By JOEL K ANDREW
FRIDAY 1st September marked a significant moment for the National Housing Corporation (NHC) as they witnessed the signing of three contracts that were awarded to successful bidders, under the leadership of acting Managing Director Abel Toll.
The old NHC Headquarter at Tokarara was left without refurbishment since 2021 when the NHC staff and administration moved over to New Horizons building at the ATS road in Port Moresby.
The purpose of their relocation was to allow for the renovation exercise to take place, however, this took them two consecutive years with less or nil progress on site.
During the contract signing on Friday, Mr. Toll affirmed that contracts were already awarded to successful bidders after formal notice of tender.
Company representatives from the three successful bidders were present during the formal contract document signing with the NHC acting MD.
Toll said the three contractors went through national procurement process through the NHC special procurement committee they were awarded the minor contracts.
“Major projects will be awarded by the special procurement committee members in the near future, as our special procurement committee were stablished under the National Procurement Act.
“Our SPC comprises of representatives from Finance, Treasury, NPC, Sate Solicitor’s office, NCDC and all other relevant stake holders that ensure selections of bidders are done through merit and are strictly regulated especially when awarding contracts.”
The minor contracts that were awarded during the event includes staffs meeting hall, archive storage building construction, and the parameter fencing of the NHC Headquarters building at Tokarara.
The three successful bidders were given K797, 500.000, K924, 731.17, and K591, 722.12 respectively for the different refurbishment projects.
Toll said that NHC HQ parameter fencing is the initial work and will commence right away while he works on making funds available to the contractor responsible.
“We have been given K5 million funding this year for the headquarter refurbishment work so I will make the first 30% mobilization funds available right away in order for work to resume.”
“Since we left the headquarter in 2021, the building and premises have been vandalized and nothing has been happening there but I can now assure the people of Papua New Guinea that I will make it my priority to have these refurbishments completed on time and according to budget allocation.”
As the contracts have been awarded and funds are made available for work, Mr Toll said the remaining payments to the contractors will be given in three quarters based on their work progressive reports.
While the NHC Headquarter refurbishment gets underway, NHCA’s staff and administration will continue to be stationed at the New Horizon Building at ATS road.
