable efforts of the High Rock community to restore their homes and bring life back to their devastated neighborhood.

GER³ also continued its support of local copper and plastic bottle recyclers throughout the project, contributing in the best way possible to initiate new livelihood opportunities that also benefit the environment.

At the close of the CDP project on December 6th, GER³ rehabilitated 51 homes, two apartment building (12 individual apartments), 6 local businesses, and 2 schools in East Grand Bahama, making significant strides in building back better and returning families and communities back to a sustainable and restored way of life.

Dorian Response Operations Update #5

In the immediate aftermath of hurricane Dorian, GER³ is privileged to be supported by the Center for Disaster Philathrophy (CDP) and UNICEF to help vulnerable families and children recover and build back better. Over the past several weeks, GER³’s work in Grand Bahama has made significant progress as we continue to focus on recovery programs in both Freeport and eastern Grand Bahama (High Rock):

1. Restoration and rehabilitation of seven (7) schools in Freeport
2. Debris removal and housing restoration of twenty (20) homes in High Rock

Both programs are operating daily to address the needs of most vulnerable communities and individuals using effective and sustainable recovery methods. GER³, led by our team of local Bahamian staff, has completed the first phase of the school recovery program and has assisted over half of the twenty (20) selected houses in High Rock. We continue to be proud of our hard-working teams and amazed by the resiliency, positivity and generosity of the Bahamian communities. Thanks to key donors such as CDP and UNICEF, GER³ is able to continue operations into December. Additional details for each program are provided below.

FREEPORT SCHOOLS RECOVERY PROJECT - RETURN TO LEARNING

The first phase of school restoration is now complete. Each of the affected schools included in GER³’s initial program has re-opened and children are safely back in school each day. UNICEF’s support allowed GER³ teams to expand and include affected community members in a cash-for-work program. Together with the community, our teams are supporting the most affected schools daily with debris clearance, roof tarping, mold remediation, drying, painting, sanitation and more. Over the course of the short program, schools were restored to a point where students were able to return to class and resume learning as quickly as possible.

The GER3 team had the opportunity to host a visit from Lisa Deters, UNICEF representative, along with Mr. Ivan Butler, Grand Bahama School District Superintendent, during the inauguration ceremony for the reopening of Hugh Campbell Primary School.

Thanks to additional support from UNICEF, GER³ is now implementing phase two of the schools recovery program. While students are now able to attend classes, longer-term repairs to flooring, walls, roofing and the exterior environments are still needed. Our teams are working closely with the School District Superintendent and the Ministry of Education (MoE) to address these longer-term recovery pieces required for each school with the overarching goal of building back better. At the conclusion of phase two, a total of seven (7) schools will be restored and rehabilitated thanks to GER³’s hard working teams, UNICEF and partner organizations, and local service providers and contractors.

GER3 cash-for-work program supporting the painting of chalk boards which are now ready for installation. 

HIGH ROCK DEBRIS MANAGEMENT, LIVELIHOODS & SUSTAINABLE GREEN RECOVERY PROGRAM

The programmatic focus of GER³ in Eastern Grand Bahama (High Rock community) is debris clearance and housing restoration work where hurricane damage was particularly devastating. Thanks to generous funding from CDP, our teams are supporting the most vulnerable individuals by providing cash-for-work employment opportunities and allowing families to return to their homes as quickly as possible.

To kick off this work, the GER³ team conducted household vulnerability assessments and home inspections in the High Rock community. The team identified twenty (20) highly vulnerable households to be assisted as a part of the household recovery program and the program is now well underway with nearly half nearly half of the homes supported per their requests for assistance. To the greatest extent possible, GER³ is engaging residents of High Rock to influence and guide the recovery work. Many are also included as local service workers as part of our cash-for-work programming.

GER3 cash-for-work program supporting the painting of chalk boards which are now ready for installation.

“I am grateful to GER³ and CDP for the opportunity to allow me being part of the reconstruction process of my community, helping my neighbors and for the financial support you are giving to my wife and me to start over again”. – Dane Wunder

The first component of GER³ support includes debris removal from household interiors and yards. This also includes muck-outs: the removal of mud, muck, silt, and other typically semi-solid material from a home as a result of water inundation and gutting: tearing out and removal of construction related materials from the homes that have been damaged by water, including protruding nails in exposed studs and flooring. After the initial cleaning is complete, the next phase of the recovery program includes roof repairs, mold remediation and new sheetrock installation.

GER³ is coordinating with other actors on the ground in order to connect affected households with other INGOs for further assistance and access to recovery aid funds, especially in cases where the level of damage and needed renovations in the house are beyond the scope of GER³’s programming at this time.

GER3 Team in High Rock

Photos of a selected home in High Rock before GER3 support.

Photos of the same selected home one day later, after GER3 support.

