Minister without Portfolio, Hon. Robert Nesta Morgan, is emphasizing the critical role of local contractors in the Shared Prosperity Through Accelerated Improvement to our Road Network (SPARK) Programme.

During a meeting with stakeholders of the programme at the New Kingston offices of the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation on June 4, 2024, Minister Morgan gave the assurance that local contractors are integral to the project.

He asserted that claims that they are being sidelined in favour of overseas contractors are unequivocally false.

“The Government values and relies on the essential involvement of local contractors for the successful execution of the SPARK project. We remain committed to fostering local expertise while benefiting from international collaboration”, the Minister stated.

Minister Morgan added that the procurement process for the four packages under the SPARK project adheres to the International Competitive Bid (ICB) framework.

“The pre-qualification stage has been successfully completed and we are now moving to the Bid-Proposal stage. Pre-qualified contractors will be invited to submit their tenders”, the Minister stated.

He further noted that all international contractors participating in this process are mandated to have local partners, aligning with global best practices.

The Minister outlined the roles of the local contractors, noting that they would be required to assist in competitive bid proposal preparation; provide logistics support for sourcing materials, labour, and equipment; and facilitate set-up and mobilization for efficient project execution.

He explained that most local partners will be engaged through subcontracting arrangements with international contractors, which are factored into bid pricing.

Minister Morgan noted that upon acceptance of bid proposals, international contractors will include the agreements with local subcontractors in their detailed work plans, thereby maintaining the quality and integrity of the programme.

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