Freeport News Reporter
The contract for the $18 million government office complex in Grand Bahama is expected to be awarded within the next two weeks, officials say.
Some six Bahamian contractors were approved in the pre-qualification process carried out by the National Insurance Board and four contractors completed the bid process.
Yesterday, NIB director Algernon Cargill confirmed that the announcement of the wining bidder is imminent.
The project is expected to begin by March 1 and should employ approximately 260 persons throughout its 16 to 18-month duration.
Grand Bahama architect Donald Dean of The Architects Incorporated has been chosen to design the 60,000-square foot complex.
The government has revealed that the building will house several government offices, including the Immigration, Customs, Passport and Education offices and was planned in an effort to reduce rent costs.
Back in October, Minister of Works Neko Grant told The Freeport News that most of the government administrative offices do not have sufficient space to function and the intentions of the government for the new complex will improve the working conditions for employees.
"The Customs space is inadequate, Immigration is in accommodations that is less than desirable, Education is spread all over and the Passport Office has outgrown its present facility," Grant said.
Workers in the Immigration office situated in the Freeport Churchill Building and the Customs Department housed in the National Insurance Building have often complained that the facilities are too cramped and were calling on the government to have their offices relocated.
Meanwhile, the government has also comitteed to constructing a $19 million government complex in Marsh Harbour, Abaco.
That 50,000-square-foot building is being designed by Bruce Lafleur of Bruce Lafleur and Associates.
It will house major governnment offices and deparments including the Prime Minister's Office, the Ministry of Finance and the Public Treasury, Business Licence and Real Property Tax, the National Insurance Board, Tourism, Customs and Immigration, Magistrates Courts, and the Post Office.
