VICTORIA, Seychelles — The government has officially reopened the tender process for cleaning services in schools and health facilities, following the cancellation of existing tenders in July last year as part of renewed efforts to strengthen transparency and public confidence in government procurement. The tender process for cleaning services will reopen next week on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday, with the announcement made during a press conference at the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development headquarters.
Following approval by the National Tender Board, the procuring entity retains the right to cancel or annul a tender before any contract is awarded under the Public Procurement Act 2012 as amended. This provision ensures corrective action can be taken if irregularities, non-compliance, or public interest concerns arise. Procurement analyst Pascal Fostel highlighted the introduction of a pre-qualification stage requiring contractors to submit documentation for assessment before being allowed to participate.
One key lesson 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. Tender criteria are designed to ensure service providers meet minimum standards of quality, reliability, and compliance.
Bidders must demonstrate experience in similar contracts, staffing capacity, compliance with health and safety standards, and accurate documentation. Only category three contractors will be eligible to handle cleaning services in schools, clinics, and hospitals, and contractors must also submit tax clearance certificates for 2018 and a valid business registration.
Technical guidance will be provided to ensure proper standards are maintained, with detailed specifications prepared for schools, hospitals, and health services. Upcoming meetings have been scheduled across regions including the Central and Northern Regions at the Seychelles Institute of Teacher Education, and the East, West, and South Regions at venues to be confirmed.
The reopened tender process aims to improve public procurement accountability and service quality in Seychelles’ public facilities.
