Suakoko, Bong County -The project procurement committee at the Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI) examined bid documents for the procurement of agro chemicals, tools, and farm implements for the Smallholders Agricultural Development for Food and Nutrition (SADFONS) project that is being implemented by the research station in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA).

Between March and April of 2024, separate bid openings and examinations specifically called for the procurement of agro machines, small agro tools, agro chemicals, and nine Yamaha motorcycles. On behalf of the OIC Dr. James S, Dolo, a proxy, Joe Ndebeh lauded the participating bidders. “This is a transparent process that is void of partiality. It is a great experience, I must admit to you all.”

Earlier during the first bid opening in March, the proxy of the Vanessa Kun-Mulbah, human resource officer, Alex Flomo encouraged the participating bidders that the examination followed by validation process promises to be free, fair and transparent.

According to him, bid documents submitted by Liberian agribusiness firms are being examined but the validation aspect is very key to the entire procurement process.

CICA Motors (Yamaha motorcycles) and African American Enterprise (Thunder motorcycle), both located in Monrovia, participated in bidding to procure nine Yamaha motorcycles for the project technicians and extension officers.

In a statement, McArthur Paul, project procurement officer, informed the bidders that all bid documents have to meet the official requirement of procurement process and at the end of the examination, the bid goes to the next stage, the verification phase which will be set up by the new CARI leadership. The verification phase, according to him, will consider official communication via email.

Biomedical Link, Vishnu Trading Incorporated, Eagle Electrical Group, Yeanee General Agriculture Supplies and Ma Bendu Farms are among the participating bidders to procure agro chemicals, agro tools and agro equipment for the SADFONS project.

Headed by the project procurement officer, the committee announced the tender opening checklists for all the bidders. For the agro equipment bid category, sealed bid submitted by Biomedical Link, the sole bidder, was opened and inspected. Following this, sealed bids for the chemicals category, submitted by Biomedical Link, Vishnu Trading, Yeanee General Agriculture Supplies and Ma Bendu Farms, were opened and inspected. For the small tools, Biomedical Link, Ma Bendu Farms and Eagle Electrical Group submitted sealed bids that were also opened and inspected.

The agro equipment bids for agro equipment submitted by both Grow Green and Ma Bendu Farms were returned due to late delivery.

According to McArthur Paul, in this new era where bidding process is free, fair and competitive, as expectations for development remained high, a vendor that has the capacity to deliver the best is likely to win.

Representatives of the all participating bidders lauded the committee promising to further forge a good working relationship with the research center.