We've been reporting on the Ministry of Health's multiple tenders for the provision of laundry services to the regional and community hospitals.
They opened one bid last year, and 6 months later advertised another. The pattern of behavior indicates that they are trying to get the contract away from the long established provider, which is Belize Dry Cleaners and award it to PUP friendly newcomers. The only problem is that these newcomers are only just setting up their operations - and reports say they were only granted their licenses on Friday, hours before the bids were unsealed.
That happened on Friday afternoon, and it shows one of the newcomers, National Commercial Laundry, bidding 35,000 monthly for Western Regional and 38,000 monthly for Southern Regional.
The established provider, Belize Dry Cleaners was significantly lower with 19,975 for Western Regional and 29,395 for Southern Regional.
But, in the north, Belize Dry Cleaners bid 19,975 for the Northern Regional Hospital, while another newcomer Professional Laundry and Linens Solutions bid lower at 18,635 monthly.
The bids now go to a technical committee which must assess each of the providers to see if they meet the mandatory requirements.
We'll keep following the process.
