Government Reopens School and Hospital Cleaning Tender with Stricter Rules
VICTORIA, Seychelles — The government has officially reopened the tender process for cleaning services at schools and health facilities, with new pre-qualification requirements and stricter contractor screening measures now in place, following the cancellation of existing tenders last July due to procedural concerns. The announcement was made at a press conference held at the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development headquarters in Mont Fleuri, in collaboration with the Health Care Agency, with procurement analyst Pascal Fostel and director of Hospital Support Services Dothy Raforme presenting the revised framework to the public.
The quality of cleaning in public schools, clinics, and hospitals directly affects the health and safety of tens of thousands of Seychellois who use these facilities daily, from schoolchildren and teachers to patients and medical staff. The previous cancellation of tenders raised public concern about the reliability and transparency of government procurement, and the revised process is designed to restore confidence that only qualified and compliant contractors will be awarded public contracts.
Mr Fostel explained that contractors will now be required to submit documentation for assessment before being allowed to participate in tendering, replacing the previous system under which companies could enter bids without prior screening. Bidders must demonstrate experience in similar contracts, sufficient staffing capacity, compliance with health and safety standards, and accurate documentation, and must also submit tax clearance certificates for 2025 and a valid business registration. Only category three contractors will be eligible to handle cleaning services in schools, clinics, and hospitals, according to the new specifications.
Ms Raforme noted that one of the key lessons learned from the cancelled tenders was the need for clearer communication and better understanding of tender procedures, particularly among local contractors who may have the capacity to deliver quality services but lack familiarity with formal requirements. She stressed that any decision to cancel or reissue a tender must follow due process and remain fully compliant with the Public Procurement Act 2008 as amended, which gives the procuring entity the right to cancel or annul a tender before any contract is awarded if irregularities, non-compliance, or public interest concerns arise.
Tender briefing meetings for prospective contractors are scheduled across three sessions: on Monday 23 February for the Central and Northern Regions at the Seychelles Institute of Teacher Education auditorium, on Tuesday 24 February for the East, West and South Regions at a venue to be confirmed, and on Friday 27 February for Praslin and La Digue at Praslin Secondary School from 10am to noon. Technical guidance will be provided at each session to ensure proper standards are maintained, with detailed specifications prepared for schools, hospitals, and health services.
Mr Fostel concluded that by openly discussing the challenges encountered, the ministry aims to demonstrate accountability and reinforce its commitment to best practices in public procurement, while also providing clarity to bidders who invested time and resources in the earlier process and are now considering reapplying.