Where possible, our recovery teams aim to recycle and reuse materials, helping to ensure a more environmentally focused response effort. Metal is the most valuable material that can be reused, and we are actively collaborating with the community members to collect metals for recycling and exploring with the community additional new approaches to organic debris recycling.

Dorian Response Operations Update #4

GER³ has continued to scale up our efforts responding to hurricane Dorian with recovery programs in Grand Bahama. The focus of our work is currently on two projects:

1) Restoring and reopening seven schools (for approximately 6,000 students) in Freeport and the surrounding areas in partnership with UNICEF, the Ministry of Education, and the District Superintendent.

2) Rehabiliation of twenty (20) homes of highly vulnerable persons so they can retrun to their homes as quickly as possible. This work is made possible through a new grant from the Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP).

GER³ has been able to accomplish so much in a short period of time thanks to our dedicated Global Response Team (GRT) effort, including our dedicated recovery crews that are working hard every day to help those affected in Grand Bahama. As with all of our programs, we are guided by community needs and focused on finding ways to recycle and reuse materials while we build back better.

GER³’s recovery work in public schools in Grand Bahama has continued to scale up significantly through our partnership with UNICEF, who we had an opportunity to host along with a USAID colleague this week to monitor progress. Working with the local communities, partner organizations and educational leaders, we are carrying out site by site assessments of targeted schools. Damage and debris from the hurricane have impacted the schools at varying levels and we are committed to tailoring our approach to meet the local needs and priorities.

GER3 featured in local newspaper:

GER3’s efforts at one of the island’s largest schools, Hugh Campbell Primary, was recently featured in Freeport’s local newspaper: http://www.tribune242.com/news/2019/oct/04/hugh-campbell-school-may-be-open-in-days/

The Grand Bahama District Superintendent is working closely with our GER ³ team to target our programs in the most impactful way, supporting 6,000 local public school students to return to school as soon as possible. The Superindenant recently toured the various school sites with us and shared his satisfaction with the work and training carried out thus far. We are all working hard to help the schools reopen soon and ensure children are safely back in classrooms learning effectively.

Pictured above a successfully renovated classroom and the GER³ Operations Coordinator discussing plans with Ivan Butler (District Superintendent) and a remediation specialist.

Thanks to a grant from CDP, our teams are also laying the groundwork for helping vulnerable Bahamians return to their homes with critical support from CDP. GER³’s housing recovery work is focusing on the eastern coast of Grand Bahama where hurricane damage was devastating. This week, GER³ is carrying out community and household-level assessments to identify which homes will be targeted for debris removal and repair. Where possible, our recovery teams will aim to recycle and reuse materials, helping to ensure a more environmentally-focused response effort.

GER3 Recovery Team ensuring the school grounds are clean and safe for children to return

Our GRT now includes three international staff, Field Program Coordinator, Operations Coordinator, and Recovery Planning and Systems Coordinator, and 13 local Bahamian staff. Our aim is to expand with an additional Operations Coordinator and local recovery teams in the coming week to tackle the significant work ahead in the recovery process.

Join our Global Response Team in the Bahamas

GER3 is looking for qualified candidates to join our team in Grand Bahama! We hope to fill the open positions of Team Leader and Operations Coordinator as soon as possible. For more information and how to apply, please follow the links below:

Dorian Response Operations Update #3

GER³ has had another busy week contributing to hurricane Dorian response and recovery efforts in Grand Bahama. Our Global Response Team collaborated with many organizations to coordinate the ongoing response efforts and begin the transition into the recovery phase. We have continued our work restoring schools in Freeport and are excited to announce a partnership with UNICEF which will support the continuation of our school recovery programs over the next two weeks.

GER³’s recovery work in public schools in Freeport has scaled up significantly through our new partnership with UNICEF. As one of the first international organizations on the ground in Grand Bahama post Dorian, GER³’s ongoing focus on schools has been recognized and appreciated at many levels. Working closely with the District Superintendent since the early stages of the response, UNICEF recently selected GER³ as their partner to continue the school restoration process in Freeport. Our GRT now includes three international staff, Program Coordinator, Operations Coordinator, and Volunteer Senior Representative, and twelve local Bahamian staff. All are working closely with UNICEF and the Ministry of Education to quickly and effectively restore four selected schools in Freeport.

Two of our international staff are based in Freeport, leading the school restoration in close coordination with the District Superintendent and Ministry of Education. Our local Bahamian team has been supplied with mold remediation supplies and Personal Protective Equipment and has been trained on the appropriate techniques and processes for effective mold remediation. Team Rubicon, Port Authority, Samaritan’s Purse and others continue to supplement our work in schools as well, making excellent progress with sheetrock demolition and tarping of roofs. Once initial debris removal and mold remediation takes place, our team will be working with local service providers to support with professional sheetrock installation, flooring and other services.

