Invitation to Bid (ITB) for the Construction Works for WASH and Renewable Energy Intervention for Deboyne Island, Papua New Guinea

New clarification added: Question 1: Dear Sir/Madam, We would kindly appreciate your clarification on the following items to help us prepare an accurate submission.1. Naturally Occurring MaterialsWe understand that UNOPS and its consultants have undertaken several visits to the project islands during the preparation of the tender documents. In this regard, we would appreciate your confirmation on whether naturally occurring materials such as sand and river gravel are available on the islands and considered suitable for use in the works.Additionally, please advise whether the Contractor is permitted to source and use these locally available materials (subject to testing and approval), or whether all sand and aggregate materials are expected to be imported by the Contractor.2. Dry Toilet Base / SlabFrom our review of the Architectural Drawings and 3D perspectives, the dry toilet tanks appear to sit on a 150 mm thick concrete base/slab. However, this base/slab is not clearly identified or listed in the Bill of Quantities.Answer 1: Please note the following responses to both parts of your quesiton1. Naturally Occurring MaterialsBased on previous site visits, it has been noted that the Deboyne Islands, adjacent Misima Island, as well as Alotau, have locally available marine sand, coral aggregate, river sand, and river gravel. However, the quality of these materials has not been assessed by UNOPS.Accordingly, it remains the responsibility of the bidder/contractor to:Satisfy themselves as to the availability, quality, and suitability of the materials; andEnsure that all materials comply with the Specifications and applicable standards.2. Dry Toilet Base / SlabSeveral items have been provided in the Bill of Quantities (BoQ) under the Bill for Dry Toilets, including lean concrete and in-situ structural concrete, which are intended to cover the various concrete provisions. Please review these items accordingly.In addition, where a bidder considers that certain items may not be adequately covered, reference is made to the alternative provision under the Bill of Quantities, Pricing Notes, Item 4, which states:“The Contractor shall be deemed to have included in his rates entered against the items in the Bill of Quantities for all activities necessary to complete the Contract Works, including any items of work which, in his opinion, have been omitted from the Bill of Quantities.”_____________________________Question 2:   Dear Sir or Madam, We would be interested in this opportunity, and would handily qualify to tender for all three lots, but it has been our experience that many, if not most, UN-led tenders in PNG greatly underestimate the logistics difficulties associated with working in remote areas. As the costs of preparing a tender and attending the pre-bid conference are not insignificant, we are reluctant to incur them if your expectations of construction cost seem unrealistic. Without quantifying costs associated with the specified solar fittings and plumbing fittings, it would be my expectation that a three-lot tender price for this opportunity could easily exceed PGK 10 million. Without disclosing confidential budget information, we would appreciate your advice on whether we should participate, or whether pricing in that range is likely to exceed your expected project value.Answer 2: Thank you for highlighting your concerns. We fully understand that logistics is one of the most critical factors for this project, given the remote island locations. Accordingly, an item has been included in the Preliminary Bill to cater for Mobilization, Logistics, and Transportation Services. This approach is intended to avoid the need for bidders to include such costs within individual work items.To further support realistic pricing, a non-mandatory pre-bid site visit and a pre-bid meeting have been organized, as indicated under the Particulars tab of this tender. These have been arranged to enable bidders to visit the sites, better understand the scope of works, and assess ground realities so that logistics costs can be budgeted appropriately. This approach benefits both the Contractor and UNOPS by helping to avoid post-contract budgetary issues.Regarding the overall project budget, we are unable to disclose this information. Bidders are encouraged to submit their bids based on their own detailed cost estimations. Please note that bid evaluation is not based solely on the Financial Offer; the Technical Proposal is evaluated first, with the financial evaluation conducted at a later stage. No budget ceiling is imposed, and bidders are encouraged to submit realistic cost estimates. _____________________________