The recent public tender of St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) for a World Bank-funded project will be followed by more regarding the existing facility and new hospital to be built next door, as well as in different areas over the weeks and months to come. The disbursement of grants from the Dutch-sponsored Recovery Trust Fund is expected to accelerate in the New Year, creating new prospects for businesses and professionals alike.
However, it’s important for those wanting to seize these opportunities to carefully familiarise themselves with the requirements. In the case mentioned, 13 companies registered to receive the relevant documents, but only four submitted a bid in the end.
The latter would seem to indicate that it involves rather specialised work not all local suppliers may be able to readily provide. Rather than not trying, in certain situations cooperation with others, whether on-island or abroad, that can help complement the offer might be worthwhile considering.
The rules, regulations and procedures of the World Bank are said to be rather strict, cumbersome and to some extent discouraging. Nevertheless, it has been given the prime responsibility to manage 470 million euros of taxpayers in the Netherlands and there is simply no way around that.
Much of what is needed may even be found online and investing in closely studying the information could prove time well-spent once the bidding starts, whereby any small advantage could tilt the balance. Make no mistake, the Trust Fund train is going to be picking up speed, so now is the moment to do the homework and get aboard.