At Hugh Campbell Primary School, the majority of classrooms have been gutted, disinfected with bleach and treated with sodium bi-carbonate for mold remediation. Vinyl tiles and protruding nails are being removed, walls are being scraped and prepped for spackling, and painting will follow. GER³ will be working with a local sheet rock contractor to replace ceilings and some walls. Damaged classroom materials, such as warped and rusted desks, are being assessed for repairs and possible recycling and/or reuse within the schools. Our GRT expects some classrooms to be ready on Friday, September 27th.

The MoE senior consultant visited the GER³ sites and expressed satisfaction with the work and training carried out thus far. Our team continues to work closely with the Ministry of Education to ensure that the schools reopen as quickly as possible and in line with appropriate guidance, regulations and approvals.

GER³ Senior Representative and volunteer, Iain Logan, is based in Nassau and continues to represent GER³ at key meetings and working groups, including a Debris Management group where a number of INGOs, including GER³, have been asked by the Ministry of the Environment to present inputs and contribute advice and suggestions to the government’s Debris Management Plan of Action. GER³ is also active with UNICEF and three other agencies in the Education Working Group, helping to develop a coordinated approach to their planning process. Logan is ensuring that GER³ adheres to all accreditation and registration requirements and regulations related to our work in the Bahamas and continues to ensure our team is well connected and coordinated with the Government of the Bahamas’ key ministries and other recovery organizations. GER³ sees an ongoing need for recovery and reconstruction in both Grand Bahama and Abaco and will continue to explore options for expanding our programs over the next several weeks.

Dorian Response Operations Update #2

GER³'s Global Response Team is now composed of 11 persons (3 international staff and 8 national staff) and remains actively involved in the response to hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas. Our team has been operating out of Freeport, Grand Bahama since September 8^th with additional coordination based in Nassau since September 4^th. Among the first international teams on the ground in Grand Bahama, our GRT has conducted assessments of schools and health facilities in Freeport and in the island’s eastern communities of Freetown and High Rock. Our team has scaled up to include eight local staff who are supporting daily debris clearance and cleanup, as well as distributions of relief and shelter kits in partnership with the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC). We are continuing assessments and support to communities in the eastern part of the island, while also growing our operations in the city of Freeport.

At Rand Memorial Hospital, two GER³ crews supported with a week of cleaning and clearing debris in and around their health facilities. The teams cleared significant quantities of tree limbs and scrap metal filling 68 large bags of waste and debris. This work has enabled access to the hospital landing pad for helicopter access and additional operation capacity of the hospital itself. GER³ also partnered with Rand Nature Preserve, where our debris specialist and local staff team cleared their walking paths of trees and debris. In addition, our team procured a woodchipper in order to turn loose debris into mulch that will restore pathways. Staff at both Rand Memorial Hospital and Rand Nature Reserve are very appreciative of GER³’s support as they can see recovery in action bringing significant physical and psychological benefits to the affected population.

GER³ has also focused on assessments and debris clearance in schools throughout Freeport. The team has worked with the Freeport District Superintendent of public schools to identify the most affected schools. We have now identified 10 schools in urgent need of debris clearance before additional repairs can begin. This is a critical first step in restoring schools so that students can return as quickly as possible. Our team has already started operations in two public schools, including Maurice E. Moore primary school and St. George’s High school, two of the largest schools in the island with over 1200 students combined.

GER³ and the Bahamian Red Cross donated 35 rolls of tarpaper to local high schools to fix their leaking roofs from the hurricane. These will help stop the leaks from ongoing storm systems until long term repairs can begin. Rolls were distributed to St. George’s high school and Jack Hayward High school with the District Superintendent.

Our GRT continues to develop debris management plans and is meeting with partners and donors to discuss options for longer term debris management programs. We hope to design and implement larger scale debris management programs, similar to programs we have led in the past, which will be community-led and offer livelihoods opportunities for most affected communities in removing, recycling and re-using the debris resulting from hurricane Dorian.

GER³ volunteer, Iain Logan, will be arriving in Nassau on Tuesday to continue to develop our operational plans, attending important coordination and partner meetings at the Emergency Operations Center led by OCHA in Nassau.

Grand Bahama Operations Continue

Yesterday was a busy and productive day for our GRT in Grand Bahama. Our debris specialist and local staff team supported the Rand Nature Reserve, clearing their walking paths of trees and debris. We continued support at Rand Hospital, with two work crews clearing and cleaning the health facilities. Another team headed back to the community in High Rock to conduct additional needs assessments, focusing on how to address the debris removal and home restoration process. Our partner, Field Ready, also assessed the need for solar power in High Rock including options for repairing existing solar systems in the area.

Today, we will continue our operations and will also be working with the IFRC to consider distributions of additional relief and shelter supplies to most vulnerable communities in Grand Bahama. Updates to come!